Wearing a large red T-shirt emblazoned with the word "WHY?," an African-American man hollered obscenities and cursed at [John Alien Muhammad] and said he hoped the convicted killer "rots in hell."

In a somewhat unusual legal strategy, the judge in the case, James Ryan, has allowed Muhammad to represent himself during the trial. Muhammad has repeatedly denied committing the six homicides in Montgomery County, Maryland. In the past, he has argued that detectives and police officials framed him. He has not revealed what his defense strategy will be in the case. However, according to court documents, he will not be able to call any witnesses outside of the state of Virginia because he did not file the proper paperwork.

Victims of crime