Jeana (DP)
Former Member
Sniper complains to judge about underwear in pretrial hearing
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad complained to a judge Tuesday that his jailers refuse to let him wear underwear and have restricted his access to his legal files.
A sheriff's spokeswoman denied the claims made at the conclusion of a pretrial hearing in the second capital-murder case against Muhammad. Trial is scheduled for October.
"How does it make the courtroom safe with me coming in, no T-shirt, no underwear, no socks?" Muhammad asked Judge Jonathan Thacher.
Muhammad has been under especially tight security since a pretrial hearing last month in which he briefly slipped out of a waist chain, giving him a sizable length of chain that could have been used as a weapon.
He appeared in court Tuesday with his wrists cuffed closely to his sides. He winced in pain several times as deputies attempted to get him seated at the defense table. The deputies said Muhammad was resisting their efforts, but Muhammad said several times, "I'm not doing anything."
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Capt. Karen McClellan, a spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, said Muhammad has access to underwear, socks and T-shirts and is free to wear them. She said she did not know why Muhammad complained.
Muhammad also said jailers do not allow him enough access to mail from his lawyers and only allow him to access one of his legal files at a time.
"The excuse is, 'It's a fire hazard.' Who'll start a fire? I don't have any matches," he said. The judge told Muhammad he'd look into it.
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Don't you get a little sick and tired of hearing these inmates and moan about every little thing? Why not do a prisoner exchange say with Turkey or China and see how they treat the prisoners over there. Maybe then they'd realize how good they actually have it here with all of their "rights."
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad complained to a judge Tuesday that his jailers refuse to let him wear underwear and have restricted his access to his legal files.
A sheriff's spokeswoman denied the claims made at the conclusion of a pretrial hearing in the second capital-murder case against Muhammad. Trial is scheduled for October.
"How does it make the courtroom safe with me coming in, no T-shirt, no underwear, no socks?" Muhammad asked Judge Jonathan Thacher.
Muhammad has been under especially tight security since a pretrial hearing last month in which he briefly slipped out of a waist chain, giving him a sizable length of chain that could have been used as a weapon.
He appeared in court Tuesday with his wrists cuffed closely to his sides. He winced in pain several times as deputies attempted to get him seated at the defense table. The deputies said Muhammad was resisting their efforts, but Muhammad said several times, "I'm not doing anything."
* * *
Capt. Karen McClellan, a spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, said Muhammad has access to underwear, socks and T-shirts and is free to wear them. She said she did not know why Muhammad complained.
Muhammad also said jailers do not allow him enough access to mail from his lawyers and only allow him to access one of his legal files at a time.
"The excuse is, 'It's a fire hazard.' Who'll start a fire? I don't have any matches," he said. The judge told Muhammad he'd look into it.
* * *
Don't you get a little sick and tired of hearing these inmates and moan about every little thing? Why not do a prisoner exchange say with Turkey or China and see how they treat the prisoners over there. Maybe then they'd realize how good they actually have it here with all of their "rights."
