14 November 2003

Sniper: Malvo:

Opening salvos were exchanged in the case as both sides laid out thier cases in opening arguments. Prosecutor Horan talked about how Malvo was the shooter in a sniper team and a "smart, clever killer." Craig Cooley countered:
Cooley showed jurors a photo of a 15-year-old Malvo holding a Bible in his hand.

"That's the child that John Muhammad started with," Cooley said as he pointed at the photo. "What Mr. Horan told you today is the child that John Muhammad ended with."
Mr. Cooley also spoke of how Muhammad had Malvo convinced that after he got his children back (from a planned murder of his ex-wife) they were going to Canada to form some sort of Utopian settlement.

As this article points out, the prosecution seems to be relying on an assertion that it was all about extorting $10 million thru terror while Mr. Cooley is telling the more understandable story of a young man under the control of a manipulative older man and acting in a manner meant to please him. And, from the various news reports, Mr. Cooley seems to be telling his story better. Still, the case is so stacked in the prosecution's favor that the prosecutor has a fairly large margin for error. If Mr. Cooley saves this kid's life it will the achievement of a lifetime.

Miscellanous:

(1) The father of the victim.

(2) The Defense is subpoenaing folks from Jamaica.

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