Court to hear 9/11 cockpit tape
2006-04-06 11:00
Virginia - The cockpit recorder tape from the September 11 jetliner that crashed in Pennsylvania will be played in public for the first time - to the Zacarias Moussaoui sentencing jury - the judge in the case ruled on Wednesday.
United States District Judge Leonie Brinkema said the jury considering whether to execute Moussaoui could hear the recording from United Airlines Fight 93 and see a transcript of it.
This cockpit tape has been played privately for the families of Flight 93 victims, but it has never been played in public.
Prosecutors asked the judge to order the tape sealed and to keep the transcript from the general public after it is played in open court, but she made no immediate ruling on that.
Noting that the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered trial evidence made public, she said relatives of Flight 93 victims would have until next Tuesday to advise her whether they object to general release of the material.
- AP