Accused teenage sniper on trial for his life

A teenager accused of being one of the Washington snipers went on trial for his life today.

Lee Boyd Malvo pleaded not guilty to murdering an FBI analyst who was shot to death during the three week sniper spree that claimed ten lives in the Washington area last year.

The 18-year-old, Jamaican-born, defendant responded, “Not guilty,” in a clear voice each time when asked for his plea to two counts of murder and to one of using a firearm.

The prosecution is seeking the death sentence.

Defence lawyer Craig Cooley told Judge Jane Marum Roush in Chesapeake, Virginia, that he plans to argue his client is innocent by reason of insanity.

The defence will argue that Malvo was so brainwashed by fellow suspect John Allen Muhammad, 42, his step father, that he either did not know what he was doing or could not control himself.

Malvo and Muhammad, whose trial today entered its fourth week of evidence in neighbouring Virginia Beach, are being tried for two different killings. Both face the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors have said Malvo has admitted committing many of the shootings, and investigators have testified in Muhammad’s trial that Malvo’s fingerprints were on the rifle used in the attacks, and that his DNA or fingerprints were found on evidence from several of the scenes.