Washington sniper verdict: Your views

Washington sniper suspect, John Allen Muhammad has been found guilty of murder, terrorism, conspiracy and a firearms charge by jurors in Virginia.

The Gulf War veteran was convicted of shooting dead Dean Meyers at a petrol station in Manassas, Virginia on 9 October 2002.

Muhammad, who has denied the charges could now receive the death penalty.

He may also face other charges relating to the Washington sniper killings, which left 10 dead and three wounded.

What are your views on this verdict?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

I think it takes tremendous courage to have a death sentence; courage the UK has lacked for 35 years. If he's guilty, then execute him. This is the problem with the UK- death sentences only seem right in the public mind for child molesters. At all other times, it's considered barbaric etc.
John, UK

Guns don't kill people, PEOPLE kill people. Legislating against guns will only deprive law abiding citizens of their firearms while criminals will simply break one more law and use them. Punish the criminal, not the law abiding citizen. And in this case, punish him to death
Douglas, USA

The verdict was rendered by the jury after hearing all of the evidence and applying the law. I don't think they should be second guessed. I do hope they apply the death penalty, but again, that is their decision after hearing all the facts.
Douglas, USA

They terrified us for long three weeks! Maryam, Maryland, USA

I live only a few blocks from the shootings and I can never forget every morning and every afternoon shielding my boys while they were getting off the school buses! They deserve whatever they get and even worse! They terrified us for long three weeks!
Maryam, Maryland, USA

I can't second guess the verdict, neither can any one else. But I know that a truly civilized society will destroy those members who of right mind endeavour to take the life of its other members, and not oblige the latter to feed, educate and support their worst enemy. Those who want to paint all killing with one brush obviously should not go to war for their own country or go to the rescue of their neighbour or family when they see them getting murdered. So if he is guilty, I want to see this person destroyed as one would a rabid animal and would do it myself if there is no one else to perform this duty.
Arpad Polan, Canada

If it can be PROVEN that he has done it, then yes, he should die. If DNA evidence backs up the case, get rid of him. If it was in the UK I wouldn't want to pay my taxes to look after him.
Maxine, England

Well, since this has turned into a forum on the death penalty, let's address it. I'm conflicted about the practice myself. But where are the criticisms of other countries that maintain the death penalty? (e.g. China, Japan, etc.) Perhaps you hold the U.S. to a higher standard? All these references to "civilized" nations suggests to me a profound arrogance on the part of Western civilization.
Guy, USA

Perhaps he should be sentenced to death, but allowed to live freely outside of prison. He could be executed by a single shot from a trained marksman on any day of his life, never knowing exactly when it's going to happen. This seems fair, given the way he treated his victims.
Rob, UK

JA Muhammad's guilt is indisputable. This murderer was tried fairly, in spite of his initial choice to represent himself at trial. He was, after all, accorded the right to defence, a right he never offered his victims. If anyone was ever a just candidate for execution, it is Mr. Muhammad. May God damn his soul to hell when the state separates it from his body.
Tiger, USA

He should be summarily executed Michael, USA

He should be summarily executed. But no, he will proceed with extended appeal process. The cost of this, to the taxpayer, will be several hundreds of thousands. The money wasted on housing, feeding, and providing legal recourse (post-verdict), would go a long way for the families of the victims. Quite simply, he is not worth the expense!
Michael, USA

For those people who think the death penalty is an easy way out, think on this: He will probably spend the next 5-10 years on death row, having to wake up every day knowing that he is going to die because of his actions. That seems pretty fair to me. Grizzly I know, but then he showed absolutely no compassion for the people in Virginia who had to wake up every day for weeks wondering if they'd be next. So why should any compassion be shown?
Ben, U.K.

If either of these men, especially Muhammad, are given the death penalty, they will become martyrs in the eyes of others. I lived 20 minutes away from Aspen Hill (where two of the shootings took place) during their attacks, and after being wrapped up in the politics of it all, I think that these men want to die. They have no respect for life, and killing them would do nothing. However, if they are given life without parole, that would be a greater punishment than death could ever be, considering the way they have spoken about their killings.
Mari, USA

I am a Brit living in the US (8 years) and the contrasts here never cease to amaze. On the one hand there is a criminal justice system espoused by its supporters to be the best in world, while on the other hand the death penalty exists. Most civilised nations did away with the death penalty years ago it is an archaic, barbaric sentence.
Nigel Pond, UK/USA

I'm relieved Muhammad has been convicted and hope he receives life without the possibility of parole. He should suffer in prison for his actions. I believe the death penalty is not an effective punishment because death is a release, one Muhammad does not deserve.
Eric, USA

