Alexandria, Va.
A judge this week angrily halted the sentencing trial of convicted al Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, after prosecutors said a government lawyer improperly coached six witnesses. A lawyer for the Transportation Security Administration, Carla Martin, is said to have sent portions of last week’s proceedings to witnesses who have yet to testify. She also gave them some pointers on how they could bolster the government’s claim that Moussaoui should get the death penalty. Judge Leonie Brinkema said the incident was the most “egregious violation” of rules regarding witnesses that she had ever seen. Brinkema said that while she will allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Moussaoui, she would not allow the witnesses who were contacted to testify. All are aviation experts.
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