Reaction to Malvo's life sentences
CHESAPEAKE, Virginia (CNN) -- Jurors in the trial of Lee Boyd Malvo recommended Tuesday that the 18-year-old convicted sniper receive life without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty on terrorism and murder counts. At a media room outside the courthouse, defense attorneys, the jury foreman, a victim and others commented on the verdict. Their comments follow.
"Today, I can't say I'm not disappointed. I am disappointed by the verdict ... I don't think that there could be another case that would be more deserving of capital punishment."
-- Victoria Buchanan Snyder, sister of sniper victim James L. "Sonny" Buchanan
"There were two people who committed the ultimate crime. One got the ultimate penalty and one didn't. I ask you why. By a life sentence, it minimizes what this man did. It minimizes it for the victims and the victims' families. That's where the disappointment comes from."
-- Paul LaRuffa, sniper victim
"The jury had a very difficult decision to make ... This was an agonizing and very difficult decision for them, to go in and hold a young man's life in their hands. To come out with the decision they did is a very gutsy decision, a very difficult one."
-- Michael Arif, defense attorney
"[We] have an absolute commitment to the defense that we put forward, because we think it's true. And we have an absolute commitment to Lee. We do feel that there's good in everyone, and everyone is redeemable ... I don't know how one gets experience to argue for the life of a child. It takes a toll, emotionally, to have to do that."
-- Craig Cooley, defense attorney
"This case was both mentally challenging and emotionally exhausting. Deep thought and consideration has gone into our deliberations and the decisions that we reached. We, the jury, wish to extend a heartfelt sympathy to the victims' families and friends."
-- Jim Wolfcale, jury foreman, in a prepared statement
