CrimLaw

Sniper: Malvo:

(1) Monday the prosecution played its last tape and finished its case in chief.

(2) Trial Snippets:

Malvo's real father:

He cried, sniffled and took long pauses as he recounted how he taught Lee to ride a bicycle and play catch. He said he would buy him ice cream practically every night because the boy loved it so much.

The Defense Wins Another Legal Argument:

Defense attorneys had a handful for photographs from Malvo's youth they wanted the jury to see.

But Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan Jr. objected, saying pictures of Malvo as a young boy had no relevancy to whether he was guilty of the murder of Linda Franklin.

Judge Jane Marum Roush ruled that the defense could pick three photographs to show the jury.

And the photos they showed:

During his testimony, defense attorneys showed jurors photos of the suspect being christened and of a young Lee with his mother and with his father.

Testimony of how Malvo's mother treated him:

Semone Powell, a second cousin, testified that James beat Malvo even though he was an obedient child. She would get upset if she asked Malvo to bring her a basket and she thought the boy moved too slowly, Powell said.

"She would hit him, hit him randomly all over his body with her hand," Powell testified, adding that James also threw shoes at Malvo, pulled his hair and yelled at him.

How Malvo behaved as a child:

Lloyd Barrett of Kingston, Jamaica, testified for the defense Tuesday that he saw Malvo regularly until the boy was about 6 years old and that "he was always a loving kid."
AND
"He was dependable and hardworking, and whenever he was given a task he would pursue it to the end," said Beryl Spencejack, Malvo's sixth-grade teacher in Jamaica.

Malvo's Aunt and Uncle:

He arrived on a plane from St. Martin, Lawrence said, and lived on their farm with her, her husband and two daughters for nearly two years. Malvo was about 9 years old and “very obedient,” she testified.

Only rarely did she have to whip him with a strap, Lawrence testified. "He tried to obey, because I don't joke."

. . .

After her testimony, Lawrence paused as she left the courtroom, breaking into tears as she passed Malvo.

. . .

Her husband, John Lawrence, also testified. He described his relationship with Malvo as being like that of a father and son.

"The thing is this, with Lee around, he loves to ask questions," said John Lawrence, who testified through a translator.

A military friend of Muhammad:

He said he first met Malvo in the spring of 2002 and that Muhammad and Malvo would sometimes stay with him for periods ranging from a few days to two weeks.

Malvo was a quiet and well-behaved child, Holmes testified. He said that Malvo and Muhammad were on a regular program of running and weight lifting at the local YMCA.