Moussaoui Evades Death, Receives Life in Prison

Enoch · May 3, 2006

Fox News

Convicted Al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole on Wednesday for his role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

"America, you lost. I won," Moussaoui said, clapping his hands as he was led out of the court room after the verdict was read.

Reading the jurors' verdict outside the Alexandria court house, Edward Adams, the court's public information officer, said the verdict only indicated that the jurors were "not unanimous in favor of a sentence of death."

Moussaoui was convicted of several terrorism-related counts last year, including conspiring with Al Qaeda to commit acts of terrorism and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

Moussaoui is the only person to have been charged in connection for the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people and launched U.S.-led wars against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. The French national of Moroccan descent was being held on immigration-related charges during the attacks.

Moussaoui could only have been put to death if the jurors had unanimously decided he should receive the death penalty. Moussaoui, 37, will likely spend the rest of his years in the "Supermax" facility in Florence, Colo., which also houses failed shoe bomber Richard Reid.

Adams said that no jurors concluded Moussaoui's life should be spared so that he would not get his wish to become a martyr for jihad. Jurors also did not conclude that he was mentally ill. The panel of nine men and three women were more divided on how much knowledge Moussaoui had of the plot and whether he could have prevented the attacks.

Moussaoui's case was a precedent-setting one, in that prosecutors were asking for the death penalty while conceding he had no direct role in the crime. Prosecutors alleged that had Moussaoui divulged what he knew about the plot to authorities before the attacks they could have been prevented.

In order to reach a death penalty verdict, jurors must have unanimously concluded that the government proved statutory aggravating factors that outweighed mitigating factors — such as his mental stability and not have a direct role in the attacks — put forth by the defense.

Jurors had to pore over a 42-page verdict form and consider each factor as related to the three counts against Moussaoui: conspiracy to commit terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to destroy aircraft and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

The jurors had deliberated over Moussaoui's fate for seven days, having previously decided that Moussaoui was responsible for at least one death on Sept. 11 and thereby eligible for the death penalty.

Defense attorneys argued that Moussaoui had a history of mental illness, and was greatly exaggerating his importance to Al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 plot. Moussaoui's attorneys also argued that he wanted to be put to death and become a martyr, and urged the jurors to deny his wish.

After previously denying he had any role in the attacks, Moussaoui threw his defense attorneys a curveball by announcing in court testimony that he and failed shoe bomber Richard Reid were supposed to fly a fifth plane into the White House.

But there is no hard evidence of a larger role for Moussaoui in the plot. Several high-profile Al Qaeda figures, including an architect of the attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, told U.S. investigators that Moussaoui was deemed too unstable to be included in the plot, and that he had been earmarked for a second wave of attacks. That testimony concurs with conclusions reached by the Sept. 11 commission.

The judge presiding over Moussaoui's trial has previously indicated her doubts about Moussaoui's sanity, and according to a recently released transcript told lawyers that she did not believe his claims about his knowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I still think that Moussaoui was not accurate in a lot of what he said about how much he knew about what was going to happen with which particular buildings and when," U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said in a closed hearing on April 21 with just the trial lawyers. Transcripts were released Tuesday.

The sentencing phase of Moussaoui's trial was by all accounts emotionally taxing. Several family members testified about losing their loved ones in the attacks, and a harrowing cockpit voice recording from United Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against their hijackers, was played in public for the first time.
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Bro. Curtis · May 3, 2006

In this case, it's the right call.

StefanM · May 3, 2006

Ditto.

StefanM · May 3, 2006

Ditto.

Daisy · May 3, 2006

Ditto, ditto!

StefanM · May 3, 2006

I've been double-posting all day. This site has been lagging for me, but nothing else has. Is anyone else having this problem?

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

Dead martyr or live hero.

The idiots on this jury chose a live hero.

They believed the government enough to convict him, but not enough to kill him. They are the national dunces.

Joseph Botwinick

KenH · May 3, 2006

Moussaoui should have been given the death penalty.

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

"I am not looking forward to summary reports on the anniversary of 9/11 on how is Moussaoui doing, is he alive and well, how is he surviving his life sentence. I certainly hope and pray we don't have an experience where certain factions claim his privileges are being denied, he's not getting what he deserves — I really, really don't want to hear any of that," Beamer said.
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It is not a matter of if, but when.

Joseph Botwinick

gekko · May 3, 2006

im glad the guy didn't get the death penalty.

why? because now there's another chance for him to recieve the gospel. how its going to get to him... only God knows.

"he who is without sin cast the first stone..."

then there's: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

"VENGEANCE BELONGETH UNTO ME, I WILL RECOMPENSE, saith the Lord."

if you and bigM switched places in life... would you want the americans to put the death penalty on you?

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

We didn't switch places, but yes, if I were a terrorist, then I would deserve death. Thankfully, I am not and I don't.

Joseph Botwinick

KenH · May 3, 2006

Genesis 9:5-6 (ESV)
And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.

[6] "Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.

gekko · May 3, 2006

"ye have heard that it hath been said, AN EYE FOR AND EYE, AND TOOTH FOR A TOOTH: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

matthew 5:38-39

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

Romans 13

gekko · May 3, 2006

gosh. how DO these all tie together hmm?
i havn't the slightest clue...

gekko · May 3, 2006

may i ask a question of you Joseph?

you dont have to answer if you dont want to. or you could pm me if you wish.

deep down. think deep down. do you honestly have a hatred for the terrorists that played out the 9/11 attack?

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

Let me help you out.

Matthew 5 was written to a Jewish audience which was being repressed by the Roman authorities The message was that of anti-revolution and violence to overthrow an oppressive government. Romans 13 refers to a government being established by God to carry out his wrath on those who commit crimes. Both are in the context of submitting to the ruling authorities.

Neither one of them contradicts each other nor does it call for a pacifist government. Both of them, however, do call for submission to the ruling authorities.

Joseph Botwinick

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

Originally posted by gekko:
may i ask a question of you Joseph?

you dont have to answer if you dont want to. or you could pm me if you wish.

deep down. think deep down. do you honestly have a hatred for the terrorists that played out the 9/11 attack?
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Nope.

Now, let me ask you a question. You don't have to answer if you don't want to. You could pm me if you wish.

Deep down. Think deep down (although, you probably won't have to go very far in your case). Do you honestly have a hatred for the United States of America?

Joseph Botwinick

gekko · May 3, 2006

mmhmm.

the whole bible was written to a jewish audience. no?

did you read verses 8-14 of chapter 13 in romans?
even has some of the ten commandments in there eh?

Joseph_Botwinick · May 3, 2006

Great verses which have nothing to do with supporting your argument.

Joseph Botwinick

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