A federal judge has found that testimony from a captured member of Al Qaeda could undermine the government’s prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui and possibly prevent his execution, according to court documents made public today. The judge, Leonie M. Brinkema of Federal District Court in Alexandria, Va., said defense lawyers for Mr. Moussaoui had made a strong argument that the terrorist, whose name was blacked out of the documents, would be able to provide “material, favorable testimony on the defendant’s behalf — both as to guilt and potential punishment.” Mr. Moussaoui, a 34-year-old French citizen who is the only person charged in an American court with conspiring in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, could face the death penalty. While acknowledging that he is loyal to Osama bin Laden and the Qaeda network, Mr. Moussaoui has pleaded not guilty, arguing that testimony from captured members of Al Qaeda would support his assertion that he had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 conspiracy. He has said he was part of another terrorist operation that was set to occur outside the United States after Sept. 11. Full Story
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