Death Penalty Opponents Protest Outside Federal Court

Death penalty opponents are renewing their calls for mercy as the federal trial of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev enters the penalty phase.

More than a dozen protesters held signs outside the courthouse Tuesday.

Sister Jane Morrissey, of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Springfield, was among them. She says all people are God's children and deserve mercy _ including Tsarnaev.

The 21-year-old and his deceased older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, detonated two bombs near the marathon finish line in 2013, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others.

Some bombing survivors have called on prosecutors to end their pursuit of the death penalty.

The same 12-member jury that convicted Tsarnaev must unanimously agree if he is to be sentenced to death. Otherwise, he automatically gets life behind bars.  (Associated Press)