BOSTON — At an arraignment held in Boston at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler.
The two college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were indicted Thursday, Aug. 8, on obstruction of justice charges. Both men are accused of disposing of evidence from Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's dorm room on April 18. A laptop, thumb drive, fireworks, and a jar of Vaseline are among the items the men allegedly removed. The two 19-year-olds have been detained since they were initially charged with conspiracy in May.
Lawyers for the suspects claim they have done nothing wrong.
Arkady Burk, the lawyer for Tazhayakov, told BuzzFeed, "My client never touched the backpack or the computer. This is an 18- or 19-year-old boy, distraught, scared, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Kadyrbayev's lawyer, Robert Stahl, told CBS this morning that both men were unaware their friend was involved in the bombing.
"In this horrific act where people were injured and killed, labeled as terrorism, the government is not willing to look at the facts in a clear and balanced fashion," said Stahl.
If convicted, Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov face up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction of justice charge, plus five years in prison on a conspiracy count.
The arraignment lasted about 10 minutes. After both men pleaded not guilty, the government announced there will be approximately 15 to 20 witnesses during a two-week trial.
Both Kadyrbayev and Tazahayakov turn to family section and smile broadly at relatives. They're in orange prison jumpsuits.
Michael Naughton
@MetroBosMike
Both Kadyrbayev and Tazahayakov turn to family section and smile broadly at relatives. They're in orange prison jumpsuits.
/ ViaMagistrate Bowler in court
Michael Naughton
@MetroBosMike
Magistrate Bowler in court
/ Via
Kadyrbayev pleads not guilty to obstruction of justice charge. #marathon #wcvb
Sean Kelly
@SeanKellyTV
Kadyrbayev pleads not guilty to obstruction of justice charge. #marathon #wcvb
/ ViaTazhayakov pleads not guilty as well. #wcvb
Sean Kelly
@SeanKellyTV
Tazhayakov pleads not guilty as well. #wcvb
/ ViaGovernment says expect 15 to 20 witnesses during 2 week trial. Hearing over
Michael Naughton
@MetroBosMike
Government says expect 15 to 20 witnesses during 2 week trial. Hearing over
/ ViaLawyer for Dias Kadyrbayev says Dias and family pray for #Boston Marathon victims and their families.
Michael Naughton
@MetroBosMike
Lawyer for Dias Kadyrbayev says Dias and family pray for #Boston Marathon victims and their families.
Atty: Alleged Boston bomber's friend Kadyrbayev is ȁca law-abiding college student whose only crime was befriending a fellow student."
DonnaLeinwand
@DonnaLeinwand
Atty: Alleged Boston bomber's friend Kadyrbayev is Èca law-abiding college student whose only crime was befriending a fellow student."
/ ViaAtty: ȁcWe look forward to the evidence eventually proving that Dias did not obstruct justice, nor knowingly or intentionally take evidence."
DonnaLeinwand
@DonnaLeinwand
Atty: ÈcWe look forward to the evidence eventually proving that Dias did not obstruct justice, nor knowingly or intentionally take evidence."
/ ViaAtty: Tsarnaev's friend cooperated w/ police even though he is "from a former Soviet-bloc region where police routinely are distrusted"
DonnaLeinwand
@DonnaLeinwand
Atty: Tsarnaev's friend cooperated w/ police even though he is "from a former Soviet-bloc region where police routinely are distrusted"
/ ViaKadyrbayev 's lawyer says he would go back to Kazakhstan tomorrow if he could.
Michael Naughton
@MetroBosMike
Kadyrbayev 's lawyer says he would go back to Kazakhstan tomorrow if he could.
/ Via
Dias Kadyrbayev currently sits in 24-hour lockdown, after today’s arraignment on charges of obstructing justice in #BostonBomber case.
Paula Reid
@PaulaReidCBS
Dias Kadyrbayev currently sits in 24-hour lockdown, after today’s arraignment on charges of obstructing justice in #BostonBomber case.
/ Via