Boston Bombing Trial Starts With Defense Lawyer Admitting 'It Was Him'

Members of the media wait outside federal court on March 4, 2015 in Boston.

Members of the media wait outside federal court on March 4, 2015 in Boston.

Michael Dwyer—AP

By NBC News

Updated: March 4, 2015 2:06 PM ET

BOSTON — Nearly two years after twin blasts rocked the finish line of the Boston Marathon, alleged bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appeared before a jury Wednesday as a federal prosecutor accused him of believing he was “a soldier in a holy war against Americans” and Tsarnaev’s defense lawyer admitted that “it was him” in surveillance videos dropping a bomb-laden backpack on crowded Boylston Street.

In opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Weinreb painted a detailed picture of the moments before the April 15, 2013 attack, with thousands gathered along the race sidelines as a Boston Red Sox game let out. Weinreb also presented a portrait of Tsarnaev as a duplicitous character who kept his violent tendencies secret from his closest friends and mingled among race’s spectators…

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Photos: The Last Moments of the Man Hunt for Boston Bombing Suspect

<b>6:02.14 p.m.</b> Tactical Police Officers converge on the house where 19-year-old Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was hiding at the time of his capture in Watertown, Mass., April 19, 2013.

6:02.14 p.m. Tactical Police Officers converge on the house where 19-year-old Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was hiding at the time of his capture in Watertown, Mass., April 19, 2013.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>6:04.55 p.m.</b> Tactical Police Officers get their first view of the boat where Tsarnaev was hiding.

6:04.55 p.m. Tactical Police Officers get their first view of the boat where Tsarnaev was hiding.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>6:15.04 p.m.</b> Massachusetts State Police troopers prepare for the final assault on the boat where Tsarnaev was hiding.

6:15.04 p.m. Massachusetts State Police troopers prepare for the final assault on the boat where Tsarnaev was hiding.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:08:59 p.m.</b> The boat containing Tsarnaev.

7:08:59 p.m. The boat containing Tsarnaev.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:29:21 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev, bloody and disheveled, rises out of the boat.

7:29:21 p.m. Tsarnaev, bloody and disheveled, rises out of the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:29:38 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev raises his hands.

7:29:38 p.m. Tsarnaev raises his hands.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:31:10 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev stands in the boat.

7:31:10 p.m. Tsarnaev stands in the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:31:11 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev stands in the boat.

7:31:11 p.m. Tsarnaev stands in the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:31:23 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev stands in the boat with the red dot of a rifle's laser sight locked on his head.

7:31:23 p.m. Tsarnaev stands in the boat with the red dot of a rifle's laser sight locked on his head.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:32:10 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev raises his shirt to show that he is not armed or concealing an explosive device.

7:32:10 p.m. Tsarnaev raises his shirt to show that he is not armed or concealing an explosive device.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:33:54 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev begins to step out of the boat.

7:33:54 p.m. Tsarnaev begins to step out of the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:39:48 p.m.</b> Tsarnaev stands in the boat with his hands raised.

7:39:48 p.m. Tsarnaev stands in the boat with his hands raised.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:39:48 p.m.</b>Tsarnaev stands in the boat with his hands raised.

7:39:48 p.m.Tsarnaev stands in the boat with his hands raised.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:39:59 p.m.</b> Tactical units move in on Tsarnaev to remove him from the boat.

7:39:59 p.m. Tactical units move in on Tsarnaev to remove him from the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:40:06 p.m.</b> Tactical units move in on Tsarnaev to remove him from the boat.

7:40:06 p.m. Tactical units move in on Tsarnaev to remove him from the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:40:16 p.m.</b> Tactical units move in on Tsarnaev to remove him from the boat.

7:40:16 p.m. Tactical units move in on Tsarnaev to remove him from the boat.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:40:31 p.m.</b> Tactical units remove Tsarnaev from the boat and place him in custody.

7:40:31 p.m. Tactical units remove Tsarnaev from the boat and place him in custody.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:46:48 p.m.</b> Tactical units tend to Tsarnaev.

7:46:48 p.m. Tactical units tend to Tsarnaev.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:46:48 p.m.</b> Tactical units tend to Tsarnaev.

7:46:48 p.m. Tactical units tend to Tsarnaev.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

<b>7:49:02 p.m.</b> Medical personnel move Tsarnaev into an ambulance.

7:49:02 p.m. Medical personnel move Tsarnaev into an ambulance.

Sgt. Sean Murphy—Massachusetts State Police

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