CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The daughter of one sniper victim called Lee Boyd Malvo evil. Teachers and others who knew the convicted killer when he was younger described him as bright, courteous, sweet and lonely.
Now Malvo’s estranged father is expected to add his assessment today as the defense makes its last bid to persuade jurors who convicted the 18-year-old of capital murder to spare his life.
"We hope you’ll see the value of that life," defense attorney Thomas Walsh told jurors Friday during his opening statement for the sentencing phase of Malvo’s trial. "That young man has value."
Malvo was found guilty Thursday of two counts of capital murder in the killing of FBI analyst Linda Franklin on Oct. 14, 2002, during a three-week series of sniper attacks in the Washington area that killed 10 people and wounded three.
His lawyers had claimed Malvo was so indoctrinated by John Allen Muhammad, a man he saw as a father figure, that he was incapable of telling right from wrong. Muhammad, 42, was convicted last month in another of the shootings, and that jury recommended the death penalty.
The jurors in Malvo’s trial now must decide whether the younger man also should be sentenced to death or life in prison without chance of parole.
Defense attorney Craig Cooley told the judge he expected more defense witnesses to testify for up to 3 1/2 hours today before closing arguments can begin.
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