Parents Of Martin Richard Ask For No Death Penalty For Tsarnaev

In Boston next week, the jury takes up the question of whether or not to give Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the death penalty, after convicting him on all charges in the Boston Marathon bombing.

But in this morning’s Boston Globe, a couple of powerful voices have weighed in: Bill and Denise Richard. They are the parents of 8-year-old Martin Richard, who was one of the three people killed in the explosions at the finish line in 2013.

Both parents and Martin’s sister Jane were severely wounded as well. The Richard couple asks that the Justice Department not seek the death penalty in return for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev waiving his right to appeal and spending the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Here & Now’s Robin Young speaks with Boston Globe reporter David Abel, who has spent an extensive amount of time with the Richard family, about their decision.

• Read Bill and Denise Richard’s appeal in The Boston Globe

Guest

• David Abel, reporter for The Boston Globe. He tweets @davabel.

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