MalahatTwo7
06-01-2006, 12:53 PM
Muhammad Gets Six Life Terms
Muhammad Let Lawyers Handle Sentencing Phase
POSTED: 6:53 am EDT June 1, 2006
UPDATED: 10:40 am EDT June 1, 2006
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A Maryland judge has sentenced John Allen Muhammad to six consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole for six 2002 Maryland sniper shootings.
As he handed down the sentence, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge James Ryan told Muhammad, "You picked the wrong community to stain with your violence. You will spend every day of the rest of your life in a cage."
Muhammad showed no emotion as the sentence was announced. He stood with his head bowed.
As a deputy led Muhammad from the courtroom, there was applause from people who were there watching the sentencing hearing. Many were family members of those killed during the shootings.
One of them said, "Thank God." Another said, "Thank you." Many wiped tears from their eyes as Muhammad was led away.
A jury convicted Muhammad Tuesday after a four-week trial that featured testimony from Lee Boyd Malvo, his one-time surrogate son who said Muhammad trained him with guns and drew him into a plan to kill people indiscriminately.
Malvo gave chilling details about Muhammad's larger plan to shoot six people daily for 30 days, then plant explosives on school buses in an effort to target children. Muhammad eventually wanted to train homeless children about weapons then send them to shut down commerce in cities with shootings and bombs.
Muhammad defended himself throughout the trial, firing his court appointed lawyers in March. But three attorneys helping him with his case said they planned to handle the sentencing portion of the case.
J. Wyndal Gordon, one of Muhammad's standby attorneys, planned to speak more about Muhammad's character than mount a legal argument for leniency, saying "no one knows him but us." He said he expected "a whole lot of people to say some nasty, hateful things."
Muhammad questioned Malvo's credibility, saying the 21-year-old he still refers to as "son" had problems with exaggeration and memory. He noted that Malvo, who implicated Muhammad in almost all the sniper shootings on the stand, had earlier confessed to investigators that he was the triggerman in all 13 shootings.
During his short defense case and lengthy closing argument, Muhammad claimed he was framed by investigators who planted and fabricated evidence. He said he was the victim of a broad conspiracy involving a broad swath of law enforcement.
But jurors deliberated for less than five hours before finding Muhammad guilty. One juror said after the verdict that Muhammad failed to discredit the strong evidence prosecutors presented against him.
Other states still have outstanding charges against Muhammad from earlier sniper shootings, including Louisiana and Alabama. It will be up to Virginia whether to send him away again for further prosecution.
Muhammad could be returned to Virginia as early as Thursday afternoon, according to Darren Popkin, Montgomery County chief deputy sheriff.
Malvo, who is expected to plead guilty to the same six Maryland killings, will likely remain in Maryland until he formally enters the plea in October.
Copyright 2006 by nbc4.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Muhammad Let Lawyers Handle Sentencing Phase
POSTED: 6:53 am EDT June 1, 2006
UPDATED: 10:40 am EDT June 1, 2006
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A Maryland judge has sentenced John Allen Muhammad to six consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole for six 2002 Maryland sniper shootings.
As he handed down the sentence, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge James Ryan told Muhammad, "You picked the wrong community to stain with your violence. You will spend every day of the rest of your life in a cage."
Muhammad showed no emotion as the sentence was announced. He stood with his head bowed.
As a deputy led Muhammad from the courtroom, there was applause from people who were there watching the sentencing hearing. Many were family members of those killed during the shootings.
One of them said, "Thank God." Another said, "Thank you." Many wiped tears from their eyes as Muhammad was led away.
A jury convicted Muhammad Tuesday after a four-week trial that featured testimony from Lee Boyd Malvo, his one-time surrogate son who said Muhammad trained him with guns and drew him into a plan to kill people indiscriminately.
Malvo gave chilling details about Muhammad's larger plan to shoot six people daily for 30 days, then plant explosives on school buses in an effort to target children. Muhammad eventually wanted to train homeless children about weapons then send them to shut down commerce in cities with shootings and bombs.
Muhammad defended himself throughout the trial, firing his court appointed lawyers in March. But three attorneys helping him with his case said they planned to handle the sentencing portion of the case.
J. Wyndal Gordon, one of Muhammad's standby attorneys, planned to speak more about Muhammad's character than mount a legal argument for leniency, saying "no one knows him but us." He said he expected "a whole lot of people to say some nasty, hateful things."
Muhammad questioned Malvo's credibility, saying the 21-year-old he still refers to as "son" had problems with exaggeration and memory. He noted that Malvo, who implicated Muhammad in almost all the sniper shootings on the stand, had earlier confessed to investigators that he was the triggerman in all 13 shootings.
During his short defense case and lengthy closing argument, Muhammad claimed he was framed by investigators who planted and fabricated evidence. He said he was the victim of a broad conspiracy involving a broad swath of law enforcement.
But jurors deliberated for less than five hours before finding Muhammad guilty. One juror said after the verdict that Muhammad failed to discredit the strong evidence prosecutors presented against him.
Other states still have outstanding charges against Muhammad from earlier sniper shootings, including Louisiana and Alabama. It will be up to Virginia whether to send him away again for further prosecution.
Muhammad could be returned to Virginia as early as Thursday afternoon, according to Darren Popkin, Montgomery County chief deputy sheriff.
Malvo, who is expected to plead guilty to the same six Maryland killings, will likely remain in Maryland until he formally enters the plea in October.
Copyright 2006 by nbc4.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.