NewsMine — 9-11 — suspects — moussaoui — government-case-success-2004-2006 — Viewing Item

Moussaui says rather die than spend life in jail { April 13 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/us/13cnd-moussaoui.html http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/us/13cnd-moussaoui.html April 13, 2006 Moussaoui Lashes Out at Defense Team By NEIL A. LEWIS and DAVID STOUT ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 13 — Zacarias Moussaoui complained at length today about his own lawyers, telling a federal court jury that they were more interested in achieving fame through a terrorism-related trial than they were in saving his life. The Al Qaeda member said he was not so much interesting in persuading the jurors to spare his life but to tell the truth. And one part of the truth, he said, is that sending him to prison for life would be "a greater punishment than being sentenced to death." Mr. Moussaoui's appearance on the witness stand, his second in the trial to determine whether he is executed for crimes related to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, was a bizarre and dramatic one, even in a trial that has featured many moments of high drama and poignancy. "You have put your interest ahead of my life," Mr. Moussaoui told his court-appointed lawyer Gerald T. Zerkin. "For example, from the beginning of this case I asked for a Muslim attorney." But, Mr. Zerkin pressed Mr. Moussaoui, was it not true that he told his lawyers earlier not to involve any Muslims in the defense, not to file any motions, not to present any evidence that might persuade the jurors to spare his life? "I felt you did not have my best interest at heart," Mr. Moussaoui replied. "First, you are an American. Second, you are Jewish." Mr. Moussaoui has refused to cooperate with his lawyers, has repeatedly spurned their advice and has sometimes seemed intent on confounding their attempts to persuade the jurors that he was simply an Al Qaeda hanger-on, with neither the stature nor the stability to carry out a major terrorist operation. Today, Mr. Zerkin was in the unusual position of arguing with his own client over who was really responsible for how the defense has been conducted. Mr. Zerkin seemed to be trying to show the jurors that the defendant's conduct shows he is not stable mentally, and thus undeserving of the ultimate punishment. But Mr. Moussaoui, a 37-year-old Frenchman of Morrocan descent, seemed intent on thwarting Mr. Zerkin's efforts, telling him he thought "your idea to portray me as crazy was not going to work." Mr. Moussaoui testified in Federal District Court before Judge Leonie M. Brinkema and jurors who on Wednesday relived the final minutes of United Flight 93 through a cockpit recorder, from the early stages of the jet's hijacking over Ohio until it plunged to earth in southwestern Pennsylvania after a passenger rebellion apparently persuaded the four hijackers to bring the plane down rather than try to fly to Washington. Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

Airlines coached moussaoui witnesses to remove culpibility Alqaeda figures deny Moussaoui role { June 17 2004 } Angry judge questions death case against moussaoui { March 13 2006 } Bush says moussaoui case over war goes on Court lets moussaoui prosecution go forward { April 23 2004 } Documents cast doubts over moussaoui 911 claim { April 21 2006 } Electronic shocks on Moussaoui back during trial { April 17 2006 } Families subject to horror recordings during Moussaoui trial { April 12 2006 } Fbi agent says superiors ignored moussaoui warnings { March 20 2006 } Fbi says no moussaoui reid evidence Fbi supervisor admits never read moussaoui memo { March 22 2006 } Judge raises possibility of mistrial in moussaoui sentence { March 13 2006 } Lawyer emailed court transcripts to seven witnesses { March 15 2006 } Lone juror jkept moussaoui alive { May 13 2006 } Moussaoui 2005 planning to admit 911 role { April 19 2005 } Moussaoui changes with testimony { March 30 2006 } Moussaoui confession contradicts previous confession Moussaoui disrupts sentencing declaring himself alqaeda Moussaoui link to 911 in doubt Moussaoui loses right to represent himself { November 15 2003 } Moussaoui may get inmate access { September 14 2004 } Moussaoui motions Moussaoui now says binladen gave him approval { March 2005 } Moussaoui roommate warned fbi { March 21 2006 } Moussaoui says 911 confession was complete fabrication { May 8 2006 } Moussaoui wants to recant guilty plea { May 9 2006 } Moussaoui yelled god curse you all to jury { March 30 2006 } Moussaui says rather die than spend life in jail { April 13 2006 } New court blow to moussaoui { November 14 2003 } No evidence of moussaoui reid hijack plot jury told Prosecutor rivets courtroom with 911 transcript { February 2006 } Terror suspects contradict moussaoui confession Too many pretrial motions deemed insulting { November 15 2003 } Trial of moussaoui to focus on 911 foreknowledge { November 14 2005 } Us appeals ban on death penalty moussaoui case { December 3 2003 } Why moussaoui confession doesnt add up { March 28 2006 } Witness coached by prosecution in moussaoui trial { March 13 2006 } Files Listed: 37

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