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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (CNN) -- A jury found sniper shootings suspect John Allen Muhammad guilty of capital murder and three other charges related to last year's sniper shooting spree.
The seven-woman, five-man jury also found Muhammad guilty of committing a murder in an act of terrorism, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The jury announced its verdict at 11:55 a.m. EST, after six hours of deliberations.
The verdict came six weeks after the trial began, and on the day that testimony began in the trial of Muhammad's alleged accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo.
The trial began with jury selection on October 13 with Muhammad announcing he would represent himself. Two days later he switched course and told the judge he would return to his attorneys for representation.
Prosecutors presented testimony from 136 different witnesses over 14 days.
Some of the witnesses -- notably crime scene analysts and medical examiners -- made numerous appearances.
Muhammad's attorneys presented five witnesses and gave evidence that lasted less than three hours.
Earlier Monday, prosecutors said that during his confinement earlier this year Muhammad attempted to escape.
The assertion came in arguments before the judge involving what evidence may be used in the sentencing phase if Muhammad is convicted.
Although prosecutors did not say in court when Muhammad attempted to escape, a government source told CNN the incident took place on March 23. But the defense called the allegation an unfounded rumor.
Prosecutor James Willett said Muhammad was put in solitary confinement after his alleged escape attempt.
Defense attorney Jonathan Shapiro argued that word of the escape attempt was only a rumor. But Willett said the commonwealth has evidence.
Willett did not say at what point Muhammad tried to escape.
Muhammad, 42, faces charges of murder, terrorism, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The murder and terrorism charges could carry the death penalty.
He is charged with capital murder in the October 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Harold Meyers outside a Manassas gas station. He is eligible for the death penalty if the jury decides the prosecution proved Muhammad was responsible for at least two murders within three years.
Muhammad and his alleged accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, are accused of being behind the October 2002 sniper slayings that killed 10 people and wounded three in the Washington, D.C. area. They are also charged in sniper shootings in several other states.
Each faces charges of murder, terrorism, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Muhammad also faces a charge of conspiracy. Testimony in Malvo's trial, in adjacent Chesapeake, Virginia, was set to begin Monday.
Muhammad and Malvo are the first suspects to be charged under Virginia's terrorism law, passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The law makes a murder defendant eligible for the death penalty if prosecutors prove he committed a murder that was intended to intimidate the public or influence the government
The seven-woman, five-man jury also found Muhammad guilty of committing a murder in an act of terrorism, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The jury announced its verdict at 11:55 a.m. EST, after six hours of deliberations.
The verdict came six weeks after the trial began, and on the day that testimony began in the trial of Muhammad's alleged accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo.
The trial began with jury selection on October 13 with Muhammad announcing he would represent himself. Two days later he switched course and told the judge he would return to his attorneys for representation.
Prosecutors presented testimony from 136 different witnesses over 14 days.
Some of the witnesses -- notably crime scene analysts and medical examiners -- made numerous appearances.
Muhammad's attorneys presented five witnesses and gave evidence that lasted less than three hours.
Earlier Monday, prosecutors said that during his confinement earlier this year Muhammad attempted to escape.
The assertion came in arguments before the judge involving what evidence may be used in the sentencing phase if Muhammad is convicted.
Although prosecutors did not say in court when Muhammad attempted to escape, a government source told CNN the incident took place on March 23. But the defense called the allegation an unfounded rumor.
Prosecutor James Willett said Muhammad was put in solitary confinement after his alleged escape attempt.
Defense attorney Jonathan Shapiro argued that word of the escape attempt was only a rumor. But Willett said the commonwealth has evidence.
Willett did not say at what point Muhammad tried to escape.
Muhammad, 42, faces charges of murder, terrorism, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The murder and terrorism charges could carry the death penalty.
He is charged with capital murder in the October 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Harold Meyers outside a Manassas gas station. He is eligible for the death penalty if the jury decides the prosecution proved Muhammad was responsible for at least two murders within three years.
Muhammad and his alleged accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, are accused of being behind the October 2002 sniper slayings that killed 10 people and wounded three in the Washington, D.C. area. They are also charged in sniper shootings in several other states.
Each faces charges of murder, terrorism, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Muhammad also faces a charge of conspiracy. Testimony in Malvo's trial, in adjacent Chesapeake, Virginia, was set to begin Monday.
Muhammad and Malvo are the first suspects to be charged under Virginia's terrorism law, passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The law makes a murder defendant eligible for the death penalty if prosecutors prove he committed a murder that was intended to intimidate the public or influence the government
