Day 58 - May 5, 2015

Defense witnesses described the Tsarnaev family's relationships, Anzor Tsarnaev's psychiatric treatment, Chechen cultural traditions, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's school friendships and wrestling activities. Amanda Ransom recounted seeing Tamerlan Tsarnaev punch a man and described concerns about emotional abuse based partly on Katherine Russell's accounts. During an apartment argument, Ransom said she barricaded her door after interpreting Tamerlan's words as a threat, then left with another roommate. Katherine later left a message denying that Tamerlan had threatened her. The judge excluded Ransom's email but allowed her to consult it to identify the incident's date as December 14, 2009. On cross-examination, she confirmed she had never met Dzhokhar. Elizabeth Zamparelli described Dzhokhar, whom friends called Jahar, as caring and respectful. She acknowledged that they had not really discussed political beliefs and had less contact after he left for college. Mirra Kuznetsov recalled an apparently affectionate family and Tamerlan speaking powerfully to Jahar, but could not remember his exact words. Psychiatrist Alexander Niss described treating Anzor during 2003–2005, diagnosing PTSD and cognitive impairment, and later adding encephalopathy. He said panic attacks and paranoia improved, while other problems persisted, and gave his opinion that Anzor could not work. Redacted treatment records were admitted. Professor Michel Reynolds described Chechen expectations of younger-brother deference and loyalty and distinguished a religious text linked in Jahar's email reply from jihadi teachings. The judge admitted four Kavkaz Center pages, barred a Syria video during Reynolds's testimony while leaving possible later use undecided, excluded an offered social-media page, and limited testimony about recorded conversations. On cross-examination, Reynolds acknowledged that identity does not determine conduct and said his earlier published statement that the brothers chose radical Islam and violence was no longer his belief. He emphasized that the article preceded his review of the evidence. On redirect and recross, he distinguished cultural patterns from individual behavior and acknowledged that some immigrant Chechen families lack entrenched older-male leadership. Wrestling teammate Henry Alvarez described Jahar as encouraging and kind, while acknowledging that their relationship was largely confined to wrestling. Coach Roy Howard credited Jahar's leadership and hard work with earning a co-captain position. Both said his bombing involvement was inconsistent with the person they had known. Court adjourned at 2:50 p.m.