Washington sniper suspect pleads not guilty

VIRGINIA BEACH - Sniper suspect John Muhammad pleaded not guilty today at the opening of his murder trial in one of a series of 10 fatal shootings that terrorized the Washington DC area a year ago.

Muhammad said "not guilty" four times in a clear voice, as the four individual charges against him were read in a Virginia Beach courtroom, some 200 miles from where the shooting occurred on Oct. 9, 2002.

In a white long-sleeved shirt, dark tie and trousers, Muhammad presented a far different appearance than he has previously, when he has worn an orange prison jumpsuit.

Asked by Judge LeRoy Millette whether he understood the charges against him - two capital murder counts, a charge of conspiracy and a weapons charge - Muhammad replied, "Yes, I understand what I'm charged with," as he stood with his attorneys at the defence table.

Muhammad, 42, faces two capital murder charges in connection with the killing of a 53-year-old Maryland man who was shot dead as he refueled his car in Manassas, in Washington's Virginia suburbs.

Along with his young traveling companion, Lee Malvo, now 18, Muhammad is linked to 10 fatal shootings in and around the US capital in October 2002. Three other people were wounded in the attacks, which created a pervasive climate of fear and spawned intense publicity.

Before jury selection, which is expected to take several days, one of Muhammad's lawyers thanked the community for taking on the responsibilities of what is expected to be an expensive and long-running trial.

"We look forward to getting started, everyone has done a lot of work and preparation and so here we are, we're ready to go and have a good and fair trial with tremendous jurors from the city of Virginia Beach," Muhammad's attorney Peter Greenspun said in brief remarks on the courthouse steps.

In addition to the more customary murder charge, Muhammad is the first to be tried for murder under Virginia's anti-terrorism law, enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Both charges carry a possible death sentence. In order to be seated, potential jurors must agree that they could impose the death penalty if Muhammad is found guilty. The only other possible sentence is life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors and defence attorneys will pick 12 jurors and three alternates for the trial, which was moved from Manassas, in Washington's western suburbs, to Virginia Beach, in an attempt to seat an unbiased jury.

Potential jurors were brought into the courtroom 40 at a time, and filled out questionnaires before being questioned by attorneys. Of the first 80 candidates, Millette excused 30, mostly for work or health reasons, but two women were let go because they said they had heard so much about the case they could not be impartial.

Court recessed for the day after attorneys questioned prospective jurors in groups, asking them if they could stomach graphic forensic evidence in this case, and whether Muhammad's African-American heritage or his Muslim faith would make a difference in considering the charges against him.

Virginia Beach juries, culled from among the many military and retired military residents of the area, have a reputation for toughness and a willingness to impose the death penalty. Virginia is second only to Texas in its number of executions.

Malvo, who was 17 when the crimes were committed, is being tried as an adult for a separate fatal shooting, which occurred just west of Washington. He also would face a possible death sentence if convicted. His attorneys have said they plan an insanity defence, contending Muhammad brainwashed Malvo.

Malvo's trial was moved to Chesapeake, a city not far from Virginia Beach, and is scheduled to begin Nov. 10. Malvo also faces a possible death sentence.

- REUTERS