Policeman who released Tsarnaev images faces hearing amid online support

The Massachusetts Police Department's photographer who leaked pictures of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev faces a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that  will determine what further punishment he will face, NBC News reports.

Sergeant Sean Murphy released the images in response to a Rolling Stone magazine cover photo of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev that he felt glorified the suspect.

The policeman said in his statement that his pictures showed someone who wasn’t “fluffed and buffed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.” A Police Department spokesman said however that the release of the photos was unauthorized and that an internal investigation would take place.

Public opinion appears to be in Murphy's favour, NBC News informs. More than 55,000 people have already expressed their support for him online.