Judge bans cameras from sniper trial

A judge today banned TV cameras from the trial of accused Washington sniper Allen Muhammad, saying such coverage could compromise the right to a fair trial.

Virginia Judge LeRoy Millette also set an October 14 2003 trial date and set aside eight weeks for the trial.

Muhammad, 41, is charged with murdering Dean Meyers who was shot while filling his car at a petrol station in Virginia’s Prince William County.

Meyers was one of 13 people hit – 10 fatally – by sniper fire during a three-week shooting spree in suburban Washington. Muhammad and 17-year-old John Lee Malvo are suspected in all 13, as well as eight other shootings across the country.