Worcester (US): A magistrate judge today agreed to release a friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev from federal custody while he awaits trial for allegedly lying to federal investigators probing the bombings.
Robel Phillipos, 19, was charged last week with lying to investigators about visiting Tsarnaev`s college dorm room after the bombings. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student faces a maximum of eight years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors initially asked that Phillipos be held while he awaits trial, arguing that he poses a serious flight risk.
But both sides said in the court motion filed today they agreed to allow Phillipos to be released on USD 100,000 bond, provided he be confined to home and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.
PTI
