Moussaoui can get death penalty

2006-04-03 22:10

Alexandria - A jury ruled on Monday that al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui is eligible for the death penalty taking his trial into a new phase to decide whether he should be executed for his role in the 9/11 attacks.

The jury decided after less than three days of deliberations that the 37-year-old Frenchman had deliberately concealed from investigators in August 2001 that Osama bin Laden's terrorist network was planning the strikes on New York and Washington.

Prosecutors had charged during the trial that Moussaoui "lied with lethal intent".

The trial will now hold new hearings to decide whether he should be executed or go to jail for life with no parole.

Relatives of some of the almost 3 000 victims of the September 11 attacks are expected to speak in court.

- AFP