Boston Marathon bomber Tsarnaev at sentencing: Allah 'have mercy upon me'

Convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev broke his long-held silence during his death sentencing Wednesday.

"I want to ask for forgiveness from Allah," he began. "I was listening as all these people testified... all those who got on that witness stand... with strength, with dignity. I am sorry for the lives I have taken... for the damage I have done. I ask Allah to have mercy upon me, my brother, and my family."

Earlier, victims of the bombing and their families had the chance to address Tsarnaev. "At least you won't hurt anyone else," Patricia Campbell, whose daughter Krystle was killed in the attack, told Tsarnaev.

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"Why didn't we see any remorse?" Karen McWatters, an amputee and friend of Krystle Campbell, asked. "You ruined so many lives that day. You ruined your own. You will die alone in prison. Now is the time to show your regret and remorse."

According to his attorney, last year Tsarnaev had written a letter of apology and offered to plead guilty in exchange for his life; his request was denied. On April 8, Tsarnaev was convicted of all 30 counts against him — 17 of which carry the death penalty — in relation to the bombing, which killed three and injured hundreds in April 2013. He had not testified at his trial.