Jurors begin deliberating charges against marathon bomber

BOSTON (AP) — Jurors in the federal death penalty trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev began deliberations today, a day after both prosecutors and his lawyers told them Tsarnaev must be held accountable for participating in the terror attack.

Deliberations in the guilt phase began almost two years after twin bombs exploded near the marathon's finish line on April 15, 2013, killing three people and wounding more than 260.

During closing arguments Monday, Tsarnaev's lawyers agreed with prosecutors that Tsarnaev conspired with his brother to bomb the marathon and planted one of two pressure-cooker bombs that exploded that day.

But the defense said it was his now-dead older brother, Tamerlan, who was the mastermind of the attack. It was Tamerlan who bought the bomb parts, built the bombs and planned the attack, said defense attorney Judy Clarke.

"If not for Tamerlan, it would not have happened," Clarke said.

A prosecutor told the jury that Tsarnaev made a coldblooded decision aimed at punishing America for its wars in Muslim countries.

"This was a cold, calculated terrorist act. This was intentional. It was bloodthirsty. It was to make a point," Aloke Chakravarty said. "It was to tell America that 'We will not be terrorized by you anymore. We will terrorize you.'"