ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 13 (UPI) -- Convicted terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui could escape the death penalty because a U.S. attorney ignored a judge's orders on dealing with witnesses.
Monday U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema abruptly called a recess in the Alexandria, Va., trial to allow her time to review her options, the Washington Post reported.
Friday, it came to light that an unidentified Federal Aviation Administration attorney had discussed the testimony of FAA witnesses with them before they took the stand, and also arranged for them to read a transcript of the government's opening statement. Brinkema had banned both activities before the trial.
Moussaoui pleaded guilty last April to conspiring with al-Qaida in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He is the only person convicted in the United States on related charges.
Because of what Brinkema called "the most egregious violation of the court's rules on witnesses" defense attorneys immediately urged her to throw out the death penalty and sentence him to life in prison.
