Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzokhar Tsarnaev appears in court, trial to begin soon

By RYAN GORMAN

Jury selection for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev is set to begin just after the New Year.

The revelation came as the accused terrorist appeared in court Thursday for the first time since 2013, according to local television station WCVB.

The 21-year-old wore a dark sweater while sporting a full head of shaggy hair and a beard as he "swaggered" into the federal court room packed with FBI agents, according to the station.

Tsarnaev was led into the courtroom by marshals, and smiled as one of his attorneys patted him on the arm.

He appeared to fidget while in his seat, even playing with his shirt collar, but was alert and listening to his lawyers, according to WBZ.

The appearance was less than 20 minutes. It was punctuated by an anguished relative shouting as he was led away.

More than a dozen survivors of the terror attack also filled the courtroom for the hearing.

Tsarnaev faces the death penalty if found guilty of the April 2013 attack that killed three people and injured more than 260.

Jury selection is set to begin January 5.

Information from the Associated Press was also used in this article

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