'If Not Now, Then When?'

May 3, 2006 — -- Katherine Bailey could say little more than that she was "very disappointed" after the verdict today. Her husband was killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and she wanted the death penalty for accused conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.

Her family was not afraid the al Qaeda member would become a martyr if he were put to death. Instead, she believes a monster is now being permitted to live.

Margaret Pothier lost a family member in the terror attacks and questioned the verdict, asking, "If not now, then when?"

Boston area widow Christie Coombs lost her husband on Flight 11, which hit the North Tower in Manhattan. She said she has experienced relentless grief in the nearly five years since the terror attacks, but she did not think the death penalty was an option.

While listening to the testimony she changed her mind about Moussaoui's fate and became convinced he did not know what he claimed about Sept. 11.

"I've thought about what my husband would have wanted and I believe, as he would have, that Moussaoui deserves to spend the rest of his life behind bars," Coombs said.

In New York, the parents of a 23-year-old firefighter who died in the attacks said they were not concerned with the outcome of the trial because the verdict would not bring back their lost son.

Maureen Santora describes Moussaoui as the "most hateful individual we ever came across" but said the jury simply didn't believe him.

For Allison Vadhan, this was not about believing Moussaoui. She carries a photo of the mother she lost on Flight 93 and said tonight's verdict stung.

The families watched as Moussaoui clapped leaving the courtroom. For them, there were no winners. It was just another painful day that won't bring their loved ones back.