Boston Marathon bombing suspect "a punk," MIT police chief says
(CBS News) Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing, appeared before a judge on Wednesday, coming face-to-face with many of the victims of the bombing during his first public appearance since police captured him following a chaotic manhunt back in April.
Liz Norden, whose two sons both lost legs in the attack, told CBS News that being there made her sick to her stomach, but that she wanted to see the accused bomber in person. She said of Tsarnaev, "He just showed no remorse, it looked like he smirked at everybody and he just had a carefree attitude like nothing, no emotions whatsoever."
Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleads not guilty
With a slight Russian accent, Tsarnaev said "not guilty" more than half a dozen times, as the charges were read. Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction to kill. Occasionally, he looked to family members and smiled. Two relatives wiped away tears, while another gave the teen a thumb's up sign. He did not appear to acknowledge any of the victims.
Peter Brown, uncle of two boys injured in blasts, said Tsarnaev "never looked at us, he never turned in our direction, we were sitting directly behind him."
MIT Police Chief John DiFava, asked for his impressions and feelings about the suspect's behavior in court, said, "he's a punk. He showed no remorse."
Prosecutors claim Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his older brother Tamerlan detonated the homemade bombs that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others. The Tsarnaevs are also accused of killing MIT officer Sean Collier while they were on the run. Tamerlan Tsarnaev later died after a shootout with police. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was badly hurt, appeared in court Wednesday with a bandage on his arm, and signs of injuries to his face.
The hearing -- which took place just down the hall from where reputed mobster James "Whitey" Bulger is on trial -- lasted less than 10 minutes. As he left, Tsarnaev blew a kiss to his family.
Tsarnaev trial's is expected to begin in late September. If convicted, the Justice Department will decide whether to seek the death penalty.
Watch Don Dahler's full report above.