State and Regional News

Verdict may reduce chance of Alabama sniper trial

By Bob Johnson
Associated Press
11-25-2003

MONTGOMERY A Virginia jury’s recommendation Monday that John Allen Muhammad be sentenced to death for his conviction in one of the Washington-area sniper shootings may reduce the likelihood that Muhammad and fellow sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo will be tried in Alabama. Muhammad and Malvo are charged with capital murder in the Sept. 21, 2002 fatal shooting of state liquor store manager Claudine Parker and the wounding of her co-worker, Kellie Adams, outside the Montgomery store. Montgomery Police Chief John Wilson said Monday that Alabama officials must decide if it would be practical to bring the suspects to Montgomery at what he said would be "a tremendous expense." Carol Boone, assistant chief deputy district attorney in Montgomery County, said her office would still like to try Muhammad in Alabama. "We are still interested and we’re still actively pursuing prosecuting him for the crimes he committed here," Boone said. Wilson also said officials in Alabama would continue to push for a trial if Adams and members of Parker’s family feel a trial in Montgomery "would give them more closure." He said the fact that Montgomery police officers, Adams and Parker’s relatives got to participate in the trial in Virginia may make them less likely to push for an Alabama trial. University of Alabama criminal justice professor Robert Sigler said state officials would be wise to drop efforts to try Muhammad and Malvo in Alabama, especially considering the state’s current poor financial condition. "The smart thing to do would be for Alabama to do nothing. It would be very expensive to bring him here," Sigler said. "Going for multiple death penalties serves no purpose at all." Sigler also said trying Muhammad in Alabama might delay the appeals process in Virginia.