The so-called Washington Sniper has been executed by lethal injection in a Virginia prison.

Seven years ago, John Allen Muhammad shot ten people at random in the capital Washington DC and in the neighbouring states of Virginia and Maryland.

His defence lawyers tried until the last moment to get a stay of execution, but the Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine said: “I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was recommended by the jury and then imposed and affirmed by the courts. Accordingly, I decline to intervene.”

Mr Muhammad's lawyers said he was mentally ill at the time he committed his crimes. As a Gulf War veteran, he was reportedly suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Photo: Monument to the Washington Sniper's victims (flickr / ehpien)