Sniper’s lawyers ask U.S. Supreme Court to halt execution
Lawyers for John Allen Muhammad filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court late yesterday and asked the justices to stop his execution set for Tuesday.
The appeal contends Muhammad’s trial lawyers failed to perform up to constitutionally acceptable standards when, aware he had mental health problems, they did not try and stop their client from representing himself at his 2003 trial.
They had a duty to at least request a competency evaluation of Muhammad be conducted even if Muhammad objected, the appeal argues.
Muhammad, 48, led a series of sniper attacks in 2002 in Virginia, Maryland and Washington that left 10 dead and three wounded. A spokesman for the Virginia attorney general’s office declined to comment on the appeal, saying a response brief will be filed soon.
Muhammad was sentenced to die for the Oct. 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Harold Meyers, 53, shot to death at a Manassas-area service station. His accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, a juvenile at the time of the shootings, is serving four life terms.
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The appeal contends Muhammad’s trial lawyers failed to perform up to constitutionally acceptable standards when, aware he had mental health problems, they did not try and stop their client from representing himself at his 2003 trial.
This “mental health problems” argument has become way too bromidic in our culture. Mr. Muhammad committed murder, plain and simple. For that, he should be put to death as per the laws of the Commonwealth. The insanity defense must be abolished.
“Mental illness” and “mental disorders” are vague terms at best, inexact, and largely mythical in nature. “Mental illness” does not in any way correspond to a physical condition or ailment as does any typical physical disease treated by modern medicine. An so-called “insane” person should have the same responsibilities as every other citizen and should not be exempted from moral or legal blame for deviant behavior. Such an individual should be treated just like everybody else.
“Mental” illness is a myth because “minds” do not get sick. What is labeled mental illness is behavior, specifically, behavior which is harmful to others or disapproved by society. We do not label people with brain diseases “mentally ill” if they act normal. So the label should be recognized as a political or moral judgment, not a medical judgment.
This person should not be allowed to live. Although I believe that ALL murderers should have their life taken from them in the exact way they took the others persons life; a needle is a way too passive way for the slime to die - he needs to be hung. But just let him stand there with the noose around his neck, blindfolded, with earplugs - for about 8 hours - never knowing when the floor will drop.
Let him know that in the last hours of his life, he just never knew when it was going to happen - least it would be a small taste of the fear….
DIE DIE DIE, you waste of human flesh
good post Kevin. You’re absolutely right. If they were really concerned with the previous lawyer’s performance, then they should be focusing on investigating him, instead of saving this scum’s life.
It the original capital trial defense attorney failed to provide adequate counsel, then the current attorneys should seek to have the original attorney dis-barred. If the Virginia Bar agrees that he failed to meet the basics cannons of his profession, then he should be dis-barred and the court would have to order a new trial. If, however, the Virginia Bar will not dis-bar the original defense lawyer, then the court should deny the appeal. This is a very simple test.
Well put, JuBugg.
This lawyer to me is no better then the sniper, how can he sleep at night knowing that he is trying to save a killer’s life? A killer that has no soul and no conscience of the many lives he took and effected, Why are we wasting all this money and time on someone that doesnt deserve the time of day, put him in the chair already, I would gladly pull that handle and put him down myself, and would still sleep peacefully at night, People like the likes of him shouldnt even get a trial,
We all know he’s guilty so why waste all of our tax money defending him, Not only did he take innocent live’s but have they step back and thought about all the other’s that was effected by this monster!
I say good ridance, He lost all he’s rights when he decided to pull that trigger! He is getting what he asked for!
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