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 Azamat Tazhayakov, 20, who was a friend of bombing suspect
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, took the stand briefly on Tuesday to testify at
the trial of Robel Phillipos, 21, who has been charged with lying to
investigators probing the April 15, 2013, attack that killed three
people and injured more than 260.
FBI agents testified earlier in the week that Phillipos initially
denied visiting Tsarnaev's dorm room three days after the attack,
along with Tazhayakov and a third man, Dias Kadyrbayev, and removing
a backpack containing empty fireworks shells.
He later changed his story and admitted being there, prosecution
witnesses testified at U.S. District Court in Boston.
 But defense lawyers argued that Phillipos had been intoxicated by
marijuana that evening and had no memory of his actions, suggesting
that investigators badgered him into confessing to a visit of which
he had no clear recollection.
Tazhayakov, who did not testify in his own defense during his July
trial, said on Tuesday that prosecutors told him that testifying in
Phillipos' proceedings could earn him a lower sentence. He faces up
to 25 years in prison.
Kadyrbayev pleaded guilty in August to obstruction charges after
reaching a deal with prosecutors that would cap his sentence at
seven years.
Phillipos, a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, could be
sentenced to up to 16 years in federal prison if convicted of lying
to investigators.
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Neither Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev, both Kazakh exchange students,
nor Phillipos is accused of playing any role in the bombing.
Tsarnaev, 21, is awaiting a trial due to begin in January on charges
that carry the threat of execution if he is convicted.
(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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