Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial begins in Boston

The trial of Boston Marathon suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev has began in the city where three people died and more than 260 were injured in the terror attack two years ago.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, denies more than 30 counts of using a weapon of mass destruction.

Three people, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed after two pressure cooker bombs packed with nails, ball bearings and other shrapnel detonated.

It was the deadliest terror attack on US soil since 9/11.

More than 260 people were injured, with many losing limbs.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is also accused of killing a police officer in the days after the bombing.

A huge police man hunt followed the attacks, culminating in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s arrest and the death of his 26-year-old brother Tamerlan, who was also suspected of the bombings.

It took the court more than two months to select a jury.

Over 1,300 potential jurors were considered, with many rejected on the grounds they had already made their minds up about Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s guilt, or were not willing to vote for execution if he is found guilty – something prosecutors are pushing for.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s defense team repeatedly tried to have the hearing moved out of Boston, saying a fair trial would be impossible in the city.

They are expected to argue that his elder brother was the driving force behind the attack.

The prosecution will argue that the brothers – both ethnic Chechens – set off the bombs as an act of retaliation against the US for its military action in Muslim countries.

They plan to show jurors panels of the boat which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found by police in, where he had allegedly scrawled anti-US messages.

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