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Sentencing Phase of Trial for John Allen Muhammad Under Way
Aired November 17, 2003 - 14:59 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First this hour, will it be life or death for sniper John Allen Muhammad? Jurors convicted Muhammad today on all four counts stemming from the D.C. area shootings, and now they are considering his fate.
CNN's Elaine Quijano now joins us from Virginia Beach with the developments -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Kyra. Well, the sentencing phase of this trial is now under way. It's been going on now for about 30 minutes or so here in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The decision now before the jury, whether or not John Muhammad should receive the death penalty for his crimes.
Earlier, as you mentioned, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts: terrorism, capital murder, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Now, Muhammad was on trial for the death of Dean Meyers, a 53-year-old engineer who was gunned down at a gas station in Manassas, Virginia back on October 9 of last year. Meyers was a Vietnam veteran, and today his brother spoke to reporters and shared his thoughts on the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB MEYERS, VICTIM'S BROTHER: This is a huge step in the pursuit of closure. But, as I've said before, I would really doubt that full closure ever comes, because there's always an opened wound remaining.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And Bob Meyers also saying that he does want the death penalty in this case. He was asked that, and he responded that in cases like this one, certainly a heinous crime, as he said, this is something that he would favor, seeing the death penalty imposed.
Now, as I said, the sentencing phase has been under way now for about 30 minutes or so, and the process is really expected to follow roughly the same pattern as the guilt phase. There'll be opening statements as well as testimony, and then closing arguments as well.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLILPS: And a number of us curious, Elaine -- Lee Boyd Malvo, do you think the outcome of this case will affect his accused accomplice? QUIJANO: Well, that's certainly something that people will be watching, although obviously in that case the lawyers on both sides are trying to prevent any kind of publicity from leaching out, although some have argued perhaps it could bolster the defense's case if in fact the jury members learn of the guilty conviction of Muhammad. You'll remember, prosecutors in this case talked about Muhammad being the captain of the "killing team."
If that is the case, that certainly seems to bolster what the defense has said all along, what they have said up till this point, that Malvo was indoctrinated, that he was a child soldier who was very much, they say, under the control of Muhammad. The prosecution maintains the jury will hear an audiotaped confession that should indicate to them, at least what the prosecution hopes will indicate to them, that Malvo was very much in control of his actions and not necessarily under the influence of Muhammad -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Elaine Quijano, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Way>
Aired November 17, 2003 - 14:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First this hour, will it be life or death for sniper John Allen Muhammad? Jurors convicted Muhammad today on all four counts stemming from the D.C. area shootings, and now they are considering his fate.
CNN's Elaine Quijano now joins us from Virginia Beach with the developments -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon to you, Kyra. Well, the sentencing phase of this trial is now under way. It's been going on now for about 30 minutes or so here in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The decision now before the jury, whether or not John Muhammad should receive the death penalty for his crimes.
Earlier, as you mentioned, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts: terrorism, capital murder, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Now, Muhammad was on trial for the death of Dean Meyers, a 53-year-old engineer who was gunned down at a gas station in Manassas, Virginia back on October 9 of last year. Meyers was a Vietnam veteran, and today his brother spoke to reporters and shared his thoughts on the verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB MEYERS, VICTIM'S BROTHER: This is a huge step in the pursuit of closure. But, as I've said before, I would really doubt that full closure ever comes, because there's always an opened wound remaining.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And Bob Meyers also saying that he does want the death penalty in this case. He was asked that, and he responded that in cases like this one, certainly a heinous crime, as he said, this is something that he would favor, seeing the death penalty imposed.
Now, as I said, the sentencing phase has been under way now for about 30 minutes or so, and the process is really expected to follow roughly the same pattern as the guilt phase. There'll be opening statements as well as testimony, and then closing arguments as well.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLILPS: And a number of us curious, Elaine -- Lee Boyd Malvo, do you think the outcome of this case will affect his accused accomplice? QUIJANO: Well, that's certainly something that people will be watching, although obviously in that case the lawyers on both sides are trying to prevent any kind of publicity from leaching out, although some have argued perhaps it could bolster the defense's case if in fact the jury members learn of the guilty conviction of Muhammad. You'll remember, prosecutors in this case talked about Muhammad being the captain of the "killing team."
If that is the case, that certainly seems to bolster what the defense has said all along, what they have said up till this point, that Malvo was indoctrinated, that he was a child soldier who was very much, they say, under the control of Muhammad. The prosecution maintains the jury will hear an audiotaped confession that should indicate to them, at least what the prosecution hopes will indicate to them, that Malvo was very much in control of his actions and not necessarily under the influence of Muhammad -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Elaine Quijano, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Way>
