Sniper Muhammad wants end to death-row appeals

John Allen Muhammad

McLEAN, Va. - Washington-area sniper John Allen Muhammad is asking prosecutors in a letter to help him end legal appeals of his conviction and death sentence "so that you can murder this innocent black man."

In a two-page letter obtained by The Associated Press yesterday, Muhammad said he has tried without success to stop his defense attorneys from pursuing the appeals, and that he was counting on the state attorney general to assist him.

Muhammad told the prosecutors' office that he is waiving all rights to appeal his 2003 conviction and death sentence for the sniper killings in 2002 that terrorized the Washington region.

"I've written to you all because I know you will make sure this letter will get to the right people - so that you can murder this innocent black man," Muhammad wrote in the letter, dated April 23.

He does not state why he wants to end the appeal, but writes that he has informed his appeals lawyers of his desires, and that any appeals they have filed "have been done against mine will."

Muhammad and his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, were convicted in 2003 of a random killing spree that left 10 people dead over a three-week span in October, 2002.