I won't give him a pass, either. I'm not buying the older brother peer pressure angle. What's next - a "Just Say No To Terrorists" campaign?
DT participated in making homemade explosives, participated in blowing up innocent people - including children; participated in murdering innocent people - including an 8 year old child.
The coddling of today's young people wears thin. The perpetual excuses made for today's young people is one of the reasons so many of the younger generation are out of control, IMO.
When my kids were growing up, if they did something wrong, I held them personally accountable, even if they tried to blame it on one of their friends or tried to claim that it was so-and-so's idea. Finger-pointing made me livid. I told them "You made the decision to participate, you're responsible for your own decisions. You're accountable for your own actions."
DT is responsible (and will be held responsible) for his heinous decisions. He is accountable (and will be held accountable) for his murderous actions.