Sniper suspect Mr John Muhammad pleaded not guilty today at the opening of his murder trial in one of a series of 10 fatal shootings that terrorized the Washington DC area last year.
Mr Muhammad said "not guilty" four times in a clear voice, as the four individual charges against him were read in a Virginia Beach courtroom, some 200 miles (320 km) from where the shooting occurred on Oct. 9, 2002.
In a white long-sleeved shirt, dark tie and trousers, Mr Muhammad presented a far different appearance than he has previously, when he has worn an orange prison jumpsuit.
Asked by Judge LeRoy Millette whether he understood the charges against him -- which include two capital murder counts, a charge of conspiracy and a weapons charge - Mr Muhammad replied, "Yes, I understand what I'm charged with," as he stood with his attorneys at the defense table.
Mr Muhammad, 42, faces two capital murder charges in connection with the killing of a 53-year-old Maryland man who was shot dead as he refueled his car in Manassas, in Washington's western suburbs.
Along with his young traveling companion, Mr Lee Malvo, now 18, Mr Muhammad is linked to 10 fatal shootings in and around the US capital in October 2002.
Three other people were wounded in the attacks, which created a pervasive climate of fear and spawned intense publicity recalling the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Before the scheduled start of jury selection, which is expected to take several days, one of Mr Muhammad's lawyers thanked the community for taking on the responsibilities of what is expected to be an expensive and long-running trial.