Va. Judge Drops Capital Murder Charges re. Sniper

[Annie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41-2004Oct1.html
Excerpt:

Va. Judge Dismisses Case Against Muhammad
Fairfax Ruling Cites Right to Speedy Trial

By Tom Jackman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 2, 2004; Page A01

A Fairfax County judge yesterday dismissed capital murder charges against convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad, ruling that Muhammad's right to a speedy trial had been violated.

The ruling by Circuit Court Judge M. Langhorne Keith cannot be appealed by prosecutors. Keith cited Virginia law requiring that a jailed defendant be brought to trial within five months. The judge said that when Fairfax authorities sent notice to the Prince William County jail in January seeking Muhammad's detention, the action constituted an arrest under Virginia law.

Although the ruling has no effect on Muhammad's death sentence stemming from an earlier case in Prince William, yesterday's decision is a severe blow to a coordinated plan by Northern Virginia prosecutors to secure a series of convictions and death sentences for Muhammad as a safety net in case his appeal is successful.

 

[krisy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41-2004Oct1.html
Excerpt:

I saw this on the news yesterday. It seems very unfair. Like a slap in the face to the victims and their families. There are lots of people who do not get a speedy trial in this country.

 

[Annie]

I saw this on the news yesterday. It seems very unfair. Like a slap in the face to the victims and their families. There are lots of people who do not get a speedy trial in this country.

Seems pretty ridiculous considering the complexity and the other trial.