Sniper suspects on terrorism charge

The two men suspected of the sniper shootings in suburban Washington were charged with terrorism yesterday as rival prosecutors from the region continued to jostle for the prestige of potentially having them sentenced to death.

Virginia charged 41-year-old John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo, 17, with committing a terrorist act, attempted murder and malicious wounding for shooting a man in Ashland, Virginia, on October 19.

Maryland filed six charges of first-degree murder against each suspect on Friday. The state attorney, Douglas Gansler, was reported to have angered the US justice department by not waiting until the competing jurisdictions had reached agreement on who would prosecute first.

Maryland is basing its argument on the fact that six of the 10 victims were killed there.

The state currently has a moratorium on executions, though that is likely to have elapsed by the time verdicts are reached.

But state law forbids the execution of juvenile offenders, though Mr Gansler suggested at the weekend that there might be doubt over Mr Malvo's age.

By contrast, Virginia would allow the death sentence for both suspects if found guilty, and has shown little compunction in using it, executing 86 people since 1976.

Federal charges, including extortion and the use of a weapon resulting in death, could yet trump both states' arguments, though there was no word yesterday on whether any were planned.