Brandon Douglas

Brandon Douglas testified for the defense on Day 54 about changes in Tamerlan Tsarnaev's conduct at Wai Kru, where Douglas trained and worked. He described Tamerlan as a skilled boxer who initially helped beginners but later disrupted classes, wore street shoes on the mats, and used other people's equipment without asking. Douglas saw him frequently in 2009 and 2010 and less often afterward; he did not know how the friction with gym staff began.

Douglas recounted Tamerlan saying that citizenship issues excluded him from the Golden Gloves Nationals and that he regarded the exclusion as an intentional personal slight. Douglas could not recall why Tamerlan considered it personal. The court sustained objections to questions seeking descriptions of paranoia and conspiracy theories, and questions about travel to Dagestan received no answer.

When Watkins played the April 12, 2013, gym video, Exhibit 3273, Douglas identified Tamerlan, pointed out Dzhokhar, and identified hand wraps thrown toward Dzhokhar. He clarified that he had not witnessed that evening's visit and said he later learned that Tamerlan took two pairs of gloves without permission, including one belonging to Douglas. The court excluded Exhibit 3230 as cumulative. On cross-examination, Douglas confirmed that his last contact with Tamerlan was in January or February 2013 and that he had never met Dzhokhar or personally seen him boxing or doing anything at Wai Kru.