Court Upholds Death Penalty in Sniper Spree
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday upheld John Allen Muhammad’s murder convictions and death penalty for carrying out what it called a “cruel scheme of terror” that left 10 people dead around the Washington area.
The court brushed aside arguments that Muhammad could not be sentenced to death under state law because he was not the triggerman. And it rejected claims that the post-Sept. 11 terrorism law under which he was prosecuted was unconstitutionally vague.
“If society’s ultimate penalty should be reserved for the most heinous offenses, accompanied by proof of vileness or future dangerousness, then surely this case qualifies,” Justice Donald Lemons wrote.
Muhammad was convicted on two counts of capital murder for the shooting of Dean Harold Meyers in Virginia during the killing spree in October 2002.
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