<sh>Insulting to Victims?
<bt>Defense attorneys for sniper defendant Lee Boyd Malvo have asked that his trial be moved from Fairfax County. They claim that all citizens of Fairfax County are victims under the terrorist statute, and that an unbiased jury pool won't be found.
Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan called the claim preposterous. "It raises the notion of 'victimhood' to a totally new dimension, a dimension where one is a victim whether he or she knows it or not," wrote Horan. He called the claim insulting to the actual victims of the sniper attacks.
Horan will argue that Malvo attempted to extort $10 million from the government and police in order to stop the sniper attacks that left 10 dead and three injured in the Washington area last October. Arlington resident Linda Franklin was murdered on Oct. 14, 2002, outside a Home Depot in Falls Church.
The Commonwealth's Office is prosecuting Malvo under the state terrorism statute. According to that statute, Virginia Code 18.2-46.4, an act of terrorism is a crime intended to "intimidate the civilian population at large" or "influence the conduct or activities of the government of the United States, a state or locality through intimidation."
Judge Jane Marum Roush is scheduled to hear arguments on the motion this Monday, June 2.
<sh>School Vandalism
<bt>Fairfax County Police are investigating an incident that occurred at Hayfield Secondary School, at 7630 Telegraph Road in the Kingstowne area on Monday, May 26. Around 10:30 a.m., a Fairfax County Public School security officer found that someone had thrown a shaving cream can through a window of a door, breaking the window. Additionally, racially and ethnically derogatory words were spray painted on the door and surrounding walls. Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 703-691-8888.
<sh>Pool Vandalism
<bt>Fairfax County Police are investigating a bias crime that occurred in the 7820 block of Hayfield Road in the Kingstowne area on Sunday, May 25. Around 11 a.m., employees of a community pool discovered that someone had thrown pool furniture into the pools and attempted to burn a roll of paper towels. Additionally, racially and ethnically derogatory symbols were carved into different items in the pool area. Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 703-691-8888.
<sh>Home Invasion
<bt>On Monday, May 26, a 46-year-old man walked into the Franconia District Station to report that his car had been stolen. The victim told police that while he was at home, a man brandishing a handgun entered his home demanding money and the car keys. The suspect then fled the area in one of the victim's cars. The victim was not injured. The suspect is described as black, 25 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall, weighing 185 pounds and wearing dark clothing with a white mask covering his face. The stolen car is described as a white, 1997 Mitsubishi Galant, four-door with Virginia tags JBC-6767. Anyone with information about the suspect or the location of the victim's car is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 703-691-8888.