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CNN Live At Daybreak
Jury Decides on Death Penalty for D.C. Sniper Muhammad
Aired November 25, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. A Virginia Beach jury took just under five and a half hours to decide he should die for his crimes, but the appeals process will likely go on for years. Muhammad was convicted under Virginia's new anti-terrorism law.
Jennifer Coggiola live from D.C. has more for us now.
Good morning -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
Well, Muhammad's lack of remorse and the fear that he could possibly harm again were enough for those seven women and five men jurors to make Muhammad the first man tried, charged and possibly sent to death for Virginia's terrorism law.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA (voice-over): The worst possible sentence for a man prosecutors called "the worst of the worst."
PAUL EBERT, PROSECUTOR: It's not a verdict that, like all cases, that we take any pleasure in per se, but there are certain cases which deserve the death penalty, and we feel that this is one of them.
PETER GREENSPUN, MUHAMMAD'S ATTORNEY: The sanction of yet another death by the government is not likely to come of any benefit to anyone, but we do respect the jurors' verdict, while we also obviously disagree with it.
COGGIOLA: After just over five hours of deliberations, the same jury that convicted John Allen Muhammad of capital murder and terrorism recommended he be killed for the shooting death of Dean Harold Meyers last October.
BOB MEYERS, BROTHER OF VICTIM: There will always be a wound that relates to my brother's death and including the way he died, the circumstances of it.
COGGIOLA: During the penalty phase, the defense showed home videos of Muhammad playing with his children, evoking a smile from the defendant, a rare show of emotion.
Muhammad's lack of remorse throughout the trial, enough reason for one juror, while others said it was a difficult decision. DENNIS BOWMAN, JUROR: To me, he doesn't care about anything except himself.
HEATHER BEST-TEAGUE, JUROR: Truthfully, the fact that he has children and that I know what it would be like to not ever be able to see mine again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: The decision by the jury yesterday serves as just a recommendation. The judge is likely to impose his final sentence on February 12.
Now, if this Virginia judge chooses death, Muhammad will have the choice between death by lethal injection or the electric chair -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jennifer Coggiola live from D.C. this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired November 25, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. A Virginia Beach jury took just under five and a half hours to decide he should die for his crimes, but the appeals process will likely go on for years. Muhammad was convicted under Virginia's new anti-terrorism law.
Jennifer Coggiola live from D.C. has more for us now.
Good morning -- Jennifer.
JENNIFER COGGIOLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
Well, Muhammad's lack of remorse and the fear that he could possibly harm again were enough for those seven women and five men jurors to make Muhammad the first man tried, charged and possibly sent to death for Virginia's terrorism law.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA (voice-over): The worst possible sentence for a man prosecutors called "the worst of the worst."
PAUL EBERT, PROSECUTOR: It's not a verdict that, like all cases, that we take any pleasure in per se, but there are certain cases which deserve the death penalty, and we feel that this is one of them.
PETER GREENSPUN, MUHAMMAD'S ATTORNEY: The sanction of yet another death by the government is not likely to come of any benefit to anyone, but we do respect the jurors' verdict, while we also obviously disagree with it.
COGGIOLA: After just over five hours of deliberations, the same jury that convicted John Allen Muhammad of capital murder and terrorism recommended he be killed for the shooting death of Dean Harold Meyers last October.
BOB MEYERS, BROTHER OF VICTIM: There will always be a wound that relates to my brother's death and including the way he died, the circumstances of it.
COGGIOLA: During the penalty phase, the defense showed home videos of Muhammad playing with his children, evoking a smile from the defendant, a rare show of emotion.
Muhammad's lack of remorse throughout the trial, enough reason for one juror, while others said it was a difficult decision. DENNIS BOWMAN, JUROR: To me, he doesn't care about anything except himself.
HEATHER BEST-TEAGUE, JUROR: Truthfully, the fact that he has children and that I know what it would be like to not ever be able to see mine again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COGGIOLA: The decision by the jury yesterday serves as just a recommendation. The judge is likely to impose his final sentence on February 12.
Now, if this Virginia judge chooses death, Muhammad will have the choice between death by lethal injection or the electric chair -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jennifer Coggiola live from D.C. this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
