FILE - This file photo provided April 19, 2013 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Boston:
A federal judge has ruled that "betrayal of the United States" should not be a factor in considering if Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev gets the death penalty.
US District Court Judge George O'Toole said Wednesday it was "highly inappropriate" for prosecutors to draw a distinction between a "naturalised" and "natural-born" US citizen.
Federal prosecutors argue Tsarnaev deserves death, in part, because he betrayed his allegiance to the US after it gave him and his Russian-born family asylum and citizenship more than a decade ago.
Tsarnaev's attorneys argued that the federal government has never cited a defendant's immigration history in nearly 500 previous death penalty cases.
O'Toole also issued a stern warning to prosecutors about current or former members of its team speaking to the media.
US District Court Judge George O'Toole said Wednesday it was "highly inappropriate" for prosecutors to draw a distinction between a "naturalised" and "natural-born" US citizen.
Federal prosecutors argue Tsarnaev deserves death, in part, because he betrayed his allegiance to the US after it gave him and his Russian-born family asylum and citizenship more than a decade ago.
Tsarnaev's attorneys argued that the federal government has never cited a defendant's immigration history in nearly 500 previous death penalty cases.
O'Toole also issued a stern warning to prosecutors about current or former members of its team speaking to the media.
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