Krystle Campbell Remembered as Family, Friends Confront Tsarnaev in Court

Photo via U.S. Department of Justice

On April 15, 2013, Krystle Campbell and her friend Karen McWatters were near the Boston Marathon finish line waiting for McWatters’ then boyfriend and now husband, Kevin, cross the finish line.

When the bomb went off outside Marathon Sports on Boylston Street, Campbell bled to death on the sidewalk. McWatters lost part of her leg below the knee. Since then, McWatters has undergone a number of injuries and rehabilitation sessions at area hospitals on her road to recovery.

On Wednesday, she finally faced the man who took her leg and best friend.

“I could tell you so many stories about Krystle, you’ll never understand the impact of her loss. You’ll never understand why she is so desperately missed by all those who love her,” McWatters said. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev barely acknowledged her, slumping in his chair at the defense table while McWatters ripped into him.

“Islamic terrorists came targeting innocent people at one of the greatest events in our city. They came to hurt, kill, and destroy people. They came and took away an innocence in our city that we will never get back. The defendant stood there watching children play and he still chose to leave his weapon of mass destruction behind those children,” McWatters said.

McWatters, holding back some emotion, continued. “You will never see your friends or family again. You will die alone in prison,” she said.

Patricia Campbell, Krystle’s mother, kept her remarks brief, addressing the idea that Tsarnaev was under the spell of his brother. “You could have helped your brother get help but I feel you went down the wrong road. The choices that you made were despicable. What you did to my daughter was disgusting,” she said.

Campbell blasted Tsarnaev for not taking advantage of the opportunities his parents tried providing him when they came to the United States. She thanked the court and left little doubt about how her family feels about the death penalty.

“I don’t know what to say to you,” she said trembling. “I think the jury did the right thing.”