Sniper’s lawyers say he was incompetent at trial
Martin Smith-Rodden/AP
John Allen Muhammad speaks to the jury during opening arguments of his 2003 capital murder trial.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments today that 2002 sniper John Allen Muhammad was incompetent to represent himself for two days in his 2003 capital murder trial that resulted in his death sentence.
Muhammad was sentenced to death for the Oct. 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Meyers in Prince William County. Meyers was one of 10 left dead in the shootings by Muhammad and his 17-year-old accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, which injured another half-dozen in four states and the District of Columbia.
Malvo, the shooter, was sentenced to life in prison.
In a 90-minute hearing, Jon Sheldon, Muhammad’s attorney, argued that his former counsel had failed by not informing the court that he was incompetent to defend himself, citing evidence that his brain was damaged by childhood beatings.
Sheldon opened by telling the three-judge panel that Muhammad “was seriously paranoid” at the time of trial, making claims that he “might be from another planet and was a prophet.“ Sheldon said this violated his constitutional right to an effective defense, suggesting he should have been offered a competency hearing at the time.
“Counsel was ineffective for failing to alert the court,“ he said, adding that the court “would have had an absolute obligation under Virginia law to hold a competency hearing.“
The defense maintains that such a hearing might have also cast doubt on Muhammad’s competence to stand trial, opening the door for a reversal of the conviction and death sentence or the case being returned to trial court.
The attorney general’s office, represented by Katherine B. Burnett, countered that Muhammad’s legal counsel at the time had no obligation to share that information, noting that he presented himself clearly in court.
“There is not authority anywhere that I am aware of that would support that claim,“ she said, noting that an incompetence claim was never raised at any stage of the Virginia trial.
“It was a very foolish and unwise decision [to represent himself], but he wasn’t incompetent,“ she said.
Sheldon said that if Muhammad hadn’t represented himself he “would not have made those crazy statements to the jury” referencing statements he made that the state’s case against him was made up of “insane lies.“
—Wesley P. Hester
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Reader Reactions
Why is this person still alive? I agree with warhog73, except—to Rayzor: it’s completely wrong to compare this person with an animal. Animals only kill for food. Humans are the ones who practice cruelty and the only species capable of vicious crimes like these. This person should have been terminated years ago. We have 7 billion humans now, we don’t need this one.
Obviously the original trial judge didn’t see incompetence otherwise he wouldn’t have let him represent himself. Regardless, it seems to me that he is pretty guilty, whether incompetent or not.
“He,who represents himself in a court of law, has a fool for a client.“
Let’s fast track this one to the chamber.
So he was beat by his father? Big deal, unfortunately, people live through abuse and don’t become mass murderers like this piece of crap! I am tired of people whining about what a sad childhood that I had, that’s why I all of these horrible things as an adult… this scum was very calculating and precise in the way he set up his sniper attacks, he deserves the death penalty, and the sooner the better! And he refused legal counsel, in all of his arrogance, so what’s different? Bring on the death penalty!
time for us to quit wasting taxpayer time and money on this guy…sorry for your childhood…my dad was a “child beater” too….didn’t make me a killer…
Warhog73, I was getting ready to post my comments but I read yours first. EXCELLENT!!!! You saved me the trouble by writing exactly what I was going to say, including the first line - word for word.
I have long said that there is a line between civilized society and animals. When someone chooses to break the law as this piece of garbage did, he or she chooses to give up the rights of civilized society and live in the animal world. And as you said, in that world, a mad animal is put down. Period. The sooner we stop kissing the butts of vermin like Mohammed, the better off this world will be. Fry him.
Well, how “insane” was he when he drilled that hole in the trunk of the car and took out the back seat so they could lie down and shoot at innocent people without being seen? That wasn’t insane; that was rather clever.
…Jon Sheldon, Muhammad’s attorney, argued that his former counsel had failed by not informing the court that he was incompetent to defend himself, citing evidence that his brain was damaged by childhood beatings.
So? What does this have to do with guilt or innocence? A brain injury is not prima facie evidence of anything other than a brain injury. Not criminal behavior may be explained away because of such an injury.
As I recall, the defendant was cautioned sternly and frequently by the Court against attempting to act as his own attorney. Muhammad rejected legal counsel and ignored repeated advice from the Court, and now his attorney John Sheldon having found a way to earn fees for himself is wasting the time of the courts and taxpayer money for a frivolous defense.
I suspect any defendant knowing he had committed the crime of which he was charged, would exhibit some paranoid symptoms out of fear of being found out and adjudged guilty. Foolishness and disregard of the rights and lives of innocent victims does not merit another trial. He’s guilty and should be punished according to the outcome of his previous trial. Sheldon should consider the ethics involved in bringing actions which lack merit.
Why is this person still on this earth? I was born and raised in the mountains, and if an animal contracted rabies and went mad we killed it. No options. When a member of this society goes on a mad rampage and murders 10 people, I don’t see any difference. Yes, I am aware that human life is much different (we have a mind, soul and spirit) and more valuable than an animal life, and that is my point - these mad men took away the lives and terrorized a whole section of Virginia. Walk in the shoes of those families that were left bereaved; walk in the shoes of the wounded, like the man in Ashland whom was enjoying dinner with his family and stepped outside and was shot. Leave the forgiving to our Father in heaven on judgment day; mad things have to be put down. I am saddened the world is in such a state, but I have a family and friends and I attempt to keep them safe, and if the life of a mad, murdering human means more to you than the lives of your friends and family, then you have been breathing pure helium. Once another human loses respect for other human life and takes it without reason, there are no other options within the context of an orderly society but to mercifully put it down. May our Father in Heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit of our Father have mercy on those whom are driven mad by our society.
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