Post by CCADP on Aug 23, 2005 5:38:40 GMT -5
Convicted Sniper Faces Second Murder Trial
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 5:37 a.m. ET
By STEPHEN MANNING Associated Press Writer
BOYDS, Md. (AP) -- Nearly three years after they were arrested at a rest stop, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo are back together in the county where the Washington area sniper shootings began.
Montgomery County sheriff's deputies picked up Muhammad, 44, from his death row cell in Waverly, Va., and drove him in the pre-dawn darkness Monday to the Montgomery Correctional Facility. Already there is Malvo, 20, his co-defendant in a pending trial on six counts of first-degree murder.
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Muhammad and Malvo were held separately at the jail. It is "theoretically possible" that the two could come in contact there, but "that's not in our plans," said county Corrections Director Arthur Wallenstein.
Malvo was transferred in May, but Muhammad had fought extradition. On Friday, a Virginia judge ordered him sent to Montgomery.
Muhammad refused to be photographed or give fingerprints, according to Deputy Chief Darren Popkin of the sheriff's office. "He doesn't want to listen to anything you have to say," Popkin said.
Muhammad will be represented by the public defender's office. A phone call to the office was not immediately returned Monday. A court commissioner ordered him held without bond and Muhammad waived a hearing to review that decision.
The pair was indicted in June for the six Maryland killings. It will be the second trial for both _ Muhammad was convicted in 2003 of a sniper shooting in Manassas, Va., and sentenced to die. Malvo is serving a life term in prison for a shooting in Falls Church, Va.
Malvo was held at Red Onion state prison in southwest Virginia before he was sent to Maryland, while Muhammad was on death row at the Sussex state prison south of Richmond, Va.
The two once formed what Virginia prosecutors said was a mobile "killing team." They are accused of driving through the Washington area shooting victims with a high-powered rifle from a hole drilled in the Caprice's trunk. While not related, prosecutors said Muhammad served as a father figure to the young Malvo.
Other than a brief appearance by Malvo and Muhammad's trial, the two have been apart since their arrest. They are scheduled to have a status hearing Sept. 2 in Montgomery Circuit Court.
Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler said he plans to try Muhammad and Malvo together. He has said additional prosecution is a needed insurance in case the Virginia convictions are overturned. Muhammad could be sentenced to death if convicted and Malvo, who was 17 at the time and a minor, could be sent to prison for life.
The two are accused of killing 10 people and wounding three in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., during the October 2002 spree. They have also been linked to shootings in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Washington state.
Virginia agreed to send the pair north for prosecution after Maryland promised to return them when their trials are over. Louisiana and Alabama both also have plans to prosecute Muhammad and Malvo on murder charges.
Copyright © 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 5:37 a.m. ET
By STEPHEN MANNING Associated Press Writer
BOYDS, Md. (AP) -- Nearly three years after they were arrested at a rest stop, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo are back together in the county where the Washington area sniper shootings began.
Montgomery County sheriff's deputies picked up Muhammad, 44, from his death row cell in Waverly, Va., and drove him in the pre-dawn darkness Monday to the Montgomery Correctional Facility. Already there is Malvo, 20, his co-defendant in a pending trial on six counts of first-degree murder.
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Names Mentioned
Chief Darren Popkin
Director Arthur Wallenstein
Attorney Douglas Gansler
More Wire Service Stories
Breaking News
Business
Entertainment
Politics
Science
Sports
Technology
World
Muhammad and Malvo were held separately at the jail. It is "theoretically possible" that the two could come in contact there, but "that's not in our plans," said county Corrections Director Arthur Wallenstein.
Malvo was transferred in May, but Muhammad had fought extradition. On Friday, a Virginia judge ordered him sent to Montgomery.
Muhammad refused to be photographed or give fingerprints, according to Deputy Chief Darren Popkin of the sheriff's office. "He doesn't want to listen to anything you have to say," Popkin said.
Muhammad will be represented by the public defender's office. A phone call to the office was not immediately returned Monday. A court commissioner ordered him held without bond and Muhammad waived a hearing to review that decision.
The pair was indicted in June for the six Maryland killings. It will be the second trial for both _ Muhammad was convicted in 2003 of a sniper shooting in Manassas, Va., and sentenced to die. Malvo is serving a life term in prison for a shooting in Falls Church, Va.
Malvo was held at Red Onion state prison in southwest Virginia before he was sent to Maryland, while Muhammad was on death row at the Sussex state prison south of Richmond, Va.
The two once formed what Virginia prosecutors said was a mobile "killing team." They are accused of driving through the Washington area shooting victims with a high-powered rifle from a hole drilled in the Caprice's trunk. While not related, prosecutors said Muhammad served as a father figure to the young Malvo.
Other than a brief appearance by Malvo and Muhammad's trial, the two have been apart since their arrest. They are scheduled to have a status hearing Sept. 2 in Montgomery Circuit Court.
Montgomery County State's Attorney Douglas Gansler said he plans to try Muhammad and Malvo together. He has said additional prosecution is a needed insurance in case the Virginia convictions are overturned. Muhammad could be sentenced to death if convicted and Malvo, who was 17 at the time and a minor, could be sent to prison for life.
The two are accused of killing 10 people and wounding three in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., during the October 2002 spree. They have also been linked to shootings in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Washington state.
Virginia agreed to send the pair north for prosecution after Maryland promised to return them when their trials are over. Louisiana and Alabama both also have plans to prosecute Muhammad and Malvo on murder charges.
Copyright © 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved