Judge: Moussaoui 'Will Die With a Whimper'
May 4, 2006 — -- Zacarias Moussaoui entered the courtroom for his sentencing hearing today, smiling broadly and holding up a victory sign. His smile faded when 9/11 victims' family members and the judge addressed him for the final time before he was taken to a super-maximum security prison to serve out his life term.
Judge Leonie Brinkema, who frequently exchanged barbs with Moussaoui during the two-month trial, told the convicted al Qaeda member he would "die with a whimper."
But first, family members who'd lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks addressed Moussaoui.
"I want you, Mr. Moussaoui, to know how you wrecked my life," said Rosemary Dillard, whose husband, Eddie, died aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon. "You wrecked my career. You took the most important person in my life from me. I live alone.
"I hope you sit in that jail without seeing the sky, without seeing the sun, without any contact with the world. … I hope your name never comes up in a newspaper during the rest of my life. ... With you I feel nothing but disgust."
After Dillard, Abraham Scott went to the courtroom podium. "I sit in this courtroom. … I see the different remarks that you make about the victims ... the beautiful individuals who perished that day. … You will not deter this country from continuing to enjoy the freedom that it has had for the past 200 years."
The last family member who testified, Lisa Dolan, spoke briefly. "There is still one final judgment day," she said.
Moussaoui Responds, Praises bin Laden
After the family members spoke, Brinkema let Moussaoui address the court, as is the defendent's right in a criminal trial. Moussaoui began by answering the three family members: "The first one say that I destroy her life and she lost her husband. … Maybe one day she can think how many people at the CIA have destroyed their life."
Criticizing the United States, Moussaoui said, "You have an amount of hypocrisy which is beyond any belief."
At this point, prosecutor Robert Spencer objected and Brinkema cut Moussaoui off, telling him he must make comments that were appropriate to the sentencing hearing. "You can't use this opportunity to make a political speech," the judge said.
Moussaoui exhaled deeply and continued. "You have branded me a terrorist or whatever criminal. ... Look at yourself first."
Drawing on his jihadist beliefs and background, the convicted al Qaeda member said, "I am mujahid. … I have nothing else to say."
Moussaoui said the trial was " a waste[d] opportunity for this country to understand and to know why people like me, why people like Mohammed Atta and the rest have so much hatred for you. You don't want to hear about it.
"We will come back another day," he continued. "As long as you don't want to hear, you will feel America. … God curse America and save Osama bin Laden! You'll never get him."
'You Will Die With a Whimper'
Once he returned to his chair against the courtroom's side wall, Brinkema began Moussaoui's formal sentencing.
Brinkema told Moussaoui he would spend the rest of his life in a super-maximum security facility."In terms of winners and losers, it is quite clear who won yesterday and who lost yesterday," she said.
Moussaoui shouted out, "That was my choice."
Brinkema shot back, "It was hardly your choice."
Brinkema also offered sympathy for the victims' families, saying, "that this defendant would sit and smirk at you is outrageous.
"This trial and verdict is a sign of the enduring strength of this country," Brinkema said. "As for you, Mr. Moussaoui, you came to this country to be a martyr and die in a big bang of glory. … but to paraphrase the poet T.S. Elliot, instead you will die with a whimper."
After Brinkema left the courtroom, Moussaoui uttered his final outburst. "I will be free and my liberation will be proof that we are the soldiers of God, you are the army of Satan. By the end of George W. Bush, I will be out," he said.
Moussaoui will be transported by U.S. marshals to a super-maximum security prison, likely in Colorado.