He deserved a much more competent defence than he received jplotinus, USA

Jury selection in John Allen Muhammad's case took barely more than one day. His defence lawyers were lacklustre at best and the jury barely deliberated. This case stands in sharp contrast to two other recent American murder trials. In one, a man who admitted killing 48 women received a life sentence rather than the death penalty. In the other, a millionaire who admitted killing, and who then hacked to pieces the corpse of his victim was acquitted altogether. That is why the death penalty in the US is such a travesty. Say what you will about John Allen Muhammad, he deserved a much more competent defence than he received.
jplotinus, USA

Muhammad undoubtedly should be put away for life, he shouldn't be given the death penalty. Also, while I agree that having a society full of guns is a huge part of our troubles, I think that problem is now irreversible. This country is so saturated with weaponry that no law will ever prevent their circulation. The best we can do is work hard to alter this culture of ours that promotes violence over other means to a solution. Now more than ever, when politics here are shifting in favour of frightening blind-faith fundamentalism and nationalism over reason and true democracy we need to change our 'values', as it were. The thought patterns of our leaders today are frightfully close to those of the terrorists!
Neil, Indiana, USA

I live in the DC area and can tell you flat-out that the reign of terror dear Mr. Muhammad put us through truly was horrible. People were crouching behind gas pumps, bus service was disrupted, it was like a ghost town when you went anywhere. I am not an advocate of the death penalty, but in this case, I'm almost tempted to change my mind. I am sad for the people who lost family members, and I am sad that this man and his young accomplice somehow felt that they had a right to take human lives.
Ann, USA

Could someone please explain why a serial killer was charged with terrorism? With the status quo in America of equating "suspected terrorist" as automatically guilty, is this a new ploy to guarantee convictions?
Martin, England, UK

The most telling point of the verdict is that it only took six and a half hours to return guilty verdicts on all three counts Greg Beattie, USA

Five of the initial murders took place within 5 kilometres of my boyhood home and the continuing residence of my elderly parents. I think the most telling point of the verdict is that it only took six and a half hours to return guilty verdicts on all three counts. The evidence, although circumstantial was overwhelming. However, I do not agree with the political overtones that forced the location of the trial to occur in a state where Capital Punishment is carried out in numbers only second to that of Texas.

Precedendtial nature proscribed that the trial for both men should have been conducted in Maryland but since Sept. 11 the political landscape has changes to the point of the Federal Government overriding States' Rights to assure a death penalty verdict. In some cases I do not disagree with the death penalty and in this case it is rightly deserved. However, considering how Capital Punishment has been applied in the United States over the past 25 years has raised enormous doubts about its fairness to defendants. Maryland is completely right to enforce a ban until the problems currently associated with the application of Capital Punishment can be investigated and corrected.
Greg Beattie, USA

Acts of terrorism in any form should not be condoned or forgiven. It shatters lives and destroys freedom and liberties. The Washington Sniper verdict was the right one. The jury wasted no time in returning their decision against a horrendous crime that terrified an entire nation. I know death penalty affects the conscience of many and certainly deserves some moral and religious arguments. But, certainly, this crime deserves the ultimate capital punishment. Moreso, because, the dead and innocent victims have nothing personal against the perpetrator. This is the worst thing about terrorism: the cruel, reckless, bloody and indiscriminate pattern of revenge and retribution.
Igonikon Jack, USA

I have served in the Military for 12 years and I am in total disbelief from posted comments that say that soldiers are some kind of mercenary Terminators with no compassion or regard for human life. I dare say that we have more than the average person on the streets since we have to live every day knowing that we may have to take a life or watch one of our comrades fall dead right in our arms. Muhammad's spree was his choice caused by something that we may never fully understand.
Joe, USA/Italy

Justice means paying for your crime, not dying for it Kerstin Carlsson, Sweden

The death penalty has never proven to be an effective deterrent to violent crime. Giving Muhammad the death penalty will only make the victims' families more certain that an eye for an eye equals justice, and that the state of Virginia serves justice by killing an American citizen. They couldn't be more wrong. Justice means paying for your crime, not dying for it.
Kerstin Carlsson, Sweden

Well justice may be done but what will executing these two people do? Nothing but give them an easy way out. Life without parole is always better because the wake up knowing they will never leave prison and that could be over 40 years. Execution will always be a soft option, as it is not a deterrent. Gun crime is a problem in the USA and that is what should be tackled.
Andrew, UK

Justice has been served. The jury was presented the facts and has delivered its decision. Nothing can bring back the people killed, but Mr. Muhammad should pay the ultimate price for his crimes.
Nathan, Halifax, VA USA

