[Thales Miletus]

From the article: If the jury finds him guilty on even one of those counts, it must then decide whether to sentence him to life in prison or to death.

This is Boston, Taxachusetts. even if they find him guilty, he will not get the death penalty.

[hlmencken3]

Federal charges, not state charges. Timothy McVeigh.

[a fool in paradise]

This is a Federal case. State law doesn't determine that.

The federal government has brought Mr. Tsarnaev to trial with unusual speed — just 21 months after two pressure-cooker bombs wreaked havoc and carnage at Boston’s prestigious marathon, a grueling athletic event and celebratory spring ritual. The tribunal is starting more quickly than 99 of the 119 federal death penalty cases that have gone to trial in the last decade, according to Mr. Tsarnaev’s lawyers.

[ez]

Massachusetts does not have the Death Penalty. The reason it is in play is because the charges are Federal. That said, the jury pool is filled with MA residents who trend liberal. I think he will not get sentenced to death.