|
Not Guilty Plea Entered on Moussaoui’s Behalf
 |
| Freeman
was selected by Moussaoui as his lawyer, but the court ruled
Freeman must register to practice law in Virginia first
|
ALEXANDRIA,
Virginia, June 25 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A U.S. federal
judge entered a not-guilty plea Tuesday on behalf of French national
Zacarias Moussaoui after he refused to answer to charges he conspired
in deadly September 11 terror attacks.
U.S.
District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema said a plea of “no contest”
would likely result in her finding him guilty. If that happened,
Moussaoui’s trial would be canceled, and he would be sentenced,
reports USA Today.
Brinkema
also refused Moussaoui’s request to move his upcoming trial to
Colorado.
Moussaoui,
34, dressed in a green prisoner’s uniform, was in court to answer to
a new indictment against him in which authorities dropped accusations
he sought information about crop-dusting aircraft for terror attacks.
The
French citizen of Moroccan descent was defiant, saying he refused to
recognize the court’s authority.
“
‘Nolo contendere,’ I have no plea,” said Moussaoui, evoking the
Latin legal term meaning he would not contest the charges. “This is
a parody of justice.”
When
Brinkema said she would enter a “not guilty” plea on his behalf,
Moussaoui objected. She warned him such a plea “may result in an
almost certain finding of guilt.”
But
Moussaoui persisted: “I have nothing to say to the United States.
That’s all. If they want to send somebody to prove something against
me, they can try,” reported news agencies.
The
courts normally interpret a no contest plea as a guilty plea.
Complaining
he had not been given the necessary tools to defend himself, the judge
again refusing him access to a Muslim lawyer he chose as an adviser
after winning the right to defend himself.
Charles
Freeman, of Houston, Texas, who Moussaoui says has offered to assist
him free of charge, had not yet petitioned to represent Moussaoui and
was not licensed to practice in Virginia, Brinkema said. She has given
Freeman until June 28 to present himself to the court if he wished to
represent Moussaoui.
Freeman
accusing Brinkema of being unfair to the only person charged in
connection with the September 11 attacks.
Earlier
Tuesday Brinkema said in court that Freeman might have violated court
rules by submitting pleadings on Moussaoui’s behalf.
“I
never intended to assist Bro. Moussaoui by appearing as any so-called
standby counsel because I refuse to be a toothless paper tiger
amounting to absolutely no counsel at all,” Freeman wrote.
The
issue, Freeman said, is whether Brinkema will allow him to continue
advising Moussaoui on federal law while Moussaoui acts as his own
attorney, reported news agencies.
On
June 24, Brinkema denied Moussaoui’s request that Freeman be allowed
to provide legal advise during his June 25 re-arraignment hearing.
Freeman
entered the courtroom 15 minutes after the arraignment began, sitting
in the spectator section and taking notes as Moussaoui railed at
Brinkema for deciding Friday to bar Freeman from further visits with
Moussaoui at the Alexandria jail, reports USA Today.
After
firing his first three court-appointed attorneys, accusing them of
attempting to kill him, Moussaoui continues to refuse to see his
fourth, Alan Yamamoto.
Moussaoui
accused Brinkema of undermining his ability to represent himself by
appointing stand-by counsels to help him. “It strikes the court,”
she replied, "that you are the only [person] in this courtroom,
other than the prosecutors, who is trying to convict you of
anything.”
“I’m
the only one to defend myself. You are just preparing me for the gas
chamber,” Moussaoui told the judge.
Moussaoui
and Brinkema sparred throughout the hearing. At one point, Brinkema
admonished Moussaoui: “Mr. Moussaoui, you don’t control the
courtroom, I do. If you don’t enter a plea, I will enter one for
you,” reported news agencies.
Moussaoui
was first indicted in December 2001 on charges of conspiracy to commit
acts of international terrorism, conspiracy to hijack an airliner,
conspiracy to destroy an aircraft and conspiracy to use arms of mass
destruction.
These
charges carry the death penalty.
|
