Crime & Safety

Court Date Set for Boston Marathon Bomber's Friends

The three men are accused of helping Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hide evidence.

Three men accused of obstructing the marathon bombing investigation are heading to trial in federal court on June 23. The fast court date comes at the request of defendant Azamat Tazayakov, according to the Christian Science Monitor.

Tazayakov, Dias Kadyrbayev and Robel Phillipos were friends and roommates of younger marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev at UMass Dartmouth. The men stand accused of trying to hide or destroy evidence that Tsarnaev planned and executed the bombing attack at the Boston Marathon finish line.

According to prosecutors, the three took a laptop, backpack, fireworks and other items out of Tsarnaev's dorm room. The bag, its contents and fireworks were found days later in a nearby garbage dump.

Tazayakov and Kadyrbayev both face consipiracy and obstruction of justice charges, and each could spend up to 25 years in jail. Phillipos, meanwhile, is charged with lying to investigators and faces a potential 16-year sentence.


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