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Muhammad guilty of murder in sniper slaying - Death penalty?

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  • Muhammad guilty of murder in sniper slaying - Death penalty?

    Muhammad guilty of murder in sniper slaying

    Penalty phase resumes Tuesday morning

    Monday, November 17, 2003 Posted: 5:39 PM EST (2239 GMT)

    VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (CNN) -- A jury on Monday found John Allen Muhammad guilty of capital murder and three other charges related to a slaying during last year's sniper shooting spree.

    The seven-woman, five-man jury also found the Army veteran guilty of committing a murder in an act of terrorism, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The jury announced its verdict after six hours of deliberations.

    The capital murder and terrorism charges carry the death penalty as a possible sentence.

    Muhammad was found guilty of killing Dean Harold Meyers, a Vietnam veteran who was cut down by a single bullet that hit him in the head on October 9, 2002, as he filled his tank at a Manassas, Virginia, gas station.

    Meyers' family members will testify in the sentencing phase, which began Monday afternoon. Judge LeRoy Millette Jr. said he would limit victim impact testimony to just Meyers' family, upholding a defense motion to limit the testimony.

    The terrorism conviction is under a Virginia state law passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The terrorism charge required the prosecution to show that he was responsible for a murder aimed at intimidating the public or influencing the government.

    The capital murder charge required prosecutors to show that he was responsible for at least two murders in a three-year period.

    Muhammad showed no emotion as the verdict was read. A sister of one of the victims, however, began sobbing. Other family members were present as well and said they were happy with the verdict. One of the female jury members also was in tears as the verdict was read.

    The sentencing phase began Monday afternoon, with the prosecution promising to present evidence of other crimes blamed on Muhammad as well as his "remorseless and hate-filled attitudes," and the defense determined to save Muhammad's life.

    Prosecutors must prove one of two factors for the jury to recommend a death sentence, The Associated Press reported: that Muhammad would present a future danger or that the crimes demonstrate "a depravity of mind."

    If the jury recommends a death sentence, the judge can reduce it to life without parole. If the jury recommends life, its decision is binding, according to the AP.

    The sentencing phase adjourned Monday, and will resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. EST

    During the trial, Muhammad's defense attorneys had argued there was no evidence he was responsible for the sniper shootings, and that alleged accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo appeared to be the triggerman. But the prosecution argued that Muhammad was the "immediate perpetrator," even if not the triggerman.

    The verdict came six weeks after the trial began, and on the day that testimony began in the Malvo trial.

    The trial began with jury selection on October 13 with Muhammad, 42, announcing he would represent himself. Later that first week Muhammad switched course and told the judge he would return to his attorneys for representation.

    Prosecutors presented testimony from 136 different witnesses and more than 400 pieces of evidence over 14 days. Testimony included witnesses and family members of victims from last year's shooting spree recounting the shootings that terrorized the suburbs of the nation's capital.

    Some of the witnesses -- notably crime scene analysts and medical examiners -- made numerous appearances.

    Muhammad's attorneys presented five witnesses and gave evidence that lasted less than three hours.

    Earlier Monday, prosecutors said that during his confinement earlier this year Muhammad attempted to escape.

    The assertion came in arguments before the judge involving what evidence may be used in the sentencing phase if Muhammad is convicted.

    Although prosecutors did not say in court when Muhammad attempted to escape, a government source told CNN the incident took place on March 23. But the defense called the allegation an unfounded rumor.

    Prosecutor James Willett said Muhammad was put in solitary confinement after his alleged escape attempt.

    Defense attorney Jonathan Shapiro argued that word of the escape attempt was only a rumor. But Willett said the commonwealth has evidence.

    Willett did not say at what point Muhammad tried to escape.

    Muhammad was charged in the October 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Harold Meyers outside a Manassas gas station.

    Muhammad and Malvo are accused of being behind the October 2002 sniper slayings that killed 10 people and wounded three in the Washington, D.C., area. They are also charged in sniper shootings in several other states.

    Muhammad and Malvo are the first suspects to be charged under Virginia's terrorism law.

    http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/17/sp...ial/index.html
    6
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    "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

  • #2
    yeah him and that punk that he was going around with shooting people, and no 15 years of appeals either. Straight out of court and into the chair. :flamemad

    Comment


    • #3
      On top of it, he was a homosexual or was he?


      "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

      I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

      HAKUNA MATATA

      Comment


      • #4
        Just have a one of the sheriff's deputies in the courtroom "accidently" shoot him as they take him a away. Save time, and lots of tax paying money as well as one more jail cell for a short term offender.

        Comment


        • #5
          Have that female cop Sqwert was talking about before guard him.
          Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

          Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by bigross86
            Have that female cop Sqwert was talking about before guard him.
            What female cop?

            Comment


            • #7
              The one with the video of the female cop almost shooting someone by accident.
              Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

              Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

              Comment


              • #8
                hmm I dident see that, o well

                Comment


                • #9
                  Jurors recommend death for Muhammad

                  Jurors recommend death for Muhammad

                  VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (CNN) – Jurors on Monday recommended John Allen Muhammad be sentenced to death for orchestrating last year's sniper shootings in the Washington area.

                  Jurors recommended death for two of four counts Muhammad was convicted of last week in the shooting death of Dean Harold Meyers: terrorism and capital murder.

                  Muhammad also received a 10-year sentence recommendation for a conspiracy and a three-year sentence recommendation for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

                  Muhammad showed no sign of emotion as the decisions were read about 10:50 a.m. Monday, less than two hours after jurors reconvened for a second day of deliberations. They had deliberated for about four hours Friday.

                  Judge LeRoy Millette set a formal sentencing date of Feb. 12. Under Virginia law, Millette has the final word and can reduce the jury's recommended sentence.

                  Condemned prisoners in Virginia have the choice of dying by lethal injection or in the electric chair.

                  Prosecutors argued for death
                  Last week the same jury convicted the 42-year-old Muhammad of the October 9, 2002, killing of Meyers outside a Manassas, Virginia, service station.

                  Meyers was one of 10 people killed in the October 2002 sniper killings. Three people were wounded but survived the attacks.

                  Prosecutors argued that Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo -- Muhammad's alleged accomplice currently on trial in nearby Chesapeake -- acted as a team, with Malvo as the trigger man in most of last year's sniper shootings.

                  Malvo, 18, is on trial for the October 14, 2002, slaying of Linda Franklin in the parking lot of a Fairfax, Virginia store. Malvo has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers argue that he was brainwashed by Muhammad.

                  The jury's decision will serve as a recommendation, which the judge can then use to impose a sentence. The judge can reduce the recommended sentence but not increase it. Millette is expected to follow the jury's decision.

                  Before recessing last Friday, jurors asked Millette two questions: What to do if they could not reach a unanimous decision, and if deliberations could continue Tuesday if needed.

                  Responding to the first question, Millette said after six weeks of trial but only a few hours of deliberations it would be too early for jurors to decide they could not reach a unanimous decision.

                  On Thursday prosecutors asked the jury to sentence Muhammad to death after defense lawyers tried to humanize their client by showing his home movies.

                  Assistant prosecutor James Willett said the friendly, smiling Muhammad jurors saw in the movies "is already dead." Prosecutor Paul Ebert said life means little to Muhammad.

                  Muhammad's defense pleaded with jurors to spare his life.

                  http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/11/24/sp...ial/index.html


                  Muhammad's defense pleaded with jurors to spare his life.
                  Funny that he should plea for his life, he showed his victims no mercy.
                  "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

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