UNITED STATES. US MULLS ENDING QUEST FOR MOUSSAOUI DEATH PENALTY

prosecutors pondered on whether to abandon their quest for the death penalty in the US government's only case connected to the September 11 hijackings, after a federal judge banned crucial testimony. Shortly after US District Judge Leonie Brinkema delivered the sharp blow on March 14 to the case against September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, prosecutors asked for a trial delay.
Brinkema threw out aviation-related witnesses and evidence -- about half the government's case -- after the revelation that a Transportation Security Administration lawyer, Carla Martin, had violated a court order by improperly sharing trial information and attempting to coach witnesses.
"I think this is an appropriate response by the court to what were a series of egregious errors," Brinkema said. "A trial, particularly a death case, simply can't go forward with this many violations of standard, well-established principles of law."
Moussaoui, an admitted al Qaeda member who pleaded guilty to conspiracy in connection with the September 11 attacks, was on trial to determine if he would be executed. The defense had asked Brinkema to dismiss the death penalty option for Moussaoui since Martin had tainted the witnesses.