Lawyer for Boston Marathon suspect’s friend says his memory was clouded by marijuana

BOSTON (AP) — A lawyer for a friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has told a jury that he did not lie when questioned by the FBI, but instead was suffering from a cloudy memory caused by heavy marijuana use.

Robel Phillipos is accused of lying about being in Tsarnaev's dorm room when two friends removed Tsarnaev's backpack and other potential evidence the night of April 18, 2013, three days after the attack.

During opening statements Monday, Phillipos' lawyer said his client smoked marijuana repeatedly that day and did not remember what he did that night.

A prosecutor, however, said Phillipos saw the friends take Tsarnaev's backpack and later said, "Do what you have to do," when one said he was thinking of getting rid of it.

Twin bombs near the marathon finish line killed three people and injured more than 260.

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