Opinion ID: 1058965
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Alleged Inconsistent Prosecution Theories

Text: The independently elected Commonwealth's Attorneys of Prince William County and Fairfax County maintained contemporaneous prosecutions of Muhammad and Malvo. In Fairfax County, Malvo was prosecuted for the murder of Linda Franklin wherein Malvo interposed an insanity defense. In Prince William County, Muhammad was prosecuted for the murder of Dean Meyers. Much of the same evidence was utilized in each prosecution. In assignments of error 8, 100, and 101, Muhammad argues that the Commonwealth violated principles of due process by simultaneously taking materially inconsistent positions in the Muhammad case, where it claimed Muhammad directed and controlled Malvo, and in the Malvo case where it claimed that Malvo was a free agent. Muhammad further argues that the Commonwealth should be judicially estopped from maintaining prosecution theories in two cases based upon the same evidence because the theories of prosecution are inconsistent and irreconcilable. We need not address the legal arguments advanced by Muhammad because we hold that the theories of prosecution by the two independent prosecutors were not inconsistent. Malvo sought to prove in his case in Fairfax County that he was insane or brainwashed by Muhammad. Evidence was successfully offered to rebut such claims. In the Fairfax County prosecution, the Commonwealth offered expert testimony that Malvo was fully cognizant, conscious, deliberate, [and] purposeful. The Commonwealth argued in Malvo's case that he was a bright, clever human being who knew what he was doing when he acted in concert with Muhammad. In the Prince William County case against Muhammad, the Commonwealth presented evidence that Muhammad was the leader and teacher who trained and directed Malvo to perfect his sniper skills. A successful rebuttal of Malvo's affirmative defense of insanity is not inconsistent with a theory of prosecution that includes Muhammad engaged in training and directing Malvo in their sniper team activity. It is beyond peradventure that businesses, sports teams, and military operations involve training and direction without insanity of the participants as an issue. The trial court did not err in rejecting Muhammad's claim of inconsistent theories of prosecution.