Execution off the table

last updated 8 January 2015

Alexandria, Va.

A federal judge has barred the government from seeking the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged so far in connection with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Judge Leonie Brinkema also barred prosecutors from introducing any evidence directly linking Moussaoui to the suicide hijackings. The rulings were meant to punish the government for refusing to provide access to the alleged 9/11 mastermind and two other top-ranking al Qaida prisoners, all of whom Moussaoui claims would clear him. Prosecutors said they’d appeal the ruling, which would require them to prove that Moussaoui was involved in a broad conspiracy to attack Americans.