|
Moussaoui barred from court
14/02/2006 19:38 - (SA)
Alexandria - A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that confessed al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui will not be in the courtroom for jury selection at his upcoming death-penalty trial, after Moussaoui again defied the judge at a pre-trial hearing.
Judge Leonie Brinkema said her main reason for holding Tuesday's hearing was to determine "how Mr Moussaoui plans to behave ... whether you plan to remain quiet ... or whether you plan to make speeches."
Moussaoui, 37, a French citizen of Moroccan origin, who pleaded guilty last April to conspiring with al-Qaeda to use aircraft to target US buildings, then pulled out what appeared to be a handwritten speech and berated the judge for ignoring his rights.
"Each time you say, 'Mr Moussaoui keep quiet,' today is my day," Moussaoui said in a rambling speech during which he also sought to disavow his French citizenship. "I'm not French .... I stand here as a Muslim only," Moussaoui said. "I do not stand here with a nation of homosexual crusaders."
Brinkema, after several minutes, ordered Moussaoui out of the courtroom and said that he will have to watch jury selection from his cell at the courthouse.
"Mr Moussaoui, you are the biggest enemy of yourself," Brinkema said.
"God curse you and America," Moussaoui said as he left the courtroom.
- AP
|
News
