Conviction of bombing suspect's third friend seen as hurting chances of moving Tsarnaev trial
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Robel Phillipos, center, departs federal court with defense attorney Derege Demissie, right, after he was convicted in Boston Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 on two counts of lying about being in the dorm room of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev three days after the bombing in 2013, while two other friends removed a backpack containing fireworks and other potential evidence. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) (The Associated Press)
The trial of a third friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) has ended in another conviction.
But some legal observers say the amount of time the jury spent deliberating and its somewhat mixed verdict could help federal prosecutors argue against any new defense bid to move Tsarnaev's trial outside of Boston.
Robel Phillipos was convicted Tuesday of lying to the FBI about being present in Tsarnaev's dorm room when two other friends removed a backpack containing fireworks and other potentially incriminating evidence.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The jury deliberated for more than 35 hours over six days before finding Phillipos not guilty of telling four of the nine lies he was accused of by prosecutors.