Marathon Bombing Suspect: Not Enough Minorities in Jury Pool
BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for the Boston Marathon bombing suspect have asked a judge to dismiss the indictment against their client, saying there aren't enough minorities and younger people in the jury pool.
Lawyers filed a motion Thursday saying the selection process violated Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehvz) constitutional right to have a jury that represents a "fair cross section of the community."
They say blacks, people under 30 and Boston residents were underrepresented in the group of potential jurors questioned by the judge.
The prospective jurors were chosen from a population of about 5 million in eastern Massachusetts.
Jury selection is nearing a close. Court officials say the trial could begin next week.
A federal appeals court hasn't yet ruled on a defense request to move the trial out of Massachusetts.
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(Photo: AP Photo/Jane Flavell Collins, File)