Katherine Russell, the widow of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, exits her home in Cambridge. Photo: Polaris.
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
Katherine Russell, the widow of the dead Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, has not spoken with the press directly since her husband was named in connection with the attack. Her lawyers made a statement on her behalf Tuesday afternoon, but questions still remain regarding her knowledge of Tsarnaev’s intentions before the deadly bombing occurred.
Lou Pulner, an attorney and WPRO’s legal analyst, said he assumes Russell is being cooperative with federal authorities in the hopes of clearing her name.
“No question. If she has valid information, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t immunize her from prosecution, and again, they may be seeking that type of immunization now through the federal court system,” Pulner told WPRO’s John DePetro Wednesday. “There’s just so many unanswered questions at this point it’s hard to know.”
Pulner said given the information we have on Russell – she was raised by a middle-class family in north Kingstown – he believes she is likely shocked and appalled by the reports of her husband’s actions.
“She’s grieving and I’m sure she’s horrified because she’s now going to be known as this widow of the marathon bomber,” he said. “That’s just something you don’t want dragging around the rest of your life.”
As for those who say Tamerlan’s younger brother, nineteen year old Djhokhar, wasn’t responsible for his actions, Pulner said this:
“That’s just garbage. He’s 19 year’s old, he’s an adult, and he made his own decisions, whether he necessarily agreed with them or not, he made them with his brother,” he said.
“He’s going away,” said Pulner of Djhokhar. “He’s lucky if he lives and doesn’t get the death penalty.”
