D.C. sniper jurors weep at chilling evidence

Washington Post/News Tribune ^ | October 31st, 2003 | Josh White

[witnesstothefall]

JOSH WHITE; The Washington Post

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Jurors wept Thursday as they listened to a recording of the wails and sobs of sniper victim Linda Franklin's husband making the emergency call reporting his wife's shooting.

"I'm at the Home Depot on Route 50," William Franklin screamed into a cell phone. The former Marine testified that he had been sprayed with his wife's blood, turned and saw her lying on the pavement. His words on the tape melted into loud cries. "She's shot in the head. Oh, my God."

The three-minute 911 recording hushed Courtroom 10 in one of the most emotional moments so far in John Allen Muhammad's capital murder trial. Jurors also saw disturbing photos of Linda Franklin's head wounds, her body lying in the Fairfax County, Va., parking lot minutes after she and her husband purchased items for their new apartment.

In addition to wrenching testimony from Franklin's husband and daughter, Thursday's witnesses put names and faces to some of the most significant and notorious events of last fall's sniper slayings. Witnesses included the Ashland, Va., priest who took a call from the snipers in the midst of the shootings; the Rockville, Md., police dispatcher who received the sniper's indignant call to be taken seriously; the Prince George's County, Md., officer who found the "Call me God" tarot card; and the Florida motorist who survived a shooting at an Ashland, Va., restaurant.

Strategically, prosecutors used Thursday's testimony to begin trying to establish a crucial element of their case: that the sniper shootings were part of a plan to terrorize the public. On the whirlwind day, jurors not only cried but covered their mouths in disbelief.

The strategy has drawn the ire of Muhammad's defense attorneys, who have consistently objected to the use of such dramatic tapes and photographs, arguing that they do nothing more than evoke emotion from the jury. William Franklin's 911 tape and the horrific photos of his wife's disfigured head prompted numerous objections as defense attorneys tried to keep them from the jury.

[witnesstothefall]

That Home Depot is not 5 miles from my home. I'm still squirrely when I pump gas 'round here.

Muhammud the Terrorist and his sidekick need to fry extra crispy.

[Dallas59]

Peter Greenspun, one of Muhammad's attorneys, said to Millette: "It's understandably horrific, but it only adds emotion and bias and prejudice, which far outweighs any probative value if there's any probative value."

There is no "bias and prejudice". Hang him in public. Case Closed.

[clee1]

Agreed, if the prosecution can prove the case.

The problem is: such inflammatory "evidence" is likely to cause an overturn on appeal.

These "witnesses" didn't see who shot them or their loved ones.... they don't provide what is known as "probative" evidence.

I hope this prosecution tactic doesn't backfire on them.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

I thought these two snipers wanted to provoke emotion from the masses, wasn't that the whole point of shooting people doing daily activities and taunting the police. "Your children are safe, and the next person shot was a child." If it wasn't the whole point it was at least a side effect they clearly enjoyed (or they wouldn't have done it.)

They just don't like it when someone else provokes the emotions of fear and anger using thier actions against them.

[witnesstothefall]

I was thinking about that but I have to disagree. In terrorism cases, the evidence is almost always going to "terrorize" the jury, by definition. The evidence is probative, and inflammatory, and that's just going to have to be the way it is.

[judywillow]

Muhammud the Terrorist and his sidekick need to fry extra crispy.

This one is nothing more than an extreme case of ideas having consequences. In other words, when you put several thousand people with two-digit IQs in front of all of the death-to-America sermons being taught in mosques out there in California, nobody should need to be Albert Einstein to comprehend what's going to happen on account of it.

We need some Islam-control in this country. I'd like to hear about a full investigation into whatever these guys were listening to before they started shooting up the D.C. area, and I'd like to read about whatever that was being shut down and eliminated from our society. In particular, when you read about the sermons for all the mosques in this country being faxed in from Riyhad on Fridays, you have to ask yourself what would have happened had it turned out that the sermons for Lutheran churches were being faxed in from Berlin in 1940. I mean, that's not freedom of religion or anything like that at all; that's infiltration.

[DustyMoment]

Hear, hear!! I wholeheartedly concur!!

[tkathy]

Malvo is a classic example of how muslims are taking the young and vulnerable and turning them into brain washed zombie killing machines.

