Sniper gets six consecutive life terms

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Sniper John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to six consecutive life terms without parole Thursday in what Maryland prosecutors and the victims' families consider insurance in case his death sentence in Virginia is thrown out.

"You chose the wrong community, sir, to stain with your acts of violence," Circuit Judge James Ryan said. "You, Mr. Muhammad, have no hope. You have no future. You will spend the rest of your life locked in a cage."

Muhammad, 45, was convicted of murder Tuesday in the six sniper slayings carried out in Maryland. He previously was convicted and sentenced to death for a murder committed in Virginia. Altogether, 10 people were killed and three wounded during the crime spree that gripped the Washington metropolitan area with fear in October 2002.

Muhammad declined to speak at the sentencing and would not look at four relatives of his victims as they described their pain. He stood with his arms crossed, a blank expression on his face, as the sentence was read."



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[Rex]

1. 6 consecutive life terms without parole.

Why not just give him the death penalty and save the taxpayers some money?

[Kagemusha]

3. It costs an awful damn lot to kill people legally.

Studies bear that out, including all the legal costs borne by the state.

Edit: I look a little foolish given the post below. Forgot he had a death penalty conviction already. I recall people found it um, odd, to charge him in both places but it's basically political reasons?

[jrw14125]

2. f'ing waste of tp money - he already had a death sentence in VA

[kestrel91316]

8. Not a waste. If something happens to that death penalty and conviction,

at least he will still be locked up on the 6 consecutive lifes. If they didn't do that, he could conceivably walk free some day.

[MockSwede]

9. Pardon ME!

He can ALWAYS be granted a pardon by one governor or the other in the state(s) in which he was convicted and sentenced.

[Gman]

4. So if he's reincarnated 5 more times

as soon as the doctor slaps his butt, he's off to the slammer.

Sounds like a Republican plan for African-American child development.

[brer cat]

5. Maybe closure for the families in MD

I've never understood prosecutors "wasting" taxpayer money on multiple trials like this, but I guess there is always the chance for a conviction in another jurisdiction to be overturned. And maybe the families in each jurisdiction need the trial and conviction for closure.

[5thGenDemocrat]

6. Betcha VA executes him before he gets done with the first one

And, even though I'm from Michigan and am against the death penalty, I'm not going to cry about it when they do.
John
It is now 15 days, 13 hours and 44 minutes to FUNDAY.

[Psephos]

7. They tried him in Maryland in case the Virginia conviction was overturned

Maryland does not have capital punishment, which explains the life sentences.

This action was an insurance policy, and I don't disagree with it.

Peace.

[pooja]

10. He commited murder in different states

It is the right of the states to try and convict the man if they so wish too. I think this is the right that the states ought to maintain.

Another example of cross trying cases (though this just trades county lines) was the trials (or mistrials) of Deborah Lafey. She was essentially let go in Hilsbourough county, but then was tried in I think Marion county.

Lets keep some local governing rights