Updated

A federal appeals court says Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehvz) trial can be held in Massachusetts.

Tsarnaev's lawyers say intense media coverage and the large number of people personally affected by the deadly attack make it impossible for him to find a fair and impartial jury in Massachusetts.

Prosecutors insist Judge George O'Toole's individual questioning of prospective jurors has successfully weeded out people with strong opinions on Tsarnaev's guilt.

A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Friday that any high-profile case will receive significant media attention. It said that knowledge "does not equate to disqualifying prejudice."

Tsarnaev faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted in the 2013 attack. Three people were killed and more than 260 were wounded when twin bombs exploded near the marathon finish line.