Boston bombing suspect's hearing delayed until July

A hearing for Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev originally set for May 30th has been delayed until July 2, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Together with his older brother Tamerlan, the 19-year-old is accused of setting off twin blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three people and wounded more than 260 on April 15.

While Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a shootout with police, Dzhokhar was captured and taken into custody after an extensive manhunt.

“The May 30th probable cause hearing has been moved… until July 2nd,” a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office told AFP. It would be the younger Tsarnaev’s first public appearance.

Seriously wounded before his arrest on April 19, he is currently being treated at a medical detention center west of Boston.

Federal prosecutors have charged him with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, as well as with the malicious destruction of property by means of deadly explosives.

He could face the death penalty if convicted.