BOSTON (AP) - Federal prosecutors are opposing a request by three friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) to have their cases tried outside Massachusetts.
Defense attorneys filed motions last month seeking a venue change for Dias Kadyrbayev (DY’-us kah-dur-BY’-ehv), Azamat Tazhayakov (AZ’-maht tuh-ZAY’-uh-kahv) and Robel Phillipos.
Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov are Kazakhstan nationals accused of taking Tsarnaev’s laptop computer and a backpack containing fireworks from his college dorm room after last year’s deadly bombings. Phillipos is from Cambridge and is accused of lying to investigators. They’ve pleaded not guilty.
Lawyers argue their clients can’t receive fair trials from a Massachusetts jury because of the publicity surrounding the case.
Prosecutors said Friday there’s no reason to doubt a fair and impartial jury can be chosen.
Tsarnaev faces 30 federal charges and has pleaded not guilty.
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