The Korea Herald

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Doctor details Boston Marathon bombing suspect’s injuries

By Korea Herald

Published : Aug. 21, 2013 - 20:58

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BOSTON (AP) ― Newly released court documents describe the injuries to the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect, including multiple gunshot wounds to his face.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s injuries were described by Dr. Stephen Ray Odom three days after Tsarnaev was captured hiding in a boat in a backyard in the Boston suburb. A transcript of the testimony was unsealed Monday.

Odom, a trauma surgeon who treated Tsarnaev, said the most severe injury was from a bullet that appeared to enter through the left inside of his mouth and exit the lower section of his face on the left side. He described it as a “high-powered injury” that resulted in a skull-base fracture, injuries to his middle ear, the skull base, the pharynx and mouth.

Odom said Tsarnaev also had wounds to his lower extremities and bone injuries to his left hand.

Tsarnaev, 20, has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges in the April 15 bombing ― including using a weapon of mass destruction ― and faces a potential death sentence if convicted.

The twin bombings near the marathon’s finish line killed three people and injured more than 260.

During his arraignment last month, Tsarnaev‘s jaw appeared injured, and his left eye and cheek were swollen. He wore a cast covering his left forearm, hand and fingers. It was his first appearance in public since his capture.

Tsarnaev was wounded during a confrontation with police a day after authorities released photos of him and his older brother, Tamerlan, as suspects in the bombing.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev escaped during the shootout, running over his brother in the process. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died following the shootout. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured the next day.

Tsarnaev’s lawyer, Miriam Conrad, declined to comment on the newly released documents. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz declined to comment.