Washington sniper loses execution appeal
John Allen Muhammad is expected to be executed on Tuesday evening
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The man who killed ten people in sniper attacks across Washington DC in 2002 is due to be executed later today.
John Allen Muhammad is expected to be executed on Tuesday evening for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers, one of the people killed during three weeks of attacks.
The US supreme court earlier refused a last-minute appeal by his lawyers.
Along with his accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo, Muhammad terrorised the city of Washington DC during October 2002 while apparently picking off victims at random and sending taunting messages to the police.
Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the attacks, is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Muhammad's ex-wife Mildred has claimed she was in fact the intended victim of the killing spree, with the other shootings aimed to divert attention.
During the three weeks Muhammad and Malvo killed ten people and wounded three more, while leaving notes at the scene before eventually demanding $10 million to stop the shootings.
Muhammad was convicted of capital murder and terrorism in Virginia for the killing of Mr Meyers. He also stood trial in Maryland and was convicted of six murders there.
The 48-year-old is due to receive a lethal injection later tonight.