VIRGINIA BRIEFING

FAIRFAX COUNTY

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Killer Eligible for Death Penalty, Jury Decides

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Federal jurors yesterday found a convicted killer eligible for the death penalty in the 1993 murder of Barbara E. White, a 19-year-old single mother who was stabbed 82 times in her bathtub while her infant daughter was nearby in their Fairfax County apartment.

Jurors in U.S. District Court in Alexandria will reconvene today to begin hearing the prosecution's case that Thomas M. Hager, 34, should be executed, as well as the defense's appeals to spare his life. Last week, the jury convicted Hager of one count of murder while engaging in drug trafficking.

White was repeatedly stabbed with her kitchen knives while her 13-month-old daughter, Alexis, was in another room. She was left alone in the apartment for about 18 hours. She is now a high school freshman.

-- Jerry Markon

LOUDOUN COUNTY

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Leesburg Lawyer Challenges Incumbent

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John P. Flannery, a Leesburg lawyer and former chairman of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee, announced yesterday his write-in candidacy to challenge the reelection of Commonwealth's Attorney James E. Plowman (R).

Flannery said he decided to run last week after a judge dismissed charges against a former state Senate candidate accused of falsifying his campaign finance statements. Mark D. Tate was indicted by a grand jury three weeks before the June Republican primary.

Plowman initiated the investigation into Tate, even though he had endorsed Tate's opponent in the primary, Jill Holtzman Vogel. Plowman later turned the case over to a special prosecutor.

"How can you possibly wait until three weeks before an election and allow somebody to be indicted, especially when that office's chief enforcement officer is supporting the opponent?" Flannery asked.