Nov 3, 2009 11:25 pm US/Eastern
Maryland Prosecution Discusses Sniper Case
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
John Allen Muhammad is slated to die next week.
WJZ
In just one week, serial sniper John Allen Muhammad is slated to be put to death in Virginia.
Vic Carter talks with the Maryland prosecution about what the snipers told them about their reign of terror and future targets right here in Baltimore.
During a 23-day reign of terror, the serial snipers gunned down 10 innocent people. Six of them were killed right here in Maryland.
"John Muhammad is the poster child for the person who ought to get the death penalty," said Doug Gansler.
In 2002, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler was the Montgomery County State's Attorney who headed up the legal team of the sniper task force. He remembers the widespread fear and waiting every day for the next shooting victim.
"Anybody who was pumping gas was ducking. People were walking into supermarkets zigzagging. Everybody was afraid," Gansler said.
Gansler's chief prosecutor, Kay Winfrey, eventually faced off against Muhammad in the courtroom.
"We didn't have anybody who had seen any of these murders, except for Lee Boyd Malvo," Winfrey said.
Muhammad had trained his 17-year-old partner to "kill on command." Malvo turned into the state's star witness. The teenager, who once thought of Muhammad as a father, wound up testifying against the man he claims turned him into a monster.
"I remember the first time he walked into my office. He was clearly intelligent, bright, troubled, but a wasted youth," Gansler said.
"I think I was surprised to hear from Lee Malvo about the plans that they had," Winfrey said. "They had left behind a map of Baltimore and came up and stalked a police officer. They planned to plant bombs on school buses."
Winfrey still remembers how it felt to stand alongside Muhammad in the courtroom, as he acted in his own defense.
"He has a strong personality. He's a very intense guy. It was a little weird to be trying a case with a killer," she said.
"You can watch him during the court proceedings and see he is not insane," Gansler said. "He is just a sick, evil man."
In Maryland, Muhammad got six consecutive life terms. In Virginia, which had tougher death penalty laws, Muhammad was convicted and sentenced to die.
"He is defiant and angry. When he sits in his cell at night, I don't even think he's allowed himself to think what he's done," said Winfrey.
While Muhammad never expressed regret over the killings, Malvo did apologize to the victims' families.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Winter Storm Hits Maryland, Part 3
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments