DC sniper asks Supreme Court to block execution

In a Tuesday Nov. 18, 2003 file photo, convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad is escorted into the Virginia Beach Circuit Court in Virginia Beach, Va.

Tools

Story Published: Nov 3, 2009 at 5:00 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 5:00 PM MDT

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorneys for sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad are asking the Supreme Court to stop his execution next week.

The 48-year-old Muhammad is scheduled to die by lethal injection Nov. 10 at a Virginia prison.

In court papers filed Tuesday, Muhammad's attorneys say the execution should be put off while the court considers whether his trial lawyer was ineffective.

Muhammad is to be executed for the slaying of Dean Harold Meyers at a Manassas, Va., gas station during a three-week killing spree in October 2002 that left 10 dead in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Muhammad and his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, were also suspected of fatal shootings in other states, including Louisiana and Alabama. Malvo is serving a life sentence in prison.

Current Weather

Icon
Current Temp 38.0 °F
Overcast
Video
More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Stay Connected

Viewer Poll

This week Gov. Otter signed a bill requiring Idaho to sue the federal government if Congress passes health care reform. What's your response to this?

  • It's great to see Idaho taking the lead on this. Someone has to stand up to what's happening in Washington.
  • We can't afford to pay for education in Idaho, but we're going to spend tax dollars to sue the feds? Ridiculous.
  • Not sure.

Connect with KIDK