A jury sentenced 18-year-old Lee Malvo to life in prison for his part in a killing spree last year that left 10 people dead.

He was also fined $200,000 US.

Last week Malvo was found guilty of terrorism, capital murder and use of a firearm in the killing of FBI analyst Linda Franklin on Oct. 14, 2002.

The jury was asked to decide whether Malvo should be executed or sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty saying Malvo failed to show remorse for the sniper shootings.

Prosecutor Robert F. Horan Jr. called Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the killings, a "prodigy in evil."

"That's no dummy sitting there," Horan said, pointing to Malvo. "That's a bright, clever human being ... It's easy to blame it on his mother. It's easy to blame it on his father. It's easy to blame it on John Muhammad. But if we do that, we absolve him of any responsibility for his acts."

Letters Malvo wrote in jail were shown as proof of his dangerous nature. One read, "September 11 we will ensure will look like a picnic to you."

The defence argued that Malvo was not guilty by reason of insanity because he had been brainwashed by John Muhammad, who was convicted of murder in November. The jury in his case recommended a death sentence; the judge has yet to impose a sentence.

Defence attorney Craig Cooley argued that Malvo's dysfunctional childhood had made him susceptible to Muhammad's malign influence.

The jury of eight whites and four blacks took just over eight hours to decide Malvo's fate.

Virginia and 20 other states allow the execution of those who were 16 or 17 when they killed.