Sniper Defendant: 'I Had Nothing To Do With The Crime'

CNN ^ | 10/20/03

[marshmallow]

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (CNN) -- Sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad denied any involvement in the shootings in his opening statements Monday, after the judge granted an unexpected motion allowing him to represent himself.

"I had nothing to do with the crime," he told the jury. "I had nothing at all to do with the crime -- and they know this. And please pay attention-- my life and my son's life -- is on the line," Muhammad said, apparently a reference to fellow suspect Lee Boyd Malvo.

[boxerblues]

yep its all the kids fault, he was just along for the ride....geez

[bikerman]

Of course not I was just standing their with my gun and because of a flaw in the trigger it went off its the gun manufacture`s fault, their was no warning on the ammo box that bullets can kill its their fault. Fry his A$$

[Quilla]

No kidding! Didn't one or both of them confess at one point early after their arrests?

Ben Franklin was right!

[prairiebreeze]

I thought these two guys were both Muslim. Muhammed is quoting Jesus??

Sounds like he's just darn sorry he got caught, put in jail, and is standing trial.

Prairie

[boxerblues]

One of them did

[Guillermo]

Muslims: "Muslims didn't commit 9-11, but, you deserved it anyways."

Mohammed: "I didn't do it, but, you deserved it."

[george wythe]

my life and my son's life -- is on the line,"

"Daddy" and "son". . . how eccentric.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

There had been some discussion on FR of the idea the Muhammad belonged to a Muslim sect, while living in Portland.

[Argus]

In his recent book on the murder of Daniel Pearl, Bernard-Henri Levy says that Muhammed was a member of the US branch of al Fuqra, a terrorist sect run by bin Laden's guru. These scumbags have been recruiting in prisons here since the 80's - Levy's implication is that there are many more John Muhammeds out there.

[DannyTN]

"Ben Franklin was right! "

Ben certainly wasn't left, but what was he right about this time?

[marshmallow]

Muhammad also gave a discourse on "truth."

Nothing like a condescending, rambling sermon to the jury to kick off one's defence. As the trial progresses and the concrete evidence against Muhammad is presented, I'm sure we'll see more of these nebulous, emotional discourses from this self-styled attorney/philosopher/moralist.

I suspect that in Muhammad's mind, truth is whatever he thinks it to be.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I have no reason to doubt this assertion. I believe we have many enemies... foreign and domestic.

[Thorondir]

"I vas only following ze Koran!"

[Spok]

...and James Carville has declared all the victims to be trailer trash who had it coming!!!

[Quilla]

"A man who represents himself in court has a fool for a lawyer and an imbecile for a client." ~Ben Franklin

[DannyTN]

"A man who represents himself in court has a fool for a lawyer and an imbecile for a client." ~Ben Franklin

Oh yeah, I remember that one.

[exit82]

This is a capital offense case, with a death penalty as a possible result.

Now that the court has unwisely decided to allow Muhammed to represent himself, we have now been set up for a Moussaiou-like trial, with all kinds bizarre statements and ramblings.

He will be convicted, given the death penalty, and be in court for the next twenty years in trials claiming he was insane and couldn't do a decent job of representing himself in court.

We have another Mumia in the making.

This is becoming a circus.

I feel badly for the families of the victims--they have to be put through this circus and they won't receive justice. And if he beats the death penalty in Virginia, he'll get nothing but three squares a day and free medical care for life from Maryland.

Justice is supposed to be blind, not stupid.

[Ronin]

This is becoming a circus.

Surely you didn't expect anything less, did you?

[Lazamataz]

Muhammad: I'm denied my constitutional rights Dressed in a suit

Yeah, well, I'm denied my constitutional rights dressed in a Speedo, but you don't hear me complaining.