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US Judge Allows Moussaoui Sentencing Trial to Continue
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=115CB29:3919ACA
Judge Brinkema had considered removing death penalty option after
learning a government lawyer had improperly shared information with
several key witnesses





Artist's rendering of prosecutor David Novak, right, and defense
attorney Edward MacMahon, center, pleading their cases to Judge Leonie
Brinkema during Zacarius Moussaoui's sentencing trial, March 9, 2006
The U.S. judge in the sentencing trial of Zacarias Moussaoui has
decided to allow government prosecutors to continue to seek the death
penalty against the confessed al-Qaida conspirator.

In Virginia Tuesday, Judge Leonie Brinkema said the sentencing phase
could continue against Moussaoui. She said, however, evidence from
aviation experts considered key to the U.S. government's case would
not be allowed during the trial.

Judge Brinkema had considered removing the death penalty after
learning a government lawyer had improperly shared information with
several key witnesses. After a day-long hearing, however, she threw
out the testimony of Federal Aviation Administration and
Transportation Security Administration officials who had been coached
by government lawyer Carla Martin.

The jury is to decide whether Moussaoui, the only person charged in
the United States in connection with the September 11, 2001 attacks,
should be executed or sentenced to life in prison. Some information
for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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