'Boston Bomber' Dzhokhar Tsarnaev due to ask judge for court restrictions to be lifted

Lawyers for Tsarnaev say 'special administrative measures' used in terrorism case are making it difficult to prepare a defence for him

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (AFP)

Lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will appear in court today to ask a US District court judge to ease restrictions placed on him in prison as he awaits trial.

Tsarnaev's lawyers argued in a motion filed last month that so-called “special administrative measures” are impairing their ability to defend him. The measures are often used in terrorism cases and restrict access to the mail, the media, the telephone and visitors.

Tsarnaev is accused in twin bombings near the finish line of the April 15 marathon that left three dead and injured more than 260.

Dzokhar and his elder brother Tamerlan, who died following a shootout with police in the early hours of 19 April, are alleged to have detonated the two bombs at around 2.49pm on the day of the marathon.

Along with setting off the pressure-cooker bomb that killed three people near the marathon finish line in downtown Boston, the brothers are also accused of murdering MIT police officer Sean Collier by shooting him in the head on the night of 18 April.