BOSTON (AP) — A lawyer for a friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) has asked a judge to lift an order that keeps most documents filed in the criminal case against the friend sealed from public view.
The lawyer for Azamat Tazhayakov (AHZ'-maht tuh-ZAYE'-uh-kov) said during a court hearing Tuesday that the order is overly broad and that prosecutors haven't shown it is needed.
He also said the order prohibits him from discussing publicly any materials turned over to the defense by prosecutors.
Prosecutor John Capin said the order is needed to protect Tazhayakov and another of Tsarnaev's college friends from adverse pretrial publicity. Prosecutors allege that the two men removed evidence from Tsarnaev's dorm room and later lied about it. A third friend is charged with lying to authorities.
The judge didn't immediately rule.