Boston bomb suspect charged, faces death penalty

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

This undated image released by the FBI shows Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who police have taken into April 19, 2013, according to the Boston Police Department. AFP Photo

A first hearing in US federal court in the case of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been scheduled for May 30, an official in the US prosecutor's office in the city said Monday.

It was not clear if Tsarnaev, charged in his hospital bed with using a weapon of mass destruction in the twin marathon blasts, would be present. The 19-year-old could face the death penalty if convicted.

Tsarnaev  was charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and could face the death penalty if convicted, the US Department of Justice said.
 
Tsarnaev, 19, also has been charged with one count of malicious destruction of property by means of deadly explosives, the DOJ said in a statement. He was arraigned in his hospital bed, where he remains in serious condition.
 
The federal charges "authorize a penalty, upon conviction, of death or imprisonment for life or any term of years," the statement said.
 
"Although our investigation is ongoing, today's charges bring a successful end to a tragic week for the city of Boston, and for our country," said Attorney General Eric Holder.
 
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with each of the bombing victims and brave law enforcement professionals who lost their lives or suffered serious injuries as a result of this week's senseless violence." Tsarnaev and his older brother Tamerlan, 26, who was killed in a shootout with police, are accused of the twin bombing at the Boston Marathon one week ago, which killed three people and wounded some 180 others.