Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been formally sentenced to death Wednesday, after US District Judge George O’Toole Jr. confirmed the sentenced handed to the convicted terrorist by a jury back in May.

O’Toole quoted Shakespeare in his statement to Tsarnaev, according to American media, stating: “One of Shakespeare’s characters observes, ‘The evil that men do lives after them. The good is often interred with their bones.'”

“So it will be for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev,” he added.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty of the April 15, 2013 attack at the Boston Marathon which left three people dead and more than 260 wounded – with many of the injured suffering limb amputations.

His older brother and mastermind of the attack, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was killed in a shootout with police after a manhunt, but Dzhokhar was wounded, arrested, and put on trial.

Wednesday’s sentencing was a mere formality, as Judge O’Toole was legally required to accept the jury’s previous verdict of death.

But there was plenty of courtroom drama as a number of Tsarnaev’s victims confronted him during their victim’s testimonies – the first time they were able to vent their feelings, since during the trial only factual evidence was permitted.

Jennifer Rogers, the sister of a police officer killed by the brothers after the bombing, also testified. She branded Tsarnaev a “leech abusing the privilege of American freedom,” and added that he had spat in the “face of the American dream.”

Victims of the bombing itself called him a “coward.”

The father of the youngest victim – eight-year-old Martin Richard – told Tsarnaev he could have stopped the bombing at any point.

“He could have changed his mind the morning of April 15, 2013, walked away with a minimal sense of humanity and reported to the authorities that his brother intended to hurt others,” Bill Richard said.

Instead, “he chose hate. He chose destruction. He chose death. This is all on him.”

Thought he remained largely impassive during the proceedings, when Tsarnaev’s turn came to speak he “apologized” for his crimes.

“I am sorry for the lives I have taken, for the suffering that I have caused you, for the damage I have done, irreparable damage,” he said.

The 21-year-old terrorist also thanked his lawyers and “Allah.”

But victim Rebekah Gregory, who lost part of a leg in the attack, noted how he had “smirked” and “laughed” with his lawyers throughout the trial.

According to a BBC reporter present at the hearing, Gregory “stared hard” at Tsarnaev throughout her address, and listed her achievements since being injured. “You made us stronger,” she told him.

“So how’s that for your victim impact statement?”

Despite the sentence being confirmed it could be several years until Tarnaev is actually executed, since under US law he can appeal.