US: John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death yesterday in a Northern Virginia courtroom for his role in the October 2002 sniper rampage that left 10 people dead and terrorised the Washington region.
Prince William County Circuit Judge LeRoy F. Millette Jnr rejected pleas from Muhammad's lawyers to spare his life and sentence him instead to life in prison. Judge Millette decided to impose the sentence recommended by the Virginia Beach jury that convicted Muhammad last autumn of the October 9th, 2002, slaying of Mr Dean H. Meyers, who was shot at a petrol station in Prince William County. Judge Millette set Muhammad's execution for October 14th, the second anniversary of the slaying in Fairfax County of another sniper victim, Linda Franklin.
"I believe (that) in capital cases, more than anything else we do in the criminal justice system, the jury reflects the conscience of the community," Judge Millette said from the bench. "These cases were so vile that they were almost beyond comprehension."
Muhammad (43) nodded and thanked him softly before turning to shake his lawyers' hands. In brief remarks, Muhammad repeated his previous denials of involvement in the three-week rampage of violence.
"I don't stand in front of you today, trying to make any excuse," Muhammad told the judge in a low voice. "I had nothing to do with this case. I've had a wonderful life. You do what you have to do, and I'll do what I have to do. " Judge Millette had the option of reducing the jury's recommended sentence to life in prison without parole. Muhammad's accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo (19) will be sentenced today in a Chesapeake, Virginia, courtroom. In that case, Fairfax Circuit Judge Jane Marum Roush can sentence Malvo only to life in prison - the sentence recommended by the jury for the slaying of Franklin.
Judge Millette made his ruling after Prince William Commonwealth's Attorney, Mr Paul B. Ebert, said he took "no pleasure" in asking for the ultimate sentence but called capital cases the "worst of the worst." "This is certainly one of them, possibly at the top of the list," Mr Ebert said, calling Muhammad a coward. "There can be no more horrible crimes." In arguing against reducing Muhammad's sentence, Mr Ebert also cited his previous attempts to escape from custody and the costs of keeping him imprisoned for life.
Mr Bob Meyers, the brother of the man slain at the Manassas area petrol station, told reporters after the sentencing, "There are no winners today. This was not a victory. But yet it was something that had to be done, and it was done right."
In a trial that was moved to Virginia Beach because of the difficulty of finding an impartial jury in Northern Virginia, Muhammad was convicted on November 17th of the murder of Mr Dean Meyers.
Malvo, a native of Jamaica who was brought to the United States by Muhammad and treated like a son, was convicted by a Chesapeake jury in the sniper shooting of Ms Franklin, an FBI employee, in a Home Depot parking garage.
Although Malvo avoided the death penalty in that case, he and Muhammad may face trials for other murders committed during their sniping rampage, which left a trail of victims in Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia. In addition to the 10 people killed, three others were shot and wounded.
Most of the shootings were conclusively linked to a Bushmaster rifle found in the battered Chevrolet Caprice that Muhammad and Malvo used. Besides the Washington area shootings, Muhammad and Malvo also face capital murder charges for killings in Louisiana and Alabama.