Marc Fucarile threw out the first pitch at a game at Fenway Park last year. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Boston Marathon bombing survivor Marc Fucarile joined the Dennis & Callahan show on Tuesday morning to talk about the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial and what his life is like two years after the tragedy. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.
The Tsarnaev trial is now in the penalty stage, with the jury deciding between life in prison or death. Fucarile says he goes back-and-forth as to he what he would like to happen.
“To be honest, I don’t know,” Fucarile said. “I really don’t know. I really don’t know what I would do. That is a tough decision they have to make. I kind of sway both ways. I think our death penalty, it’s tough. I think the way we put people down is a little too easy. We actually put dogs down like that because it’s humane. I’m undecided. I think it would be more torturous for him to sit in prison and him being a young man and having to stay there the rest of his life would be pretty torturous.
“But, at the same time, what do you actually have to do in this country to get the death penalty if this guy doesn’t get it? He terrorized the city. Dropped a bomb. Killed little Martin Richard. Killed Lingzi Lu and injured hundreds of people. And executed a cop and went on a wild chase. Hijacked a guy. What do you actually have to do to get the death penalty? That is why I kind of sway both ways. I’m undecided.”
Tsarnaev’s family is now in America as they are witnesses in the case. Taxpayers are funding their trip and accommodations while they are here, which angers many people, including Fucarile.
“I think it’s ridiculous, to be honest,” he said. “I think it’s absolutely absurd. Our country and the people that are even considering that and doing that, signing that paper work should be ashamed. This is a convicted terrorist. He got found guilty on 30 charges. He executed a police officer. Him and his brother. Their rights should be stripped of them.”
Fucarile also had a message for the protestors who have been set up outside the courthouse.
“Those protestors out there — pick another location,” he said. “Go down to City Hall and protest. get away from the front door. ‘¦ To have to walk by that and deal with that and see that and hear about it, it’s unacceptable in this country. They should be ashamed. Go protest of the stairs of the White House or wherever — City Hall. Wherever they want to go, just get away from the court. We don’t need to hear these people. I understand, but just go somewhere else.”
Fucarile has endured numerous surgeries — to the point he doesn’t even know the exact number. He already has had one leg amputated and is currently in the process of figuring out what will happen to his other leg.
“They are in favor of keeping it unless the pain doesn’t get fixed,” said Fucarile. “If the pain doesn’t get fixed then it’s going to be a big, big decision because if the pain doesn’t go away after a few corrective surgeries then, yeah. The option comes take it off for quality of living and unfortunately in my situation, I was just told pre-op yesterday at the hospital that I would definitely be above the knee — double amputee if I chose that I couldn’t live with it. I deal with other things on the back of my legs that are severely burnt and skin graphed, so it would be pretty difficult for me to get two prosthetics to fit properly without the skin breakdown that I am already enduring on my right leg. I am actually going in for three surgeries on May 5 minimum.”
He said the support he’s received is what keeps him going every day.
“It’s a choice, you just choose to do it,” Fucarile said. “I have a 7-year old boy and a wife, a family and all the support. The support — everybody is supporting you. You don’t want to let them down as well. It’s also a chance and opportunity to encourage others. That’s why you do it.”