Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Twitter: Boston Marathon Bombing Trial Examines Tweets From Suspect's Main, Secret Accounts

2015-03-05T215156Z_947575452_GM1EB360FQR01_RTRMADP_3_BOSTON-BOMBING-TRIAL — A courtroom sketch shows accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (left) and Judge George O'Toole (top) listening during testimony Friday. Tsarnaev's two Twitter accounts dominated the discussion Tuesday morning. Reuters

The Boston Marathon bombing trial heated up over the past 24 hours as lawyers and a witness went back and forth over suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Twitter activity. It was revealed Monday that Tsarnaev had a secret second account, which the prosecution alleged exposed his radicalism. But Tuesday morning, the defense tried to distance Tsarnaev from the accounts and argued that some messages were misunderstood. This led to court discussions of rapper Lil Wayne's lyrics, what LOL means and how hashtags work, according to reporters on the scene.

The media has long known about @J_tsar, Tsarnaev's main account created in October 2011 and used frequently until his April 2013 arrest. The Boston Globe reported that the activity was typical of a college student, with 1,080 messages mostly about homework, partying and girls. There have been no posts since Tsarnaev was arrested in connection with the bombings that killed three and injured more than 260 people.

But Monday afternoon, FBI agent Steven Kimball testified there was another account linked to Tsarnaev's email address at tsar1jahar@gmail.com. @Al_firdausiA was anonymous and tweeted only eight times. All of the posts were about Islam, and all came within three days in March 2013.

strive to be a better muslim, be greedy with your time, devote most of it to the Almighty for it is his satisfaction that you need #islam
— Ghuraba (@Al_firdausiA) March 11, 2013

Ghuraba, means strangers. Out here in the west, we should stand out among the nonbelievers as one body #islam
— Ghuraba (@Al_firdausiA) March 11, 2013

It's our responsibility my brothers & sisters to ask Allah to ease the hardships of the oppressed and give us victory over kufr #islam #dua
— Ghuraba (@Al_firdausiA) March 13, 2013

Kimball's testimony Monday revolved around these messages and others from @J_tsar, a select few of which the prosecution entered into evidence. But Tuesday, defense attorney Miriam Conrad tried to bring all of Tsarnaev's messages forward. These included tweets like "Ain't no love in the heart of the city, stay safe people" hours after the bombings as well as messages like "No class for two hours? Is that a nap I feel coming on #hellyeaa."

The defense also sought to disconnect Tsarnaev from the accounts by showing the most recent activity came after his arrest. @J_tsar was updated on July 3, 2013, and @Al_firdausiA was updated April 27, 2013, according to NECN reporter Alysha Palumbo. Conrad argued someone else could have accessed the accounts.

Conrad continued by walking Kimball through some of the more inflammatory tweets referenced by the prosecution. One of Tsarnaev's most infamous posts, which reads "September 10th baby, you know what tomorrow is. Party at my house #thingsyoudontyellwhenenteringaroom," came from a Tosh.0 comedy sketch. Several others were rap lyrics by artists like Eminem and Lil Wayne:

Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got somethin to say but nothin comes out when they move their lips; just a bunch of gibberish
— Jahar (@J_tsar) April 17, 2013

the block is hot
— Jahar (@J_tsar) February 6, 2013

The defense argued that messages the prosecution alleged were representative of Tsarnaev's violent ideology were actually just pop culture references taken out of context. After redirect and several objections, Judge George O'Toole reportedly forced the lawyers to move on.

Tsarnaev is charged with more than 30 federal counts and could face the death penalty if convicted.

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