Boston Bomber Apologises To His Victims

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has apologised to his victims during a death sentence hearing, his first public remarks since the 2013 attack.

“I am sorry for the lives that I’ve taken, for the suffering that I’ve caused you, for the damage that I’ve done. Irreparable damage,” said the 21-year-old.

He struggled to maintain his composure as he spoke for five minutes at the hearing, shortly before he was formally condemned to die by lethal injection.

The former university student, who was convicted in April, said there was “no doubt” of his guilt.

He also said he was a Muslim and hoped Allah would have mercy on his victims, as well as on himself and his brother.

Tsarnaev, who wore a dark blazer, stood and faced the judge, but spoke of the victims.
“I pray to Allah to bestow his mercy upon the deceased,” Tsarnaev said.
“I ask Allah to have mercy upon me, upon my brother, upon my family.”

Tsarnaev and his older brother, Tamerlan, went on the run after the bombings until he was arrested and his sibling killed as police cornered them four days later.

Survivors were divided on whether his apology was genuine.

Lynn Julien said his remarks “were sort of shocking” and disputed whether he had shown true remorse.

“A sincere apology would’ve been nice,” she told reporters.

Another survivor, Henry Borgard, however, welcomed Tsarnaev’s statement and said he hopes he finds peace.