Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect's Friend Found Guilty

Photo credit: WHDH

A federal jury found Boston Marathon bomber suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s friend Robel Phillipos guilty of lying to the FBI in a Boston courtroom on Tuesday.

Phillipos was charged with two counts of making false statements in the days after the 2013 marathon bombing.

The jury deliberated for more than 30 hours in the Phillipos trial, which lasted nearly a month. Phillipos faces up to 16 years in prison.

The trial was highlighted with Phillipos saying he couldn’t remember about speaking with the FBI because he smoked so much marijuana that day. It was also notable for the testimony of former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who is a family friend.

Two other friends, Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, who removed a backpack with fireworks and possible evidence, have been convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to the bombing and is awaiting trial on 30 charges. In addition to the marathon bombings, they also allegedly killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier. His brother, Tamerlan, was killed after a shoot out with police and was also struck by his brother trying to flee the scene in a vehicle. The official cause of death was “gunshot wounds and blunt trauma (from the vehicle).”