Sniper Muhammad Sentenced to Death

Judge follows jury's recommendation

Tuesday, March 9, 2004
(1:20 PM ET) (18:20 GMT)
The Cable News Network

CNN's Mike Ahlers and Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report

Muhammad's attorneys had pleaded that his life be spared, arguing in court papers filed Friday that "if someone is able to change from a loving father to a killer, then time can also change him back yet again."

MANASSAS, Va. -- CNN
A Virginia judge Tuesday sentenced John Allen Muhammad to death for killing Dean Harold Meyers -- one of 10 people shot to death during the October 2002 sniper shootings.

Prince William County Circuit Judge LeRoy Millette Jr. made the decision after reviewing a jury's recommendation.

Millette said the jury correctly found that Muhammad, 43, would be a "continuing, serious threat to society" if allowed to live.

Millette said he looked at other cases in Virginia for comparison, and "there simply are no other crimes" of the same magnitude.

Millette set an October 14 execution date, but that will likely be delayed by an appeal.

Before Millette pronounced the sentence, Muhammad insisted, "I had nothing to do with this."

"You do what you have to do and let me do what I have to do to defend myself," he told the judge.

(More: CNN.com / Law Center)

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Dan