BOSTON (AP) - A federal judge says the government must begin paying for the legal defense of a 20-year-old man accused of lying for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv).
Robel Phillipos, of Cambridge, has pleaded not guilty. He said last month he could no longer pay his lawyers.
The judge on Thursday appointed attorney Derege Demissie (DEHR’-ee-juhr dee-MA’-see) to continue representing Phillipos.
Phillipos is one of three University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students accused of helping Tsarnaev after the April 15 attack that killed three and injured more than 260. Phillipos is accused of lying to investigators about visiting Tsarnaev’s dorm room.
The two others are accused of removing a laptop and backpack containing fireworks from Tsarnaev’s room three days after the bombing. They have pleaded not guilty.
Trial is set for June 23.
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