Boston Marathon bombing: Majority of Americans think Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be put to death

A CNN poll found that 53 per cent of Americans think the bomber should get death penalty

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As the sentencing phase begins in the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a CNN poll shows that the majority of Americans believe he should be put to death.

In total, 53 per cent of Americans said that Tsarnaev should get the death penalty, while 45 per cent said he should spend the rest of his life in prison.

Those are the only two options available for Tsarnaev, who was found guilty earlier this month for his role in the bombings at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured 260.

The jury convicted Tsarnaev on all 30 counts, 17 of which are punishable by death. In the sentencing phase, the same jury will decide if he will be put to death or if he spends his remaining days in prison without the possibility of parole.

Despite the majority of Americans supporting the death penalty, it would take more than a majority of jurors to sentence Tsarnaev to death. If a single juror does not agree he should be put to death, he will get life in prison.

Residents of the Northeast, not surprising since that is where the bombings happened, were more likely to favour Tsarnaev getting the death penalty. In that region, 58 per cent said he should be put to death, while 38 per cent said he should get life in prison.

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