Trial of Marathon Suspect's Friend, Robel Phillipos, Opens

BOSTON (AP) — The prosecution and the defense will likely paint starkly different pictures in the criminal trial of a friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Robel Phillipos of Cambridge, Massachusetts, is accused of lying to authorities about being in Tsarnaev's dorm room when two other friends removed Tsarnaev's backpack, laptop and other potential evidence three days after the deadly attack in 2013.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District Court.

Twin bombs placed near the marathon's finish line killed three people and injured more than 260. Tsarnaev is awaiting trial on 30 federal charges and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Lawyers for Phillipos say he was a frightened 19-year-old when he was questioned, and did not intend to mislead investigators.

(Story by: The Associated Press)