Bill and Denise Richards, whose son Martin was killed during the shocking event in April 2013, have called on those in power to consider the implication that the death penalty will have on those left behind following the savage attack.
Explaining the reasoning behind their appeal, Martin's parents said: "We know that the government has its reasons for seeking the death penalty, but the continued pursuit of that punishment could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives."
With a nod to the future as well as the emotional welfare and wellbeing of their other children, Martin's devastated parents went on to say: "We hope our two remaining children do not have to grow up with the lingering, painful reminder of what the defendant took from them, which years of appeals would undoubtedly bring."
21-year- old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was charged and found guilty of the attack which killed three people and injured over 200 more, and while Martin's parents acknowledge the severity of Tsarnaev's actions, they do not feel capital punishment is the answer, saying: "The story of Marathon Monday 2013 should not be defined by the actions or beliefs of the defendant, but by the resiliency of the human spirit and the rallying cries of this great city."
In a heartfelt essay published in the Boston Globe, Martin's parents wrote: "We understand all too well the heinousness and brutality of the crimes committed. We were there. We lived it. The defendant murdered our 8-year-old son, maimed our 7-year-old daughter, and stole part of our soul."
Deliberations over whether or not Tsarnaev should receive the death penalty will begin next week.
