Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Appeared In Court, With #FreeJahar Supporters in Tow
This afternoon, Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev made his first court appearance since a federal grand jury indicted the 19-year-old on more than 30 counts, including using a weapon of mass destruction to result in death and "bombing of a place of public use."
Today was the first time Tsarnaev had been seen publicly since the April 19 Watertown manhunt that ended with his surrender. Awaiting his arrival were about 10 of Tsarnaev's relatives and friends in the front row, along with 30 marathon bombing victims and their family members, said the court magistrate.
The defendant appeared in an orange jumpsuit, his hair still long and disheveled. Although a nurse with a wheelchair and medical supplies was present, Tsarnaev was walking, a cast on his left hand and wrist. Reporters covering the hearing described him as seeming "younger than ever," his demeanor "almost nonchalant." According to WCVB's Sean Kelly, Tsarnaev smirked at and blew a kiss to his family but never looked at the victims.
His crying family members weren't his only supporters. Outside the courtroom, a small group of Jahar defenders gathered, physical manifestations of the false-flag truthers and crushed-out fans who constitute the "Free Jahar" movement online. They'd come from Las Vegas and New York City; Jennifer Michio, above wearing the "Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Is Innocent" shirt, told the AP she was from Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Here's the shirt a Tsarnaev supporter from DC is wearing outside courtroom. pic.twitter.com/5NGAuQUAmu
The "Free Jahar" movement are part of a vitriolic group that believes the US govt orchestrated the attack. pic.twitter.com/X5pNv5QDts
The "Free Jahar" group was shouted down by a man who said, "Don't you know people died?" pic.twitter.com/FTtszjEk52
Tsarnaev pled not guilty to all counts. The government intends to call 80 to 100 witnesses and anticipates the trial will last between three and four months.
The pre-trial hearing took all of seven minutes.
Update: Here's the (awful? disfiguring?) courtroom sketch via the AP.
One Jahar fangirl weighs in: "Can we talk about these shiteous courtroom sketches of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev? Like forreal yo those sketches looks nothing like him.. that was a terrible drawer/painter!"
Update 2: "He appeared to have a jaw injury and there was swelling around his left eye and cheek," now notes the AP.
[AP photo by Josh Reynolds]
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