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(Manassas-AP) -- Lawyers for sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad won't get to hire expert witnesses in secret.

A Prince William County judge today denied that request. However, the judge is allowing Muhammad's defense to submit their request for those witnesses under seal. That means the prosecution can see it, but the media won't have access.

Muhammad lawyer Peter Greenspun argued the prosecution was denying his client the right to a fair trial. The prosecution brought up the fact that lawyers for fellow sniper suspect Lee Malvo presented a similar request earlier this month. It was struck down in neighboring Fairfax County.

Prosecutors say this is going to be the most expensive trial in Virginia history. Greenspun says the commonwealth accepted the burden of trying the two men and now they're trying to make it a monetary issue.

Muhammad is facing capital murder charges in the shooting of Dean Harold Meyers at a gas station in Manassas. Malvo also faces capital murder in the death of FBI analyst Linda Franklin outside a Home Depot in Falls Church.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 2/14/2003

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