Teenager convicted of sniper murders

US: A jury convicted Lee Boyd Malvo of capital murder in the Washington-area sniper attacks last night, rejecting claims that…

US: A jury convicted Lee Boyd Malvo of capital murder in the Washington-area sniper attacks last night, rejecting claims that the teenager was brainwashed by John Allen Muhammad into taking part in the three-week reign of terror that left 10 people dead.

The jury now will decide whether Malvo (18) should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

A jury in nearby Virginia Beach convicted Muhammad last month and recommended that he be executed for his role in the killings.

Malvo, often animated throughout the trial, had a blank look on his face when the verdict was read.

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He was convicted of two counts of capital murder in the October 14th, 2002, killing of FBI analyst Linda Franklin in Falls Church, Virginia.

One count alleges multiple murders in a three-week period, the second alleges Franklin's death was intended to terrorise the public. Malvo and Muhammad are the first two tried under the post-September 11th terrorism law.