Marathon suspect's friend expected to testify at hearing

BOSTON (AP) - A friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is expected to testify Monday at a hearing on his request to suppress statements he allegedly made to federal agents.

Dias Kadyrbayev and another friend, Azamat Tazhayakov are accused of removing items from Tsarnaev's dorm room at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth several days after the bombings, including Tsarnaev's laptop and a backpack containing fireworks. A third friend, Robel Phillipos, is accused of lying to investigators.

The men are not accused of participating in the bombings or knowing about them ahead of time.

Tazhayakov and Phillipos declined to testify during a suppression hearing in May. Judge Douglas Woodlock said he would not suppress their statements.

Kadyrbayev is expected to take the witness stand Monday morning in U.S. District Court.

Cox Media Group