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General discussion

Moussaoui says he lied about 9/11 involvement, asks to

May 8, 2006 10:30AM PDT

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) ? Convicted Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui says he lied on the witness stand about being involved in the plot and wants to withdraw his guilty plea because he now believes he can get a fair trial.

In a motion filed Friday but released Monday, Moussaoui said he testified March 27 he was supposed to hijack a fifth plane on Sept. 11, 2001, and fly it into the White House "even though I knew that was a complete fabrication."

A federal court jury spared the 37-year-old Frenchman the death penalty last Wednesday. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema gave him six life sentences, to run as two consecutive life terms, in the federal supermax prison at Florence, Colo.

At sentencing, she told Moussaoui: "You do not have a right to appeal your convictions, as was explained to you when you plead guilty" in April 2005. "You waived that right."

She said he could appeal his sentence but added, "I believe it would be an act of futility."

Moussaoui's court-appointed lawyers told the court they filed the motion even though a federal rule "prohibits a defendant from withdrawing a guilty plea after imposition of sentence." They did so anyway because of their "problematic relationship with Moussaoui" and the fact that new lawyers have yet to be appointed to replace them.


he has a long time to think this over.
i just hope hes put in general populationHappy
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-08-moussaoui_x.htm

Discussion is locked

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He's going to a Supermax
May 8, 2006 10:43AM PDT

So he'll be basically in solitary. For better or worse ... At least he won't be living in a country club type prison.

Evie Happy

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(NT) (NT) i can hope he gets shanked cant i?
May 8, 2006 10:58AM PDT
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Sure!
May 8, 2006 11:07AM PDT

Just don't want you getting your hopes up. Unless his attorney does it on the rare visit, or a guard, he won't have contact with any other inmates. Not even eye contact!

Evie Happy

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evan if i wish on a 4 leaf clover
May 8, 2006 11:23AM PDT

and say pretty please?Happy

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Why? that's what he wanted.
May 8, 2006 4:30PM PDT

Even given the expense of 50+ years of imprisonment, I hope he lives to see hisd 100 birthday behind bars, preferablly always in solitary or near it.

In this case, it's probably the much better deterrant for his imitators. After all, they want to be martyrs.


Roger

click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

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Want to bet he finds a way ...
May 9, 2006 2:15AM PDT

... to off himself? OTOH, he might not have the ultimate courage to do that! I guess we'll have to wait and see, huh.

Evie Happy

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Actually....
May 9, 2006 3:06AM PDT

Didn't he already have a chance. He could have tried to go for a guard or bailiff's gun anytime in order to get himself shot. He's probably too big of a coward to really kill himself....

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Good thought ...
May 9, 2006 3:13AM PDT

... wonder if going really insane in solitary might give him courage though? From what I've heard, however, he'll have little opportunity to go after the guards from here on. They have slots they put their hands through to get the cuffs put back on, etc. Maybe if he attacks his appeals attorney!

Evie Happy

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It's not what he wanted.
May 9, 2006 2:42AM PDT

He wanted to be executed by the imperialist infidel Great Satan, i.e., the United States government, George Bush, et al. Then he could be a martyr of jihad. He definitely did NOT to be shivved by some lowlife fellow prisoner in jail.

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True, but any death in US custody would be played
May 9, 2006 3:13AM PDT

the same by the radicals I expect.

He'd still be a martyr, even if not as great of 'a shining example' for recruting new martyrs as he would be if he died killing Americans.

I say let him live 50 years or so in a cell alone, books maybe, no tv, no dvd, no vcr. Or bring back the rock pile and spend 8 hours a day breaking large rocks into smaller ones then loading them on trucks.


Roger

click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

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The judge turned him down :)
May 8, 2006 12:20PM PDT
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but watch the bleeding hearts
May 8, 2006 12:27PM PDT

demand a retrial

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I doubt it very much, Mark
May 8, 2006 11:08PM PDT

The crime he was convicted of was knowing about the planned attacks and not telling anyone. That made him a co-conspirator regardless of whether he was going to participate in the attacks.

His attempt to recant his confession is irrelevant.

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Bet the ACLU is on the case right now...
May 8, 2006 11:13PM PDT

Just wait.

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I Googled "ACLU Moussaoui"....
May 8, 2006 11:47PM PDT

....and didn't find anything suggesting they've taken any interest in this case.

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(NT) (NT) Just wait. It's a natural.
May 8, 2006 11:57PM PDT
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josh i hope your right
May 8, 2006 11:15PM PDT

but watch the future wheres his rug the toilets faceing the wrong way

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(NT) (NT) America lied about life sentence/we meant death penalty
May 9, 2006 1:40AM PDT
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Translation: "They wouldn't make me a martyr as planned,"
May 9, 2006 3:15AM PDT

now I want to take my bawl and go home!"

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!