The only sentence befitting this crime is the death sentence Arif Sayed, Dubai, UAE

Justice is served and the only sentence befitting this crime is the death sentence. It should be an example to others that the United States will not tolerate such heinous crimes against society.
Arif Sayed, Dubai, UAE

I'm glad to see he has been convicted. I cannot imagine the mental terror that he must have caused during the shootings. However, I hope he does not receive the death penalty. I would rather see something similar to what happened to Jeffrey Dahmer, who received over 300 years in prison for his grisly murders. What better way to punish him than to let him spend the rest of his days in prison?
Will, Canada

There have been a lot of antigun statements made in this forum. The US gun laws had nothing to do with this man's rampage. In fact our gun laws help to stop crime. Guns are what make this country great. Guns keep this country in check so don't go blaming guns for what some disturbed person does.
Adam, USA

Here the jury has the chance to show that it is not helpful to teach that killing is wrong by killing. A life sentence in jail is what I hope to see.
Sarah, USA

This man has understanding - he knew what he was doing and likely consequences if caught. While not particularly liking the idea of a death sentence for anyone - this man knew if he played with fire he would get burnt - alternatively he had committed these crimes in the UK, he would probably still be on remand for report, and be out in a few years to do it all again.
Mike Hall, UK

Justice has been served. The jury was presented with evidence and has made its decision.
Skip Berne, VA, USA

Justice is served Les, USA

As a resident of DC, I too remember very vividly the fear that gripped the region. Indeed, with the guilty charge... justice is served. I do not, however, wish the death penalty on him. Not all Americans support this policy. More importantly, I hope that this may help bring closure to the family and friends of the sniper victims.
Les, USA

I am a US army veteran and feel no matter what kind of duties this man may have served during his time in the service, nothing justifies his actions.
Larry, USA

Muhammad acted as an individual. We need to stop blaming guns and military training for his actions. He alone is responsible.
David Kwiatkowski, USA

Allen's behaviour is HIS responsibility Robert, USA

Blaming John Allen's murderous behaviour on the US government is naive and puerile. I am a third-generation combat veteran (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Gulf War I) and no-one in my family or in the thousands of military veterans I know "came back" traumatised, hating the government that "taught us how to hate and kill," and subsequently went on a killing spree. John Allen and Timothy McVeigh, were all dysfunctional BEFORE they entered the military. Allen's behaviour is HIS responsibility, not that of the military or society or the US government.
Robert, USA

I believe justice was served, but the huge problem we have in our country still remains - America's obsession with firearms.
Hiroshi Arashi, USA

Even though I live 1000 miles from DC, this whole episode frightened me because I realised it could happen anywhere in the US. I agree with Isa and feel sad for a man who served his country in battle and apparently lost his sanity in the process. Society must be protected from such individuals, but I'd rather see him locked in a treatment facility than executed.
Randall Hildebrandt, USA

Everything in life is a choice Lin, USA

People can come up with all sorts of excuses for why some individuals commit crimes and others do not. The bottom line is that everything in life is a choice. This man clearly and repeatedly made choices to act violently against not the government, but innocent citizens going about the business of everyday life.
Lin, USA

As a British expat living in the DC area at the time of the shootings I am relieved that a guilty verdict has been returned. I have never felt as scared as I did at that time and know many others in the area also felt terrorised by the snipers.
SJ, USA

I don't know if he deserves to die, but I do know that he went out and worked very hard to earn his punishment. Let him reap what he has sown.
Robert, USA

Justice naturally has to be done, but I can't help thinking that killing John Muhammad makes the US justice system no better than him. Death would be a quick and easy end, far better to imprison him for a very long time so he can reflect on what he has done.
Phill, UK

John Allen directed his anger at the very government that taught him how to hate and kill Isa, UK

One of the untold stories about war is how soldiers often come back traumatised and are unable to become productive, responsible members of society. As with Timothy McVeigh it looks like John Allen directed his anger at the very government that taught him how to hate and kill.
Isa, UK

As an American long resident in the UK, where gun crime remains rare and the death penalty unknown, I weep for my native countrymen who dare (as America bullies the world with violence) speak of 'justice'. When will the US give up its deadly love affair with weaponry?
Tim, UK

They shot one person at the fuel station my uncle uses and another at a station one of my co-workers uses. Though I've had a concealed firearms permit for sometime, that pair actually made me want to carry a pistol - and I did.
Con Rice, DC Area, USA

Justice is served... I remember when this was going on and all the fear and heartbreak it caused. I hope the death penalty is exercised in this case.
John, USA