Tears, heartbreak for father testifying at Boston Marathon trial

The father of 8-year-old Martin Richard, who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombing gave his heartbreaking testimony of the horrific day, reducing most of those present to tears. Martin Richard was one of three people killed in the bombing near the finish line of the race on April 15, 2013. The boy’s younger sister, 6-year-old Jane, had her leg blown off, while their older brother, Henry, suffered minor injuries.

It was at that time that I saw my son alive for the last time. I saw a little boy who had his body severely damaged by an explosion, and I just knew from what I saw that there was no chance, the color of his skin, and so on.

Bill Richard, whose son Martin was killed and his daughter Jane maimed in the Boston Marathon bombing

The father walked purposefully to the stand at the federal death penalty trial on Thursday afternoon as bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev stole a glance at him. Tsarnaev, 21, showed no reaction to the testimony and appeared to look straight ahead, not making eye contact with Richard, who sat off to the side in the witness box. Tsarnaev’s lawyer has admitted the former college student took part in the bombings. But in a bid to save Tsarnaev from a death sentence, she argued that he was influenced by his older brother, Tamerlan, who was killed in a getaway attempt days after the bombing.

Someone came running over to me and told me I had to get out of there. I told them I couldn’t get up. I didn’t have a leg.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Roseann Sdoia

Boston Marathon Americas