New charge for sniper suspects

Robert F Horan Jr, attorney in Fairfax County, Virginia, said he believed he had enough evidence to go to trial immediately.

Both Mr Muhammad, 41, and his 17-year-old co-accused already face charges related to 17 shootings in four states - a series of attacks mainly this October which struck terror into the Washington DC area.

Linda Franklin was killed by a single shot as she loaded her car with shopping in car park in Falls Church, Virginia - seven miles from the US capital.

The two suspects were both charged with capital murder as well as using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

They were arrested on 24 October after being found sleeping in a car allegedly rigged out to provide a sniper's platform.

'Appropriate penalties'

With charges laid in four states, it is still unclear where the two will stand trial first.

US Attorney General John Ashcroft is expected to decide the issue, which has implications for whether the death penalty may be invoked for the younger suspect.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he would take a decision after a "fact-driven analysis" of the legal possibilities.

"I think it's well-understood on my part that I believe appropriate penalties for the kinds of atrocities that have been committed to include the ultimate sanction of the death penalty," he said.