After five and one half hours of deliberation, the jury in the "sniper" trial of John Muhammad returned a death verdict today.

Juror Dennis Bowman said he voted for life imprisonment on Friday but changed his mind Sunday night. "The man to me doesn't care about anything but himself and his," Bowman said. "The total lack of remorse seemed to cap it all for us."

The jury's choices were life without parole or death. As aggravators, the jury found the crime was particularly heinous and Muhammad represents a future danger to the public.

Jurors had two choices after finding him guilty of Meyers’ murder: life in prison without parole, or death.

...In Virginia, defendants spend an average of five years on death row before they are executed. Virginia appeals courts rarely overturn convictions and death-penalty sentences.

Our thoughts are with defense counsel Jonathan Shapiro and Peter Greenspun, both of whom conducted an excellent defense despite overwhelming circumstantial evidence against their client, a presumption of guilt in the minds of the public and their client's non-cooperation prior to trial. While criminal defense has greatly rewarding moments, the toughest is standing next to a client whose life has been in your hands and hearing the jury pronounce a sentence to death.

As to grounds for reversal, Elaine Cassel lays them out well here. Our views are here.