Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has apologised to his victims in court at a hearing where he was formally sentenced to death.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Photo: AFP / FILE
"I am sorry for the lives I have taken, for the suffering that I have caused you, for the damage I have done, irreparable damage," he said.
Earlier, he remained impassive as victims lined up in court to condemn his "cowardly" actions.
Tsarnaev and his brother killed four people and injured 264 in the bombings.
They planted bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April 2013.
His older brother later died and Tsarnaev was sentenced to death last month but he was formally sentenced by the judge on Wednesday.
In his first statements since the start of the trial, the 21-year-old said he listened to all the victims' testimony and noted survivors' strength, patience and dignity.
He thanked Allah and his lawyers.
Boston Marathon Bombing victim Erika Brannock, centre, arrives at the sentencing of Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Photo: AFP
During the trial, victims could only discuss the facts of the case, so this was the first opportunity for them to make public their feelings.
Ed Fucarile, whose son, Marc, lost his right leg, said: "The first time I saw you in this courtroom, you were smirking at all the victims for your unspeakable cowardly act. You don't seem to be smirking today.''
The sister of a police officer killed by the brothers after the bombings, called Tsarnaev a "leech".
Jennifer Rogers said he was a "leech abusing the privilege of American freedom" and he had spat in the "face of the American dream".
Rebekah Gregory, who worked in corporate housing and lost part of her leg in the bombings, told him she had watched him "smirking" and "cracking jokes" with his attorneys during the trial.
As she spoke, she stared hard at him and looked only occasionally at her notes. She said she had not been destroyed by the attack. "You made us stronger," she told him.
She sounded almost triumphant as she spoke about her achievements such as working to overcome her injuries, and concluded by saying: "So how's that for your victim impact statement?"
Bill Richard, father of eight-year-old Martin Richard, the youngest victim, said Tsarnaev could have stopped his brother on the morning of the attack.
"He could have changed his mind the morning of April 15, 2013, walked away with a minimal sense of humanity and reported to the authorities that his brother intended to hurt others," Mr Richards said.
"He chose hate. He chose destruction. He chose death. This is all on him."
The Richard family had chosen love, kindness and peace, and "that is what makes us different than him", Mr Richard said.
Seventeen people who lost legs in the attack were present in court. Many said they feared they were going to die.
- BBC
