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American Morning
Families: Death Too Easy on Terrorists?
Aired March 27, 2002 - 08:18 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to move on to the big question of this hour: Is the death penalty too kind for a terrorist? Just yesterday the Justice Department began interviewing family members of 9/11 victims to see what punishment they want for Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called 20th hijacker. Their testimony could be critical during the sentencing phase of the trial, due to begin September 30, and a final decision is due by week's end. His trial is scheduled to begin on September 30.
And Nilsa Rivera lost her husband, Isaias, in the World Trade Center. Leonard Castrianno's son Leonard also died there and he joins us this morning from Buffalo. And obviously we should mention Nilsa's right here with me.
LEONARD CASTRIANNO, FATHER OF WTC VICTIM: The one to the right of me.
ZAHN: Good morning.
Mr. Castrianno, can you hear us this morning?
CASTRIANNO: Yes.
ZAHN: All right. Good morning. Thank you very much for being with us.
CASTRIANNO: Good morning, Paula.
ZAHN: If Mr. Zacarias Moussaoui is convicted, what do you think should happen to him?
CASTRIANNO: Leonard.
ZAHN: I think our audio technicians are still checking Mr. Castrianno in.
Leonard, can you hear me? Paula here.
CASTRIANNO: Yes, I can hear you, Paula.
ZAHN: OK. If Mr. Zacarias Moussaoui is convicted, what do you want to happen to him?
CASTRIANNO: I want the laws of the United States to prevail. We have the death penalty in this country and if his lawsuit meets the criteria for it, and if he is found guilty and it meets the criteria for the death penalty, I feel that he should get the death penalty as any other person who broke the law in this country.
ZAHN: If the death penalty is requested, there is a chance you might be called to testify? Are you willing to do that?
CASTRIANNO: Yes. I'm leaving, I'll be testifying or giving a deposition in Boston on April 8. I couldn't make it this week. So on April 8 I have an appointment in Boston to give a deposition on my belief in that matter.
ZAHN: And what is it that you want all of these investigators to know?
CASTRIANNO: Well, my son was murdered. And it would be no different than if he was murdered in New York City or wherever, he happened to live in New York City, by someone who held a gun to his head and just blew his brains out. He was just plain murdered. And I think in this country we have the death penalty. I have no other, I cannot offer another suggestion as to what we could do other than the death penalty. I wish I did. But since this is our laws, I want our laws carried out to the fullest, providing that Moussaoui is found guilty of what he did.
I guess I was a little fortunate. After this tragedy, the Islamic community in Buffalo, New York paid a visit to my house and sat with us and explained to us -- and I'm not, certainly no expert on the Islamic religion -- but Dr. Kazi (ph), Dr. Hussain (ph) and Dr. Balti (ph) tried very hard to explain to us why this was a corruption of their religion what these people are doing. They did not believe in what had happened and for the purposes that were stated for these attacks on our country.
So I believe that we should carry on in our manner, in our laws and if he's found guilty and he qualifies for the death penalty, he should be put to death.
ZAHN: All right, Nilsa, you just heard what Leonard had to say. He is experiencing the same kind of profound loss that you're experiencing. He feels very strongly since there is a death penalty in this country and if it's called for, Moussaoui should die. Do you agree?
NILSA RIVERA, WIDOW OF WTC VICTIM: Well, Mr. Castrianno, with all due respect, under the circumstances, we're not dealing with an average person that is on death row who would otherwise be afraid to die. We're dealing with a terrorist and a group of people that are not afraid to die. I am totally against the death penalty because they feel they're going to be rewarded in heaven by their god Allah for killing innocent people.
We don't want to use this person Moussaoui as a martyr and send the wrong message to the accomplices that they can attempt to do this again by getting a quick fix death penalty. I feel, you know, my husband, going through this crisis again the second time -- in '93 he was involved in the first bombing and the United States didn't do anything back then. So now, of course, the United States, I expect them to save face and do, you know, what they have to do in order for this man to pay a price.
I feel that what does it take, the million dollar question, what does it take to put a price on a life? My husband died for a cause, for what this country stood for, the land of opportunity and freedom. These people had came into our land and used the freedom to, you know, use vengeance against our people, innocent lives, to send a message. I think they should have a long, drawn out, brutal punishment so that the other people that are thinking to do this again -- don't forget, our nation is still under threat, which means that we can be attacked at any given point -- this message for them, quick fix, death penalty, should not take place.
They should use this man as an example so they can rethink of attacking the United States again.
ZAHN: Leonard, what about Nilsa's point of view, that she would much rather see Moussaoui, if convicted, rot in prison?
CASTRIANNO: Yes, I heard her last week or two weeks ago when she was on. And, you know, at first her argument, or not her argument, her rationale for what, of her opinion sounded real good. However, I reflected back on what these folks from the Islam religion and community had told us, that these people, they believe in god the way we do, that murder is wrong. And these people who think they're going to get a reward in heaven will not be getting any reward in heaven.
They may believe it, but they're not. And according to the folks that I talked to, because of the manner and the corruption of what they did, they do not believe that these people will have any kind of reward.
Therefore...
ZAHN: All right...
CASTRIANNO: ... I look at it from the standpoint these are our laws, let's exercise our laws the way we should.
ZAHN: All right. I know, Nilsa, you couldn't disagree more. Unfortunately I have to cut both of you off.
RIVERA: But it is the message. It's the message we're sending to the terrorists, not the regular, you know, Islamic community.
ZAHN: Unfortunately we have to leave it there, Nilsa Rivera, Leonardo Castrianno, because we need to go to Beirut, where Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, is now addressing Al-Jazeera, the Arab satellite network.
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