[exnavy]

These two perps in this case should recieve a very slow and painful death.

[Tripleplay]

We need some Islam-control in this country. I'd like to hear about a full investigation into whatever these guys were listening to before they started shooting up the D.C. area, and I'd like to read about whatever that was being shut down and eliminated from our society. In particular, when you read about the sermons for all the mosques in this country being faxed in from Riyhad on Fridays, you have to ask yourself what would have happened had it turned out that the sermons for Lutheran churches were being faxed in from Berlin in 1940. I mean, that's not freedom of religion or anything like that at all; that's infiltration.

I have a more permanent solution, albiet it is long term...................Find an alternative energy for oil...............the funding for terrorism would dry up and and these vermin would go back to killing each other instead of us.

[misanthrope]

Since these two intentionally terrorized the Washington D.C. public, the cops should escort them to an outdoor public place, chain them to a large immobile object, and walk away.

[The Other Harry]

...Find an alternative energy for oil...the funding for terrorism would dry up and and these vermin would go back to killing each other instead of us

That's no joke. I agree.

[exnavy]

Great idea!

[maica]

****They just don't like it when someone else provokes the emotions of fear and anger using thier actions against them.****


Absolutely true, and what defense attorneys fight against al the time.

Consider this conundrum. These two bottom-feeders terrorized a multi-state area, and then claim they need a change of venue because people have been too 'emotionally' involved to be able to be a fair jury.

It seems that the Virginia prosecution team is not going to be intimidated. A lesson for all of us to stand our ground when we are right.

[maica]

****They just don't like it when someone else provokes the emotions of fear and anger using thier actions against them.****


Absolutely true, and what defense attorneys fight against al the time.

Consider this conundrum. These two bottom-feeders terrorized a multi-state area, and then claim they need a change of venue because people have been too 'emotionally' involved to be able to be a fair jury.

It seems that the Virginia prosecution team is not going to be intimidated. A lesson for all of us to stand our ground when we are right.

[muawiyah]

Hey, the trick is to get Malvo and Muhammad "off" in an appeals court. Then the judges will have to "let them go". At that point justice can be done.

Even the defense attorneys are in on the game ~ otherwise why would any lawyer defend either of these two chunks of scum.

[GeekDejure]

I hope this prosecution tactic doesn't backfire on them.

In today's upsidedown and backwards American Just Us system it won't surprise me if this turns out to be a matter of "Let's make a feeeeeeeeeel gooooooood decision in favor of this pooooooooor misunderstood Muzzle-em. If he was a Christian, well... then he kinda, sorta, woulda, shoulda obeyed the 5th Commandment (Thou Shalt Not Kill!!!) But this guy's a Muzzle-em... and killing Infidels is one of the Koran's most important commands... so how can we convict this poor, faithful follower of Islam??? Geeeez... even our president assures us that "Islam is a Religion of Piece!" Besides, he didn't die while murdering the Infidels, so he's already deprived of his 72 Virgins when he finally goes to Islamic Paradise!!! Isn't that punishment enough for this poor, misunderstood Muzzle-em??? I say we find him NOT GUILTY"!!!

[AngrySpud]

I will rejoice when the Gates of Hell swing open for them. Here's hoping their death rattles last long enough for them to see it coming while still conscious.

[Brian Allen]

<< This one is nothing more than an extreme case of ideas having consequences. In other words, when you put several thousand people with two-digit IQs in front of all of the death-to-America sermons being taught in mosques out there in California, nobody should need to be Albert Einstein to comprehend what's going to happen on account of it.

We need some Islam-control in this country. I'd like to hear about a full investigation into whatever these guys were listening to before they started shooting up the D.C. area, and I'd like to read about whatever that was being shut down and eliminated from our society. In particular, when you read about the sermons for all the mosques in this country being faxed in from Riyhad on Fridays, you have to ask yourself what would have happened had it turned out that the sermons for Lutheran churches were being faxed in from Berlin in 1940. I mean, that's not freedom of religion or anything like that at all; that's infiltration. >>

And invasion.

Brilliant.

Hear! Hear!

Blessings -- Brian

Bump/Ping

[dagnabbit]

Islam is pouring into this country in the skulls of Muslim immigrants.

For some reason, George Bush sees fit to import about 100,000 new, green-carded, legal Muslim immigrants per year.