Posted on 06/19/2002 9:26:08 AM PDT by Jean S
Accused terrorist Zaccarias Moussaoui wants to move his trial to Denver because he says it's safer, the air is better and fewer government employees would wind up on the jury.
Moussaoui, 34, the only person charged in the United States for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, made the request in a motion unsealed Monday by the federal judge in his Alexandria, Va., trial.
Moussaoui is charged with conspiring with 19 hijackers who commandeered four airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in rural Pennsylvania, killing more than 3,000 people. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.
Jury selection will begin Sept. 30.
Moussaoui asked to have his trial moved to Denver in a hand-scrawled motion filed April 26. He is representing himself, with assistance from court-appointed advisory lawyers.
"My case should be moved to a 'more neutral' location, such as Denver Colorado to ensure a greater feeling of personal safety for the jury and therefore reduce slightly the level of hostility and increase the ability to make rational decision," the motion said.
"It is well known that Denver Colorado is recognize in the general public as a safe secure location," said Moussaoui, making reference to the nation's highest maximum-security federal penitentiary in Florence.
"No doubt the high altitude and the fresh air will bring back some sense of security," he wrote.
"A judge in Colorado might feel less afraid and more confident," he said.
Moussaoui also argued that the Washington, D.C., area is an unsuitable venue because too many government workers could wind up in the jury pool.
"In order to inject some sense in this inquisition-style judicial process, this court must move the current process to a location where the representation of the crusaders will be in line with their national representation," he wrote.
Moussaoui made passing mention of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, whose trial was moved to Denver, along with the trial of co-defendant Terry Nichols.
"If such a transfer of jurisdiction were made, we'd be up to the task," said Jim Manspeaker, clerk of Denver's U.S. District Court.
Manspeaker said a copy of the court's jury selection plan was requested last week by a person with a Virginia return address, but he did not know if the request was related to the Moussaoui case. The plan explains what parts of the state the jury pool would come from and how the jurors are selected for the pool.
Moussaoui's comments about Denver's clean air seemed ironic as a pall of smoke from the Hayman Fire hung over the city Tuesday.
"He didn't step outside here today, did he?" Manspeaker said.
No...that was me...al-cigret-browning-from-cold-dead-hands.
FMCDH
No sh*t!...I'm in Durango, and it's not lookin' good...any typis ar not me fault...can't se the keeboardor th monitor..to mich smoke.
FMCdH
Checked. You're right - al Fuqra had a compound in Colorado.
PING
Yet another tie to OKC and 9/11. These groups usually use dates and locations symbolically. Anyone know when Moussaoui's trial is to begin? Hopefully not anytime in July....like the 4th, or in September, on or around the 11th. I enjoy teasing the tin-foil crowd as much as anyone, but there are just too many connections between OKC and 9/11 to be easily dismissed.
Time for the sodium pentathol. If that doesn't work, then we bring in the blow-torch and vice-grips.
As for having this idiot-boy come to Denver to be tried, I wouldn't really like it, but if that is what it takes to get this guy through the system and on to his reward, so be it. McVeigh did it, so why not?
If Al Queda (sp?) thinks that Denver is neutral about what they have done, they have again made a serious error. I've been here 30 years and while the place has been invaded by California transplants ( including me I guess ), we are still a fairly no-bull-$!!t sort of town. Just keep him out of Boulder.
You're excused...you showed more restraint then the d***h*** deserves...
POP QUIZ: What city is home to the SECOND largest number of federal government employees?
Give up?
Are you sure?
It's DENVER
What a maroon!
Might be a good reason to house several of them in a jail in D.C.
I was wondering the same thing. I happen to live about 5 miles south of this twerp's new home. OTOH, I do get a chance to throw a one-fingered salute to his cell (and Jihad Johnny's cell) every morning on my way to work.
No kidding. They'd throw MooSowee a party.
Yeah...They live in "Enchanted Forest" or "Forest Lakes" or "Aspen Trails"?
It's pretty bad up there...waiting to here from friends who may be staying with us SOON.
Stay wet and keep yer powder dry.
FMCDH
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