Indeed....
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.
Pardon my language.
My thoughts exactly. This sounds like a tipoff that al Qaeda cell exists there. Perhaps they'll suicide-bomb the courthouse and this creep can get his fresh-air virgins.
Maybe Moussaoui likes that "World Anthem" that was played at some Denver high school graduations?
That would be something. Moussaoui/Westerfield...a double header.
Not so impossible. There's a thriving nazi scene in Detroit, and one particular nazi who seem to have been involved in serious crime is from there. Incidentally, that particular nazi is one of those who have been calling for a close cooperation with the jihadis.
Fresh air indeed :).
Sounds like a veiled threat to me.
Indeed....
These guys seem to have a knack for Clancy's stuff. Maybe Zack wants to go out with a bang.....
Not even veiled, I'd say.
Can't remember off the top of my head. Probably, they've been all over the place.
My question would be, do they know something about impending peril for DC and want to be out of the area for that reason?
Lol. Sorry, meant to type Denver :)). A zillion apologies to Detroit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.