Malvo Won't Stand Trial in Virginia Case (DC Sniper)

[hezekkia]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Lee Boyd Malvo will not stand trial for a sniper shooting in Manassas, Virginia, according to a prosecutor who said Tuesday's U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning juvenile executions would make a trial pointless.

Malvo, who was 17 during a shooting spree that terrorized the Washington, D.C. area in fall 2002, is now serving life sentences for two of the 10 sniper shootings.

Prince William County, Virginia, Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert said it "doesn't make sense" to try Malvo for the death of Dean Harold Meyers now that the Supreme Court has ruled that people cannot be executed for crimes they committed as juveniles.

Malvo's accomplice, 44-year-old John Allen Muhammad, was sentenced to death last March for Meyers' murder.

Ebert said he had wanted to try Malvo on capital charges, but "in light of this decision, we will not do so. He's already gotten two life sentences."

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Full story: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/01/teen.sniper/index.html

[sandnsea]

1. Add the $2 million to mental health services

Save 200 kids for the price of executing 1. Makes more sense anyway.

[hezekkia]

6. I agree.

It's much cheaper to prevent crime on the front end rather than incarcerating and executing them on the back end. Too bad conservatives don't understand that principle.

[gardenista]

2. Good. That child does not deserve to be put to death.

He was manipulated by an evil man who preyed on him and his family.

The kid didn't catch many breaks in his life, I'm glad he got this one.

I hope he is getting the help he needs.

[David Dunham]

3. He knew exactly what he was doing and will get his due in prison.

[gardenista]

4. Are you disappointed that he won't be executed?

He will be in prison for life.

[David Dunham]

5. No, I do not support the death penalty. But he is a nasty murderer

He should remain in prison for life. While his partner shot some people, I believe that he also shot and killed some terrific people, and he confessed that he enjoyed doing it.

[peacebird]

7. he is a child. a man child. of course he will brag that he enjoyed it.

especially if he is scared, to be afraid is to be less than a man in his mind. he was manipulated. and yes he has caused irreparable damage, but life in prison is horrible enough.

and for perspective - i left that home depot parking lot less than 5 minutes before the woman was gunned down. i know how easily it could have been me. but civilized counttries do not execute children.

not that i harbor any real belief that america is a "civilized" country anymore.

[gardenista]

12. I agree that he should remain in prison for life.

I believe that he has crossed an irrevocable line, no question. However, I pray that he will one day come to understand what happened to him, and find redemption in the eyes of God, and within his own heart.

[gulfcoastliberal]

8. Somewhere, Ashkkroft is fuming over this

That alone makes it a good thing.

[brindis_desala]

9. I'm surprised that Duers are swallowing the Malvo story.

The idea that a seventeen year old untrained as sharpshooter pulled off single shot executions from <100 yards while crouched in the trunk of car is beyond the bounds of this impressionable imagination. They got the kangaroo court they needed to convict based on virtually no hard evidence beyond his "confession". More likely this was a professional hit on the FBI agent (who btw worked in counterterrorism and may have known some of the truth behind Sibel Edmonds allegations) with random killings to cover the tracks. My guess is John Muhammed was the CIA's little patsy (he boasted about working for them) but like most nefarious covert operations we'll just never know.

[never_get_over_it]

10. And what is your ridiculous

theory about the other 8 people they killed - and the others they wounded. Put your tin foil hat away - they were both guily as sin. I lived in Northern VA at the time of these shootings and it was not a fun place to be during this time.....very sad and actually pretty frightening -

[brindis_desala]

11. In a less biased venue it's very likely Muhammad would have

already gone free: something called evidence. "The convictions themselves, however, remain quite shaky. For a number of reasons, they may well be reversed on appeal, and Muhammad may, as a result, be afforded a new trial."

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/cassel/20031118.html

I make no claims except the story as stands doesn't hold water.
Extra little "coincidence"? Muhammad's ex-wife went to work for John Ashcroft after the trial.

[hezekkia]

13. I have no reason not to believe

that Muhammed trained this guy while they were hanging out planning all this. I agree with the person who said that both appear guilty as sin.

in your conspiracy theory, why would Muhammed be willing to die just so the govt could whack some low-level FBI agent? after all, he was found with the weapons, a specially rigged car, etc. your conspiracy just doesn't add up.