A federal appeals court ruled on Friday to vacate the death sentence of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who along with his brother planted homemade bombs near the finish of the 2013 Boston Marathon, killing three spectators.
But Tsarnaev is not getting out of federal prison.
« And just to be crystal clear: Because we are affirming the convictions (excluding the three § 924(c) convictions) and the many life sentences imposed on those remaining counts (which Dzhokhar has not challenged), Dzhokhar will remain confined to prison for the rest of his life, with the only question remaining being whether the government will end his life by executing him, » the opinion, authored by Circuit Court Judge Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson, says.
The court ruled Tsarnaev should be given a new penalty phase trial.
