Boston (CNN)Prosecutors said Azmat Tazhayakov knew exactly what he was doing after the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing when he helped his friend ditch a laptop and backpack that belonged to schoolmate Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The assertions were made during opening statements of the first marathon bombing-related trial. "They did it to protect their close friend," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Siegmann. Tazhayakov is charged with obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice in connection with alleged actions taken after the bombing. His roommate, Dias Kadyrbayev, faces the same charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. Both have pleaded not guilty. Another friend, Robel Phillipos, pleaded not guilty to making false statements. None is accused in the bomb plot itself.
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Prosecutors allege Azmat Tazhayakov helped dispose of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's items
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Tazhayakov knew identity of bombers before the public, prosecutors said
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His lawyers said Tazhayakov did everything he could to assist the FBI
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They said statements from him during questioning were coerced
"It was good to die ... as a martyr, as you would die with a smile on your face and go straight to heaven," @placeholder told them, according to Siegmann.