U.S. Supreme Court refuses to block sniper’s execution
AP
John Allen Muhammad still has a clemency petition pending before Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
Related Info
The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down John Allen Muhammad’s appeal and request for a stay of execution.
Muhammad, 48, is set to die by injection at 9 p.m. tomorrow night in the state death chamber at the Greensville Correctional Center, near Jarratt.
He was condemned for the Oct., 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Harold Meyers, 53, one of 10 people slain by Muhammad and his young accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo in Virginia, Maryland and Washington in three weeks in October 2002.
Muhammad still has a clemency petition pending before Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
The high court rejected his appeal a short time ago. However, Justice John Paul Stevens, in a statement joined by justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, was critical of the way Virginia handles appeals in death cases.
“This case highlights once again the perversity of executing inmates before their appeals process has been fully concluded. Under our normal practice, Muhammad’s timely petition. ... would have been reviewed at our conference on November, 24, 2009.“
“Virginia has scheduled his execution for November 10, however, so we must resolve the (appeal) on an expedited basis unless we grant a temporary stay. By denying Muhammad’s stay application, we have allowed Virginia to truncate our deliberative process on a matter—involving a death row inmate—that demands the most careful attention.“
Stevens said he did not dissent with the court’s decision to not hear Muhammad’s appeal, but, “I do, however, remain firmly convinced that no state should be allowed to foreshorten this court’s orderly review (in death cases) by executing prisoners before that review can be completed.“
Jonathan Sheldon, one of Muhammad’s lawyers, said, “in its effort to race John Allen Muhammad to his death before his appeals could be pursued, the state of Virginia will execute a severely mentally ill man who also suffered from Gulf War Syndrome the day before Veterans Day.“
However, David Clementson, spokesman for the Vigrinia Attorney General’s office, said, “we are pleased with the order from the U.S. Supreme Court. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the many victims in this case.“
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
lina and jc
I applaud your compassion but this man had to die.
Lina, that was a very cheap shot about our economy(which you also are taking advantage of)suffering because of a supposed lack of Godliness. I’ll ask you like I asked JC to get a copy of the American Gangster segment that featured Muhammad and Malvo and you will see that this was a pre-meditated, claculated, well thought out plot. Whatever experience he endured in the Gulf War does not justify his post war actions. In almost 7 years the man hadn’t expressed any remorse,only putting the blame on others.
So proud to be a Virginian at this hour! Sic Semper Tyrannis. Too bad our limp wristed Supreme Court ruled that juveniles could not be executed. Lee Boy Malvo should die as well, but instead we will house, feed, clothe, educate and provide weight lifting opportunities for him for life.
He should have been put to death 6 ½ years ago! Period!!!
First of all, stevieb96, I think we all know what N! stands for, and you prove yourself to be nothing more than an ignorant racist.
I currently live in Florida but am from Virginia and remember full well the feeling that seemed to penetrate the air because of the selfish actions of these two monsters. Thank God for the good people of Virginia who will make one of those monsters answer for his selfishness. I still consider Virginia home, and right now I am damn proud of that.
As for the other monster, Malvo. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has ruled it a violation of the 8th amendment to execute anyone who commits a murder when under the age of 18. A mere technicality saved his life. Ask me, 17 is not that different from 18. Mr. Malvo was a willing participant in the murder spree. He should be held fully accountable for his choices.
Good riddens to this piece of trash. It is too bad that they have to give him a lethal injection. I would rather see this piece of trash ride 2000 volts in the electric chair. At least this piece of trash will not be able to kill again.
for the record… it’s actually cheaper to the tax payer to keep someone in federal prison for life, than to execute them. for death penalty, the criminal automatically recieves a second trial, and the state pays for any appeals he makes. often the cost is greater than keeping someone in prison, average cost of $3 day.
however, i’m all for the death penalty. insane seems to be a relative term used on here. defined as unable to distinguish between right and wrong. he knew exactly what he was doing.
the rest is between him and God now.
I just remember really being scared - to send my children to school,for my entire family to be in any open space for this sicko to take a shot at. It really was an act of terrorism. I just sincerely hope he has spent the last few days squirming in the mess he made and with many uneasy thoughts and fears going thru his mind minute by minute - just as he did all of us. He’s lucky that it’s the State taking care of him - i don’t want to know what the public would do to him and even though he gave us that fear - he’s lucky - he’s been given God’s mercy and grace to not have to wonder or know what that feels like.
“Posted by Robo on November 10, 2009 at 6:53 am “
Robo - hear, hear! But I would say NO tv or radio. Let him read some classic books if he wants to (if he can). Nothing contemporary and nothing violent.
There are worse things than death.
Too bad they cannot execute him ON Veterans Day. How dare he be put in the category with law abiding Vets who have their fair share of issues brought on by PTSD? I also read where there was an MRI showing brain damage.In the 1920s my great uncle commited crimes for which he was executed. His defense:an xray showing that he had been kicked in the head by a mule.That didnt work and this MRI shouldnt either.
Rationalist…. animals don’t naturally seek revenge. They only act on instincts of protection. You are looking at this from one angle only. Revenge is not the motivation that was considered when implementing the death penalty. It is a form of punishment, but it is also a measure to protect society in the future, and, it serves as an incredible deterrant. I am in favor of the death penalty when, as others have said, absolute guilt can be determined. This guy willingly took the lives of multiple people in a sinister plot. He deserves the death penalty based upon his actions. Period.
Advertisement