Sketch via Art Lien

During a motion hearing on Monday, March 2, presiding Judge George O’Toole and both parties in the case of alleged Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev discussed possibility of using the boat in which the defendant hid during a high profile chase in Watertown days after the bombings as a piece of evidence.

On April 19, 2013, a 20-block radius was created in Watertown after police engaged with Tsarnaev and older brother Tamerlan in an early morning shootout on the street. Tsarnaev evaded capture but was found in a resident’s boat hours after a shelter-in-place was issued for the area.

The boat could be used to bolster arguments for both sides of the legal proceeds; the defense wants to portray an eerie picture in the mind of jurors as to what Tsarnaev’s time was like while hiding from authorities in the boat, riddled with bullet holes and smeared with blood.

The prosecution argued, however, that it’s a misconception that Tsarnaev supposedly left a message on the interior of the boat written in his own blood and is perceived to be an admission of guilt.

Instead of cutting the message from the boat and using that as evidence on its own, the defense wants to actually bring the boat to court so jurors can examine the damage it suffered at the hands of pursuing authorities.

Judge O’Toole did not rule on the motion and said that he may even examine the boat himself before accepting or denying it.

Opening statements in the trial are expected to be delivered on Wednesday, March 4.

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