Prosecution rests case in Boston Marathon bombing with autopsy evidence

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Memorial to 8-year-old Martin Richard

The prosecution rested its case against accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Monday with the most devastating testimony it could possibly present.

Dr. Henry Nields, Massachusetts' chief medical examiner and the 92nd and final witness summoned by prosecutors, walked the jury through grotesque pieces of evidence documenting the fatal injuries suffered by Martin Richard near the marathon finish line on April 15, 2013.

MORE: Boston Marathon bombing timeline | One runner's perspective | Images from the bombing

According to Nields' findings, the child's spine was severed by something passing through his body, and nearly all of his major organs were damaged. His ribs were broken, his left forearm was severed and he had third-degree burns on his body.

After Nields described the injuries, jurors were shown autopsy photos — including one showing Martin's intestines protruding from a hole in his body.

Once Nields was finished presenting the clinical details of Martin's injuries, prosecutors asked him their final question before announcing they had rested their case:

There was some question about whether Tsarnaev's lawyers would even call witnesses, considering they admitted their client's guilt in their opening statement more than three weeks ago.

But they did begin putting witnesses on the stand Monday afternoon in an attempt to further the primary thrust of their case — that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was heavily influenced by his older brother Tamerlan, who was killed in a shootout with police days after the attack.

That approach has been seen as focusing more on the penalty phase that would follow if the younger Tsarnaev is found guilty. If that happens, there will be only two sentencing options — the death penalty or life in prison.

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Marc Lancaster Photo

Marc Lancaster is a senior editor at The Sporting News