Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pled "not guilty" to all charges in his first court appearance Wednesday. The eight-minute pretrial hearing is the first step in a trial that the government expects will last three to four months.
Tsarnaev was escorted into the courtroom wearing an orange prison jumpsuit with a cast on his left hand, as women believed to be his mother and sisters sobbed. Reporters inside the courtroom noted his disheveled appearance, long hair, and eerily nonchalant manner. His lawyers Miriam Seifert and Judy Clarke advised Tsarnaev to plead "not guilty" on all counts, which he did in a heavily accented voice. If convicted, he could face life in prison or the death penalty.
The parties will next appear in court on Sept. 23.
Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, but reporters were able to live-tweet the proceedings.
Family of accused bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev here in court. His sisters are here, one holding a baby #fox25
Sharman Sacchetti
@SharmanTV
Family of accused bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev here in court. His sisters are here, one holding a baby #fox25
There are 30 victims and family members here #7news
Steve Cooper
@scooperon7
There are 30 victims and family members here #7news
Tsarnaev enters- sitting between his attorneys in orange prison jumpsuit, appears to be wearing cast on left arm
Fox 25 court
@Fox25court
Tsarnaev enters- sitting between his attorneys in orange prison jumpsuit, appears to be wearing cast on left arm
His sisters wiping tears as they hear the words death penalty or life in prison #7news
Steve Cooper
@scooperon7
His sisters wiping tears as they hear the words death penalty or life in prison #7news
Tsarnaev's attorneys advised him to plead not guilty on all counts- must now go through each count and say "not guilty" into microphone
Fox 25 court
@Fox25court
Tsarnaev's attorneys advised him to plead not guilty on all counts- must now go through each count and say "not guilty" into microphone
Tsarnaev keeps looking back at his family and smiling, kind of a half smile. His hair is bushy and shaggy. Hes almost smirking
Sharman Sacchetti
@SharmanTV
Tsarnaev keeps looking back at his family and smiling, kind of a half smile. His hair is bushy and shaggy. Hes almost smirking
Hearing over. Tsarnaev blows a kiss to family but never looks at victims.
Sean Kelly
@SeanKellyTV
Hearing over. Tsarnaev blows a kiss to family but never looks at victims.