Alexandria, Va.
Terror conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui shouted, “I am al Qaida!” and was tossed out of the courtroom this week, on the opening day of jury selection for his sentencing trial. Moussaoui, a Frenchman of Moroccan descent, denounced his American lawyers, vowing to fight the death penalty by taking the stand himself during the trial, which begins March 6. “This trial is a circus,” he said. “These people do not represent me.” Moussaoui pleaded guilty in April to plotting to fly planes into buildings in the U.S. Prosecutors contend Moussaoui could have prevented the 9/11 attacks by telling authorities about al Qaida’s plans. The defense argues that Moussaoui knew less about 9/11 than the government did, citing investigations that turned up multiple missed opportunities that might have headed off the attacks.
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