John Allen Muhammad, prime accused in the sniper killings that terrorized Washington DC and its suburbs in 2002, has been sentenced to death.

Muhammad's 10 victims included part time cab driver Prem Kumar Walekar, a resident of Aspen Hill, Maryland, who was shot dead October 3, 2002, while filling his minivan with gas. It was his 25th wedding anniversary.

Circuit Judge LeRoy F Millette Jr turned down a plea from Muhammad's lawyers to spare the sniper's life, and sentenced the 43-year-old to be executed on Oct. 14. The sentencing followed a trial that ended November 17 with the jury finding him guilty and recommending that he be sentenced to death.

Muhammad told the sentencing judge Tuesday he had 'nothing to do' with the killings.

His partner in crime, the 18-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo, had earlier been found guilty, but the jury in that case recommended life imprisonment.

Millette who sentenced Muhammed called the killings 'so vile that they were almost beyond comprehension'.

"Just like I said at the beginning, I had nothing to do with this, and I'll say again, I had nothing to do with this," Muhammad said. He told the judge he plans to appeal, and urged, "Don't make a fool of the Constitution of the United States of America."

But Millette said the evidence of Muhammad's guilt was 'overwhelming'. Muhammad appeared in an orange jail jumpsuit with a slightly greying, unkempt beard, in sharp contrast to his clean-shaven, well-dressed appearance at trial.

About 50 family members of sniper victims were in the courtroom. One silently shook his fist as Millette announced the sentence.

Agencies