Germany Delays 9/11 Verdict, New Witness Found

Reuters ^ | January 21 2004 | Philip Blenkinsop

[knighthawk]

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German court postponed on Wednesday the verdict on a Moroccan accused of aiding the Sept. 11 attackers after prosecutors said they had found a new witness, casting doubt on his expected acquittal.

The Hamburg court where Abdelghani Mzoudi is on trial said that the verdict would not now be issued Thursday as expected after a request from prosecutors to hear evidence from two police officials about a new witness.

"Federal prosecutors sent to the court today a substantial transcript dated January 19 regarding the questioning of a witness whose reliability is guaranteed and who would incriminate the accused Mzoudi," the court said in a statement.

Mzoudi, 31, had been expected to be cleared of the charge of several thousand counts of aiding and abetting murder and membership of a terrorist organization after he was released from custody in a surprise move last month.

His release came after German investigators informed the court of secret testimony which the trial judge presumed to have come from key al Qaeda figure Ramzi bin al-Shaibah who is now in U.S. custody.

That testimony suggested the Moroccan did not belong to the core group of plotters based in Hamburg -- an al Qaeda cell said to have been instrumental in the 2001 attacks on America.

The United States has shared details of bin al-Shaibah's testimony with Germany, but has been unwilling to allow it be released to a court.

Independent lawyers had said it appeared very likely that Mzoudi, whose trial has continued, would be acquitted.

However, prosecutors are now seeking a 30-day break for judges to assess the credibility of the new witness. The court will hear new information from two police officers and a federal prosecutor Thursday. Neither the court nor defense lawyers gave any details about the new witness.

Mzoudi's trial is only the second of a suspected Sept. 11 plotter. Last year the same court sentenced another Moroccan, Mounir El Motassadeq, to 15 years in jail on similar charges.

His lawyers were expecting to hear the results of an appeal, which could lead to a retrial, next week. They say that the new evidence that led to Mzoudi's release should lead to a review of Motassadeq's conviction.

U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft and lawyers representing the relatives of September 11 victims have described the freeing of Mzoudi as disappointing.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[aristeides]

According to this article in Der Spiegel -- Neuer Zeuge verzögert Urteilsspruch [New Witness Delays Court Verdict] -- the Iranian witness is saying that the Iranian government participated in the planning for 9/11.

[Angelus Errare]

A major German newspaper is claiming that Iran has been tied to the 9/11 attacks.

My extremely crude English translation can be found here:
http://www.regnumcrucis.blogspot.com/2004_01_18_regnumcrucis_archive.html#107471958163870067

[Shermy]

Well, we'll see. Yet another day in the WOT.

[Angelus Errare]

Ping

[marron]

Ping me if you get a better translation. What you have there is enough to raise the hair on the back of my head, though it will not come as a surprise to some.

It is obvious that while the various wings of the muslim aggression are in competition with each other, often to the point of killing one another, they also cooperate lending financial support, technical assistance, and refuge. Anyone who claims that the Islamists and nationalists, Shias and Sunnis don't cooperate actively isn't paying attention.

[Angelus Errare]

You're definitely on the short list - but I had long been skeptical of claims of Iraqi complicity in 9/11 (the anthrax attacks are another matter altogether) because it would seem to be such a suicidal move for any country with the exception of perhaps Saudi Arabia in the event they were found out. It also means that if they're willing to help al-Qaeda knock down those towers, God knows they won't be shy about slipping them a nuke.

[MHGinTN]

Second paragraph ... well and truly said!

[DoctorZIn]

Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!

Click on the link above!

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”

[nuconvert]

Wow. I'd like a better translation of this myself.
Can you ping me if you get one?

Thanks for the post.

[knak]

bumping for later

[knak]

German 9/11 trial verdict postponed

excerpt:

The prosecution asked to call an Iranian secret agent, to help shore up its case, chief defence attorney Gul Pinar told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The witness allegedly warned US authorities ahead of the 9/11 attacks, Pinar said. In addition, he is expected to tell the court that al Qaeda operatives have threatened to kill the Hamburg trial defendant for having "collaborated" with German investigators.

[aristeides]

I don't have time to translate the whole article. But I will translate this, because it is critical:

Laut Vernehmungsprotokoll behauptet der Geheimdienstler, Iran sei aktiv an der Planung des 11. Septembers beteiligt gewesen.

My translation:

According to the record of an interrogation, the intelligence officer claims that Iran was actively involved in the planning of 9/11.

[livius]

Well, isn't that interesting. This should get more attention.

[Angelus Errare]

Much obliged for your initial work. Let me know if you get the time to translate the whole thing.

[Cindy]

And even another new source...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3417809.stm

BBC NEWS: "New evidence halts 9/11 verdict"


ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Mr Mzoudi admits knowing the hijackers but not their plans


A German court has agreed to allow a new prosecution witness in the trial of an 11 September suspect which appeared to have all but crumbled last month.

The dramatic move has delayed the verdict in the case of Abdelghani Mzoudi which was expected this week.

Mr Mzoudi, 31, is accused of being an accessory to the murder of more than 3,000 in the 2001 attacks on America and membership of a terrorist group.

The Moroccan national was freed after new evidence cast doubt over the case."

[swarthyguy]

Circles within circles.

Milt Bearden's new book, The Main Enemy, written with James Risen an overview of Bearden's activities in the ColdWar talks about how both State and the CIA were correct in fingering Libya and Iran, respectively.

He quotes Qaddafi as sayiing "this is the way things are done, reponsibility, planning and logistics are split between parties, states and non states, multiple trails laid."

When asked about the ole SunniShia split, Qaddafi remarks that one can work even with an enemy to achieve a goal.

And then there's this nagging voice going, Saudi disinfo?

[swarthyguy]

Above in regards to PanAm103 Lockerbie.

[Cindy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1062458/posts

"Iran Continues Work at Uranium Enrichment Plant"
Ha'aretz ^ | Wed, January 21, 2004 | Ha'aretz


Posted on 01/21/2004 2:42:30 PM PST by faludeh_shirazi

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "IAEA: Iran continues work at uranium enrichment plant
January 21, 2004 Ha'aretz Yossi Melman

International Atomic Energy Agency sources told Haaretz Wednesday that Iran is continuing construction at its uranium enrichment plant, causing a new dispute to emerged between the agency and Tehran.

According to the sources, the dispute erupted amid continued Iranian construction of centrifuge devices at the uranium enrichment plant in Natanz."