Tsarnaev’s Friend Expected To Plead Guilty

A friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is expected to plead guilty to impeding the investigation into the deadly attack.

Dias Kadyrbayev is charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for allegedly removing a backpack containing fireworks from Tsarnaev's dorm room at UMass Dartmouth after realizing he was suspected of carrying out the deadly 2013 attack.

Prosecutors said Kadyrbayev and another friend, Azamat Tazhayakov agreed to take the items from Tsarnaev's room after the FBI publicly released photos of Tsarnaev and his brother. Tazhayakov was convicted last month.

Kadyrbayev was scheduled to go on trial next month.

But an electronic notice filed Wednesday said he was expected to be in court Thursday for a change-of-plea hearing.

His lawyer confirmed he intends to plead guilty, but wouldn't say whether he would plead to one or both charges.