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CNN Live At Daybreak

Prosecutors Charge Moussaoui With Conspiracy

Aired March 29, 2002 - 06:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the fall, federal prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui. He is so far the only person charged in the September 11 terror attacks.

Moussaoui will be tried on conspiracy charges. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has the details for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Will he live or die? That's what a jury will be deciding if they find terror suspect, Zacarias Moussaoui, guilty of conspiracy. Attorney General John Ashcroft going ahead, seeking the death penalty.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We have alleged numerous reasons called aggravating factors, which we believe indicate why the death penalty is appropriate. Among these reasons is the impact of the crime on thousands of victims.

FEYERICK: Prosecutors planning to prove even though Moussaoui was already behind bars at the time of the attacks, he knew people would die, because of what he allegedly planned to do. Carrying it out, says the government -- quote -- "In an especially heinous, cruel and depraved manner in that they involved the torture and serious physical abuse to the victims." Three thousand people died. Thousands more left to deal with physical and emotional scars.

Moussaoui's lawyer accuses the government of trying the case in the media. Frank Dunham telling CNN, "We do things on the record in the courthouse." Death penalty expert, David Baugh, represented a now convicted al Qaeda soldier during last year's embassy bombings trial.

DAVID BAUGH, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We might be prosecuting and trying to kill someone who was involved in an activity, a general activity, who had no idea the specifics.

FEYERICK: Prosecutors say they will prove Moussaoui came to the United States to study flying in order to kill as many American citizens as possible. Moussaoui, of Moroccan descent, is a French citizen. France, firmly anti-death penalty, issued a statement saying it stands solidly with the United States in its war on terrorism but regrets the decision, and that any evidence given by France can't be used to seek a death sentence.

Moussaoui's mother reacted from her home in France.

AICHA EL-WAFI, MOUSSAOUI'S MOTHER (through translator): My son should not become a scapegoat for Americans. Even if they kill my son, it's not going to bring back people who died. He is not responsible for this attack.

FEYERICK: Even victims' families split on the death penalty.

ISABEL CARDEN, FRIEND OF WTC ATTACK: I feel that in this instance the death penalty is patently warranted, because terror, it's not only premeditated, it only hurts innocent people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think these people should have a long, drawn-out brutal punishment.

FEYERICK (on camera): And is Moussaoui sorry? Prosecutors say no, citing what they call a lack of remorse. Opening statements are slated to begin in October.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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