Tsarnaev hearing set for April 16

By Steve Safran, Boston.com Staff

A federal judge has set the date for accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s next appearance in court. It will be on April 16, a year and a day after last year’s bombing.

Tsarnaev is facing 30 charges in connection with the deadly explosions, which killed three people and injured 260.

The AP reported today:

His lawyers say many of the charges are redundant and could sway jurors weighing whether to find him guilty and whether to sentence him to death. More than half the charges carry the possibility of the death penalty.

The April 16 hearing is expected to focus on the defense’s efforts to lift prison restrictions imposed on Tsarnaev.

The AP reported last month:

Tsarnaev’s lawyers had complained that the restrictions ‘‘continue to interfere with preparation of the defense in important ways,’’ including ‘‘obstacles related to FBI monitoring of family visits.’’ Tsarnaev’s lawyers say the presence of the FBI agent during prison visits by Tsarnaev’s two sisters ‘‘has thwarted the defense ability to develop important mitigation information."

Whether or not Tsarnaev himself will appear in court remains unknown.