9/11 suspect 'saved'

2003-10-02 20:23

Washington - US prosecutors may not seek the death penalty for Frenchman Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the United States in the September 11 attacks, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

It was "ordered that the government's Notice of Intent to seek a sentence of death and notice of special findings be and are stricken," a ruling by Judge Leonie Brinkema, sitting in Alexandria, Virginia, said.

It also was "ordered that the United States may not present at trial any evidence or argument that the defendant was involved in or had knowledge of the planning or execution of the attacks of September 11, 2001," she added.

- AFP