Crime & Safety

Man Found Guilty of Helping Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect

Azamat Tazhayakov, 20, was found guilty of obstruction of justice and conspiracy.

A friend of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Monday was found guilty of destroying evidence as authorities closed in on the suspect.

Azamat Tazhayakov, 20, was found guilty of obstruction of justice and conspiracy, the Associated Press reported.

Prosecutors said Tazhayakov and two others—Dias Kadyrbayev and Robel Phillipos—got rid of a backback, laptop, and fireworks that belonged to Tsarnaev. The items were in a dorm room at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where all four were enrolled. Prosecutors said the trio disposed of the items hours after authorities announced Tsarnaev was a suspect.

Tsarnaev, 20, was accused of planting two bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon last year. Three people were killed and more than 260 were injured in the blasts. Tsarnaev's brother, Tamerlan, was killed in a shootout with authorities.

Kadyrbayev and Phillipos are scheduled to go on trial in September. Tsarnaev is scheduled to go on trial in November.


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