Moussaoui Liable for Death Penalty, U.S. Argues

[cthrumatrix]

Moussaoui Liable for Death Penalty, U.S. Argues

By Jerry Markon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 1, 2003; Page A02


Top al Qaeda detainees have told government interrogators that Zacarias Moussaoui was not a "designated participant" in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror plot but was instead to be part of a second wave of attacks flying planes into American buildings, prosecutors said in court documents unsealed yesterday.



But the briefs, filed with a federal appeals court, say Moussaoui participated in the conspiracy that killed nearly 3,000 Americans and should be executed for his role. They urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to overturn a judge's ruling that eliminated the death penalty as a possibility for Moussaoui and any evidence that he played a role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

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The briefs set the stage for a constitutional battle -- pitting a defendant's right to interview witnesses against the government's national security concerns.

The Justice Department argued in the briefs and previously that allowing Moussaoui access to the detainees would damage national security.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48923-2003Oct31.html

Seems to me there must be a reason they want him dead and no discussion with other witnesses. "Participated in a conspiracy"...so they say.

[NNN0LHI]

1. Dead men tell no tales n/t

[Maccagirl]

2. Wouldn't he be more valuable alive?

Ooops, my bad.

[La_Serpiente]

3. Not anymore

didn't the judge say that the government cannot link his charges with Sept. 11th? And also, isn't the government refusing for the two of them to speak to each other? If I were the judge, I would throw out the case.

[kclown]

4. "An admin that considers the death penalty the best way to deter

suicide bombers".  Can't remember who wrote that.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. An admin that considers The Death Penalty...

a suitable deterrent for the societal scourge of hangnails and pernicious mopery.

They just want to kill someone.