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| Washington sniper is put to death | Washington sniper is put to death |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The man behind the 2002 sniper attacks in and around Washington DC has been executed after a final appeal was thrown out. | The man behind the 2002 sniper attacks in and around Washington DC has been executed after a final appeal was thrown out. |
| John Allen Muhammad's lawyers say he was mentally ill, but Virginia Governor Tim Kaine rejected a plea for clemency. | John Allen Muhammad's lawyers say he was mentally ill, but Virginia Governor Tim Kaine rejected a plea for clemency. |
| On Monday, the US Supreme Court quashed an appeal for a stay of execution. | On Monday, the US Supreme Court quashed an appeal for a stay of execution. |
| Muhammad, 48, was injected with a lethal drug for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers, one of 10 people killed during the attacks. | Muhammad, 48, was injected with a lethal drug for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers, one of 10 people killed during the attacks. |
| Muhammad's accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, is serving a life sentence in jail. | Muhammad's accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, is serving a life sentence in jail. |
| The pair killed 10 people during three weeks of attacks in Maryland, Washington and Virginia. | The pair killed 10 people during three weeks of attacks in Maryland, Washington and Virginia. |
| Witness describes sniper's final moments | Witness describes sniper's final moments |
| Muhammad was put to death at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. | Muhammad was put to death at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. |
| The procedure took five minutes, and Muhammad died at 2111 (0211 GMT), Larry Traylor of the Virginia Department of Corrections said. | The procedure took five minutes, and Muhammad died at 2111 (0211 GMT), Larry Traylor of the Virginia Department of Corrections said. |
| Muhammad did not speak before it began, and seemed quiet and relaxed, Mr Traylor said. | Muhammad did not speak before it began, and seemed quiet and relaxed, Mr Traylor said. |
| "Mr Muhammad was asked if he wished to make a last statement. He did not acknowledge us or make any statement whatsoever," he said. | "Mr Muhammad was asked if he wished to make a last statement. He did not acknowledge us or make any statement whatsoever," he said. |
| He had, Mr Traylor added, been motionless, with his head slightly tilted to the right as the drug was injected. | He had, Mr Traylor added, been motionless, with his head slightly tilted to the right as the drug was injected. |
| His lawyer said he had eaten chicken in red sauce, followed by strawberry cakes, for his final meal. | His lawyer said he had eaten chicken in red sauce, followed by strawberry cakes, for his final meal. |
| Before the execution J Wyndal Gordon, the state attorney appointed to represent Muhammad, said that he would die "with his head held high and no remorse, maintaining his innocence". | Before the execution J Wyndal Gordon, the state attorney appointed to represent Muhammad, said that he would die "with his head held high and no remorse, maintaining his innocence". |
| He was, said his lawyer, "a martyr for everything that's wrong with the death penalty". | He was, said his lawyer, "a martyr for everything that's wrong with the death penalty". |
| After the execution, he extended condolences to the victims' loved ones, but also to Muhammad's relatives. | After the execution, he extended condolences to the victims' loved ones, but also to Muhammad's relatives. |
| "It's just a tragic situation all around." | "It's just a tragic situation all around." |
| Muhammad's legal team says the ex-soldier suffered from Gulf War Syndrome. | Muhammad's legal team says the ex-soldier suffered from Gulf War Syndrome. |
| Timeline: Washington sniper killings Time runs out for Muhammad href="/2/hi/americas/8351777.stm">Sniper motive remains a mystery | |
| Lawyer Jonathan Sheldon told the BBC's World Today: "A psychiatrist examined him and said he's paranoid and psychotic and delusional and gave many examples." | Lawyer Jonathan Sheldon told the BBC's World Today: "A psychiatrist examined him and said he's paranoid and psychotic and delusional and gave many examples." |
| Mr Sheldon also said brain scans of Muhammad had revealed malformations linked to schizophrenia. | Mr Sheldon also said brain scans of Muhammad had revealed malformations linked to schizophrenia. |
| The shootings left the Washington area gripped by fear, with victims attacked while shopping, outside schools, or just sitting and reading. | The shootings left the Washington area gripped by fear, with victims attacked while shopping, outside schools, or just sitting and reading. |
| Mr Meyers was shot at a petrol station in Manassas, Virginia. | Mr Meyers was shot at a petrol station in Manassas, Virginia. |
| A skilled marksman, Muhammad picked off his targets using a sniper rifle, always with a single round and from a distance. | A skilled marksman, Muhammad picked off his targets using a sniper rifle, always with a single round and from a distance. |
| After three weeks, he was arrested at a truck stop, along with Malvo. | After three weeks, he was arrested at a truck stop, along with Malvo. |
| Seven years on, Washington residents recall sense of fear while sniper was on the loose | Seven years on, Washington residents recall sense of fear while sniper was on the loose |
| Prosecutors say Muhammad never showed remorse. | Prosecutors say Muhammad never showed remorse. |
| In addition to the 10 people they killed around the Washington area, the pair were suspected of murders in other states, including Louisiana, Alabama and Arizona. | In addition to the 10 people they killed around the Washington area, the pair were suspected of murders in other states, including Louisiana, Alabama and Arizona. |
| Cheryll Witz was one of several victims' relatives who went to watch Muhammad's execution. | Cheryll Witz was one of several victims' relatives who went to watch Muhammad's execution. |
| Malvo said he had shot her father, Jerry Taylor - at Muhammad's direction - on an Arizona golf course in March 2002. | Malvo said he had shot her father, Jerry Taylor - at Muhammad's direction - on an Arizona golf course in March 2002. |
| "He basically watched my dad breathe his last breath," she told the Associated Press news agency. | "He basically watched my dad breathe his last breath," she told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "Why shouldn't I watch his last breath?" | "Why shouldn't I watch his last breath?" |
| THE SNIPER SHOOTINGS 1 and 2. A shot fired in Aspen Hill, north of Washington DC on 2 October. James D Martin is later killed in Wheaton3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The following day, James "Sonny" Buchanan, Prenkumar Walekar, Sarah Ramos, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera and Pascal Charlot are all shot dead in areas to the north of the city8. On 4 October a woman is shot at a mall in Fredericksburg, Virginia9. On 7 October a 13-year-old schoolboy is shot at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Prince George County10 and 11. Dean Harold Meyers is shot dead in Manassas, Virginia on 9 October. Two days later, Kenneth H Bridges is killed near Fredericksburg12. Linda Franklin is shot dead at a shopping centre in northern Virginia on 14 October13. A 37-year-old man is shot in Ashland, south of Washington on 19 October14. Conrad Johnson is killed on 22 October in the Aspen Hill area | THE SNIPER SHOOTINGS 1 and 2. A shot fired in Aspen Hill, north of Washington DC on 2 October. James D Martin is later killed in Wheaton3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The following day, James "Sonny" Buchanan, Prenkumar Walekar, Sarah Ramos, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera and Pascal Charlot are all shot dead in areas to the north of the city8. On 4 October a woman is shot at a mall in Fredericksburg, Virginia9. On 7 October a 13-year-old schoolboy is shot at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Prince George County10 and 11. Dean Harold Meyers is shot dead in Manassas, Virginia on 9 October. Two days later, Kenneth H Bridges is killed near Fredericksburg12. Linda Franklin is shot dead at a shopping centre in northern Virginia on 14 October13. A 37-year-old man is shot in Ashland, south of Washington on 19 October14. Conrad Johnson is killed on 22 October in the Aspen Hill area |