Government To Pay Legal Bills For Tsarnaev’s Friend

A federal judge has ruled the government will begin paying for the legal defense of a 20-year-old man accused of lying for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev .

    Robel Phillipos of Cambridge has pleaded not guilty. He said last month he could no longer pay his lawyers.

    The judge on Thursday appointed attorney Derege Demissie to continue representing Phillipos.  

    Phillips is one of three University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students accused of helping Tsarnaev after the April 15 attack that killed three and injured more than 260.

    The two others are accused of removing a laptop and backpack containing fireworks from Tsarnaev's dorm room three days after the bombing. They have pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. 

    Trial is set for June 23.  (Associated Press)