Posted on 04/10/2006 6:19:03 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
C Lee Hanson was on the phone with his son - a passenger on United Flight 175 on September 11 - and heard him say "Oh my God!" just before watching his airplane crash into the World Trade Centre.
Hanson's testimony on Monday at the sentencing trial of September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was one of several emotional stories told by survivors or family members of victims of the deadly hijackings.
Hanson, 73, said he received two calls from his son Peter, who was travelling to California with his wife and two and a half-year-old daughter on September 11, 2001.
"On the first call, he told me the plane had been hijacked. He asked me to call United Airlines and tell them," he said.
Hanson said he called the local police after being unable to get through to the airline. Then, his son called again.
"He said, 'don't worry, Dad - if it happens it will be quick.'"
"As we were talking, all of a sudden he stopped and said 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.' I thought I heard a woman scream. I looked over at the television set and saw a plane fly into the building."
Hanson's story, like that of 14 other witnesses who testified, was presented by prosecutors who want the jury to give Moussaoui the death sentence for his crimes.
Moussaoui has pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy in connection with the September 11 attacks. The jury will decide whether he will be executed or sentenced to life in prison.
Before the jury came into the courtroom on Monday, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema warned prosecutors about using overly emotional testimony or making witnesses too upset.
"The government is approaching shaky ground," she said.
"The prejudicial impact ... might affect the rationality of the verdict. You may pay a price for that down the road."
Prosecutors played a 9/11 emergency call made by a woman trapped on the 83rd floor of the World Trade Centre's south tower on September 11.
"It's very, very, very hot," Melissa Doi frantically told the 9/11 operator.
"All I see is smoke. I'm going to die, aren't I? I'm going to die, I know I'm going to die."
The operator tried to calm her, saying rescue workers were on the way. Doi could be heard yelling "Help! Help!" at the end of the tape.
Another 9/11 tape was played with a video of the south tower before and as it collapsed. Kevin Cosgrove was trapped there and could be heard angrily asking the 9/11 operator when and how he would be rescued.
"I can barely breathe now. ... I can't see. ... I need oxygen," he said.
He yelled "Oh God" as the tower started to collapse and the call cut off.
Many witnesses broke into tears as they were asked to describe victims' wedding photos or pictures with children.
Ronald Clifford described helping a severely burned woman after the first plane hit the World Trade Centre. He sat and prayed with her as the second airplane crashed into the World Trade Centre.
He only realised later that his sister and niece were on that second aircraft.
Harry Waizer, who ran Cantor Fitzgerald's tax department on September 11, spoke of beating out flames in an elevator and getting hit by a "fire ball" that left him severely burned. He spent five months in the hospital and remains injured.
Is it okay to say that I HATE THAT JUDGE!
Clinton appointee, as if you needed to hear it confirmed.
You betcha!!!!
Before the jury came into the courtroom on Monday, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema warned prosecutors about using overly emotional testimony or making witnesses too upset."The government is approaching shaky ground," she said.
"The prejudicial impact ... might affect the rationality of the verdict. You may pay a price for that down the road."
So, if the witnesses get upset while reliving the horrifying, agonizing deaths of their loved ones, Moussaoui doesn't get the death sentence and the survivors pay the price?
Some justice.
She is just as much our enemy as the Islamic Fascists are. She is part of the enemy within.
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The Man Who Predicted 9/11: RICK RESCORLA, ..R.I.P.
http://www.RickRescorla.com
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1608896/posts
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
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I think I heard on FNC that the judge said if it all gets too emotional, it could backlash on the prosecution. Go figure.
Too much emotion??? I really really strongly dislike judges and lawyers.
When was the last time a Judge's major concern was the emotionality of the VICTIMS?
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