Sniper trial begins
The week's news at a glance.
Virginia Beach
John Allen Muhammad went on trial this week in Virginia for the sniper murder of Dean Meyers, who was killed outside Washington, D.C., last year as he was gassing up his car. Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, 18, have been accused of terrorizing the Washington area last fall by shooting 13 people, apparently selected at random, as they went about their daily lives. Malvo has said that he won’t provide any damning testimony about Muhammad, 42, a man he once called “Dad.” But the teenager’s attorneys said recently that when Malvo went on trial next month, they would rely on an insanity defense and contend that Muhammad brainwashed Malvo.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - February 19, 2025
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - marking territory, living under a rock, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Mickey 17: 'charming space oddity' that's a 'sparky one-off'
The Week Recommends 'Remarkable' Robert Pattinson stars in Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi comedy
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
EastEnders at 40: are soaps still relevant?
Talking Point Albert Square's residents are celebrating, but falling viewer figures have fans worried the soap bubble has burst
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published