Judge Postpones Moussaoui’s Trial Until January

WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Fearing a trial in September would be flawed and would not allow enough preparation time to adhere to processes guaranteeing a fair trial, a U.S. federal judge Friday postponed until January 6 the trial of French national Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in connection with the September 11 attacks, to give his defense more time to prepare.

In her order, Judge Leonie Brinkema rejected prosecutors' insistence that jury selection for the trial should begin as scheduled on September 30.

Moussaoui - who earlier won the right to mount his own defense - has recently complained he needs more time to prepare. Court-appointed standby lawyers a week ago asked for a delay of at least two months.

"Although the public's right to a speedy trial is a legitimate concern, this court's paramount concern is ensuring that the defendant receive a fair trial," Brinkema ruled.

"The volume and complexity of the evidence in this prosecution fully support the defense request for a brief continuance of the trial date."

The standby lawyers said they needed extra time to examine the 1,189 computer disks, 1,262 audiocassettes and 755 pages of confidential information linked to the case that they had received as of mid-July, as well as to find and subpoena witnesses for the defense.

On Monday, prosecutors formally stated their opposition to any delay, saying "the public's interest in a speedy trial could not be more compelling," according to documents filed in court.

The September 11 attacks "were more than just acts of mass murder. They were volleys in a declared war against the United States and were intended to terrorize the entire nation," prosecutors led by U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty said in court papers.

"Our prosecutors were ready to start picking a jury on September 30th and proceed with the trial," Justice Department spokeswoman Barbara Comstock said.

"However, the judge has decided to give Moussaoui more time to prepare. We will continue our preparation and look forward to the opportunity to present our case in court."

Moussaoui - who has admitted to being a member of Al-Qa’eda, the group blamed for the attacks, but has steadfastly denied any involvement in the hijackings and subsequent attacks on New York and Washington D.C. - initially asked for an indefinite delay of his trial.

Arrested in August 2001 on immigration violations, the 34-year-old Frenchman has since been charged with conspiracy to commit acts of terror that transcend international borders; conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy; conspiracy to destroy aircraft; conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction; conspiracy to murder U.S. employees; and conspiracy to destroy property.

He faces the death penalty on four of those charges.

"I am relieved. This is going to give him a little more time to prepare his defense," Aicha el-Wafi told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that she believed her son would have a fair trial in the United States.

"There must be proof, and until now, they haven't got any. I hope things will become a bit clearer later," she said.

"A September trial, one year after the attacks, would have been a flawed trial," El-Wafi said.

"I know that it is sad for the relatives of the victims of the attacks. I share their sadness and their suffering but that is not a reason to throw everything to the wind and condemn him to death," she said.