Boston prisoners' legal proceedings may be postponed: Stall

Legal proceedings against Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, two Kazakhstani students who were arrested in the United States in relation to the Boston bombings case, may be delayed until August, Tengrinews reports citing Robert Stall, Kadyrbayev’s lawyer.

Stall told Tengrinews on the phone that hearings might continue till August or sometime later this year. It was earlier reported that the Federal District Court scheduled the next hearing of the Kazakhstani students' case to July 23, 2014.

“It is complex case because it is linked to a much-publicized crime case. The trial jury consists of Boston locals that are taking the situation very seriously. There were a lot of victims during the bombing. It is very difficult for them to disengage themselves from what happened, but we are hoping for their objectivity in considering the case. It is very emotional and we have to convince the jury,” Stall said.

All in all, the lawyer said that Dias and Azamat are feeling all right and are not losing their hearts. Earlier, Stall appealed to the judge asking to close the case because the chargers were “too vague”. Kadyrbayev, according to Stall, did not know that his actions were illegal and had such dreary consequences. Kadyrbayev himself asked the court not to use a word “terrorism” during the hearing as it could negatively affect the jury.

“Yes, we have asked to exclude some phrases and wording from the letter of accusation as we do not consider them substantial or necessary,” the lawyer confirmed. The answer to the appeal would be ready sometime in mid May, right before the hearing.

The lawyer aims to contest all the accusatory evidence found during the search of the apartment and on the mobile phones and computers of the Kazakh students. He is convinced that the law enforcement authorities committed several procedural violations during collection of evidences, besides Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov “were not fully aware of their right to remain silent”.

The U.S. prosecutor working on their case requested to postpone the hearing because a key witness in the case would be away from the city on the week of June 24-29. However the prosecutor has not revealed the name of the key witness. The judge has not yet granted the prosecutor's request. Robert Stall said that he knew the name of the witness, but could not reveal it just then.

The laywer is also aware that Tazhayakov’s father had trouble getting a U.S. visa to come to the hearing. “I heard that Azamat’s parent were having difficulties with their visa applications. But in the end his mother got a visa and she will be able to come to the hearing in July. It is very important for the parents to be present at the hearing,” Stall said.

In the meanwhile, Dias and Azamat are in Middletown jail not far from Boston.

Their charges have nothing to do with the Boston bombings themselves. But they are accused of obstructing justice in the Boston bombings case and might face still up to 25 years of imprisonment.

Reporting by Vladimir Prokopenko, writing by Gyuzel Kamalova