U.S. Says Error in Barring Moussaoui Death Penalty

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=12&u=/nm/20031031/ts_nm/security_moussaoui_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors argued that a judge abused her power by barring the death penalty for accused Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui as punishment for the government's refusal to allow him to question al Qaeda captives, according to court documents released on Friday.


The prosecutors said in written arguments to a U.S. appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, that the sanctions imposed by the judge "will deny the jury key evidence and deny the public and the victims of September 11 full justice."


U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema on Oct. 2 barred the death penalty and said prosecutors could not present any evidence about Moussaoui's knowledge of, or involvement in, the Sept. 11 attacks because the government has refused to allow him to question three al Qaeda captives.
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"But... but... We like killing people," the U.S. Government said in exasperation with the ruling.

[La_Serpiente]

1. Well gee, who's fault is it?

I don't think it's the judges fault. She's just trying to be a fair arbiter of the law.

I guess Asscroft can't wait to get blood on his hands.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. It's such a pain when laws get in the way of people in suits and ties

killing people by proxy.

[Zhade]

3. How about some justice for the accused, you idiots?!

Hell, who am I to judge the guy's guilt? But if we don't protect justice for even the worst of humanity, then we are hypocrites - and engaging in a dangerous precedent.

Fools.

[Paschall]

4. Call me cynical. Or fit me for a tin-foil hat

But I think that this push for the death penalty--after they've tried to block Moussaoui's access to witnesses and even discussed dropping the case--is aimed at France.

If Moussaoui does indeed risk capital punishment, the French will be obliged to deploy diplomatic and other efforts to prevent his execution, as he is a French citizen. That's standard practice, according to French and EU law.

Dangling the death penalty over Moussaoui's head give's ShrubCo a bargaining chip vis-à-vis Chirac.

But I could be wrong. Of course.