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American Morning

World's First Verdict Against Accused 09/11 Conspirator Expected

Aired February 19, 2003 - 07:32   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: At any moment, the world's first verdict against an accused September 11 conspirator is expected. Judges in Germany will announce the fate of Mounir el-Motassadeq. He has been charged with being an accessory to more than 3,000 murders on 9/11.
Matthew Chance is standing by outside courthouse in Hamburg -- good morning, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, as well, Paula.

And we are expecting that verdict to be handed down literally within the next few minutes. Certainly, the charges against Mounir el-Motassadeq are extremely serious. First of all, he is charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, in this case, the Hamburg cell of al Qaeda which is, of course, believed to have planned and have carried out the September 11 attacks against the United States as such.

Motassadeq is also implicated and is charged as being an accessory in the murder of more than 3,000 people on American soil in New York on that date.

Throughout the trial, though, Motassadeq denying that he has done anything wrong. He said he merely made friendships with fellow Muslims in the city of Hamburg in Germany, when he was studying here as a student. But he had no prior knowledge, he's been arguing, of any attacks in the United States.

The prosecution, though, saying his associations were so close that there is enough for a conviction -- Paula.

ZAHN: Matthew Chance, thanks for that update.

And we will be coming back to you live when that verdict comes down.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Expected>


Aired February 19, 2003 - 07:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: At any moment, the world's first verdict against an accused September 11 conspirator is expected. Judges in Germany will announce the fate of Mounir el-Motassadeq. He has been charged with being an accessory to more than 3,000 murders on 9/11.
Matthew Chance is standing by outside courthouse in Hamburg -- good morning, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, as well, Paula.

And we are expecting that verdict to be handed down literally within the next few minutes. Certainly, the charges against Mounir el-Motassadeq are extremely serious. First of all, he is charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, in this case, the Hamburg cell of al Qaeda which is, of course, believed to have planned and have carried out the September 11 attacks against the United States as such.

Motassadeq is also implicated and is charged as being an accessory in the murder of more than 3,000 people on American soil in New York on that date.

Throughout the trial, though, Motassadeq denying that he has done anything wrong. He said he merely made friendships with fellow Muslims in the city of Hamburg in Germany, when he was studying here as a student. But he had no prior knowledge, he's been arguing, of any attacks in the United States.

The prosecution, though, saying his associations were so close that there is enough for a conviction -- Paula.

ZAHN: Matthew Chance, thanks for that update.

And we will be coming back to you live when that verdict comes down.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Expected>