Teen Sniper On Stand Against Partner

Lee Boyd Malvo, who as a teenager embarked on a sniper spree that terrorized the national capital region nearly four years ago, took the witness stand Tuesday for prosecutors against his former partner and father figure, John Allen Muhammad.

Malvo, wearing a dark sport coat and white collared shirt, appeared nervous but was expressionless when he entered the courtroom.

He sat in the witness box for several minutes before being sworn in, watching the lawyers and Muhammad during a bench conference and occasionally staring out blankly at a courtroom gallery of more than 150 spectators.

Before testifying in front of the jury, Malvo told the judge that he intends to plead guilty to murder charges against him in Montgomery County and testify against Muhammad as part of a plea.

Malvo, who was largely abandoned by his parents, said Muhammad "basically took me under his wing" a few months after they met in May 2000.

"He began introducing me as his son," Malvo said.

Asked by prosecutor Katherine Winfree, "Did you come to love Mr. Muhammad?" Malvo responded "yes," with his voice choking.

"Did you tell him that? Winfree asked.

"Yes," he replied, his voice again choking.

Both Muhammad, 45, and Malvo, now 21, already were convicted in Virginia for a sniper murder there. Muhammad received a death sentence while Malvo was given a life term.

Malvo was called as a witness in Muhammad's first trial but refused to testify, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

The October 2002 sniper spree left 10 people dead and three wounded in the national capital area.

Prosecutors in Maryland have said they are pursuing a second trial in case the Virginia conviction is overturned on appeal and to provide justice in Montgomery County, where six of the 10 killings occurred.

Shortly after the pair was arrested on Oct. 24, 2002, Malvo confessed to being the triggerman in all the shootings. But he later recanted and told mental health experts hired by his lawyers that Muhammad, 45, was the shooter in nearly all the deaths.

The pair also is suspected of earlier shootings in Maryland, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana and Washington state.

Muhammad continues to refer to Malvo as "my son" and told jurors in the trial's opening statements that he intends to prove Malvo's innocence as well as his own.

Malvo's lawyers contended Muhammad brainwashed the teenager and turned him into a killer. They also said that well after the arrest, Malvo never fully detached himself from Muhammad despite deep anger toward him.