Jury sentences Tsarnaev to death

Lots of "yes" answers to the aggravating charges. Feels like this is leading up to a 'yes' on the death penalty. This is oddly riveting as the actual punishment seems to get announced last

http://www.wcvb.com/news/newscenter-5-breaking-news/26098608

They will show split screen of judge announcing jury verdict on penalty and Tsarnaev's reaction.

That's not good for the toussle-haired youth.

State-sanctioned killing is more akin to totalitarian regimes, than the United States of America. This is a sad day. Now we get years upon years of appeals and the families of the injured and lost have to endure these memories OVER and OVER again. The nightmare that these families have been enduring is only beginning instead of ending, as would have happened if we locked him up and threw away the key. Disgusting. It's time to abolish the death penalty.

"I hope this verdict provides a small amount of closure to the survivors, families, and all impacted by the violent and tragic events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon"

Even the survivors and families who said they didn't want him killed?

I absolutely didn't expect this outcome, but I'm very glad the jury found as they did.

Oh. Never mind.

The only real arguments against the death penalty for this case are arguments against the death penalty in general. The jurors already have to be okay with the death penalty, so those arguments aren't going to work.

If I were on the jury, I would have had a very hard time sentencing him to life based on the arguments made by the defense. It's hard to see how being nice in middle school somehow would be a factor in the decision. It's also hard to take the argument that his brother made him do it seriously when there was never any attempt to stop the attack and the note left in the boat was done without the brother. I also found the nuns testimony to be disgusting - the jury saw him showing no remorse throughout the trial. If he was actually remorseful, then he would be able to show it himself, not get a nun to lie for him. All of those arguments would have just made me more angry and believe the death penalty is the right choice.

Either...

Or

Federal Bureau of Prisons: We are "not in possession" of lethal injection drugs. (Statement to MSNBC tonight)

This creates an awkward situation. The government might not even be able to kill him and the SCOTUS is to rule on the lethal injection next month. The drugs also can't be acquired anymore, as the pharmas are against their drugs being used for capital punishment now.

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, eyes –
I wonder if It weighs like Mine –
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long –
Or did it just begin –
I could not tell the Date of Mine –
It feels so old a pain –

I wonder if it hurts to live –
And if They have to try –
And whether – could They choose between –
It would not be – to die –

I note that Some – gone patient long –
At length, renew their smile –
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil –

I wonder if when Years have piled –
Some Thousands – on the Harm –
That hurt them early – such a lapse
Could give them any Balm –

Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve –
Enlightened to a larger Pain –
In Contrast with the Love –

The Grieved – are many – I am told –
There is the various Cause –
Death – is but one – and comes but once –
And only nails the eyes –

There’s Grief of Want – and grief of Cold –
A sort they call “Despair” –
There’s Banishment from native Eyes –
In sight of Native Air –

And though I may not guess the kind –
Correctly – yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary –

To note the fashions – of the Cross –
And how they’re mostly worn –
Still fascinated to presume
That Some – are like my own –

***

My brother is doing Life w/out parole in CO. I was hoping that Dzhokar could have a similar benefit towards redemption. (Maybe still possible.)

I am opposed to the death penalty as are most Boston and and Massachusetts citizens. However given the aeriuous nature of these crimes, I am less upset about seeing this young man execued.

It's important to remember that in an act of political grandstanding Attorney General, Eric Holder made the decision to both try this in a Federal court ND to make this a death penalty case superseding the tradition of federal prosecutors observing state policies about the death penalty.

The result is that the taxpayer is on the hook for a much more expensive trial which will drag on for years.

The irony is that despite all of the politiclal rhetoric today about closure for the victims, the larger Federal capital trial will prevent that closure from years to come.