Lee Boyd Malvo, the young man involved in the DC sniper shootings in 2002, testified in a Maryland courtroom Tuesday against his co-defendant, John Allen Muhammad. Malvo, now 21, agreed to testify against Muhammad after entering a guilty plea to six killings in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Both Malvo and Muhammad have already been convicted of killings in Virginia. Malvo was sentenced to life in prison while Muhammad was sentenced to death.
On the stand, Malvo recalled how Muhammad made modifications to his Chevrolet Caprice which allowed a person to shoot a rifle from inside the trunk. He also described how Muhammad used tactics he found in an old Irish Republican Army manual.
Malvo also testified that Muhammad told him, 'We are going to terrorize this nation,' and said the older man wanted to kill six people each day for a month. The first round of attacks were the sniper attacks while the second round was going to involve explosive devices loaded with ball bearings.
According to Malvo's testimony, Muhammad sent him to find ideal locations to carry out the shootings. The key was to find areas without surveillance cameras.
Muhammad also put Malvo on a strict one-meal-per-day diet of soy burgers and soup, Malvo said. According to Muhammad, this was 'in accordance with the tenants of the Nation of Islam.' Malvo also recalled that he was given 72 vitamin supplements by Muhammad each day.
Malvo also explained how Muhammad, 45, took him under his wing. He described the older man as a good listener who didn't interrupt him and listened to stories about Malvo's troubled childhood. He also recalled how Muhammad said the September 11 attacks were just because 'bloodshed begets bloodshed.'
'He hates this country,' Malvo added, speaking of his co-defendant.
Throughout the testimony, Muhammad sat in the courtroom with a blank expression on his face, resting his chin on his right hand.
The testimony is expected to get more dramatic when Muhammad cross examines Malvo. Muhammad is acting as his own attorney in this matter.
