I watch my son die every time I see the twin towers on TV

The Daily Telegraph ^ | January 31, 2003 | Kate Connolly

[MadIvan]

Relatives of September 11 victims wept yesterday as for the first time they confronted an alleged plotter, frequently breaking down and sometimes shouting as they delivered emotional testimony to a Hamburg court.

A bereaved husband, two widows, a mother and a father who are among 20 co-plaintiffs in the first September 11 trial spelt out the horrendous impact the attacks had had on their lives.

On trial is Mounir el Motassadeq, 28, a Moroccan student accused of acting as a logistician for the Hamburg-based gang that planned the attack and of assisting in the murders of 3,045 people.

"We wanted to present the faces of the victims and their families today so that they're not just statistics," said Maureen Fanning, who lost her fireman husband Jack, 54, when the World Trade Centre collapsed. Mrs Fanning told the court his death had forced her to place one of their two severely autistic sons into a care home.

"Sean and Patrick have very little in their lives. They can't read or write. They have no friends to ring the doorbell. They had Jack to walk in the door and smile at them, something special. That was stolen from them on 9/11."

Mrs Fanning said the only possession of her husband's recovered was his helmet. Joan Molinaro, who lost her fireman son Carl, 32, reduced many in the court to tears, including the interpreter, when she described how she was haunted by the images of the plane attacks.

"I have watched my son die 100 times, every time I see videotapes of the towers falling," she said through tears. When I watch, I lean towards the TV and my mind screams: 'Carl run, run, run. This time you'll make it out'. I look at the faces of the people coming out but his face is never there."

Deena Burnett, whose 38-year-old husband Thomas was on United Airlines flight 93 which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, looked directly at Motassadeq as she told how her three young daughters had yet to comprehend fully their father's loss.

"I hear them talk to their Dad at night by whispering prayers. They stuff crayon drawings into helium balloons and watch in the childlike hope that angels will carry them to Tom."

Michael Low, whose daughter Sarah, 29, was a flight attendant on American Airlines 11, which was rammed into the north tower, said all that had been recovered of his daughter were small bone fragments and two rings.

The impact of her loss meant "I'll never get to walk her down the aisle or to experience the joy of her first child".

As he spoke, Motassadeq, in a grey shirt, listened attentively, sometimes resting his chin in his left hand or clutching his beard. The co-plaintiffs are being led by Stephen Push, whose wife Lisa Raines, 42, a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry, was on board the plane that hit the Pentagon.

Since her death, his life "has had no joy in it" and he was constantly bombarded with reminders of the attacks.

"A sunny day reminds me that the hijackers selected a cloudless day better to see their targets at a distance," he said. "The mere sight of a commercial plane gives me a sick feeling in my stomach."

Mr Push, who founded the Families of September 11 organisation, said he had received his wife's body parts in a sealed coffin as well as a bent anniversary ring and half a burnt credit card.

Motassadeq, who denies the charges, dropped his gaze as Mrs Fanning delivered an angry outburst. "The defendant has chosen to associate himself with the forces of evil.

"Under the guise of religion, he has submitted himself freely and voluntarily to be educated and brainwashed in hatred and murder," she said, calling for a sentence of life imprisonment.

The trial continues.

[mhking]

"Farewell to a real hero"

[hchutch]

Well, I'm all broke up about that terrorist's rights. What about the rights of those killed on 9/11? Who speaks for them?

Sorry, but the folks who died on 9/11 didn't get a fair trial, and I really couldn't care less if we bend the rules a little in the process of taking down terrorists.

[Howlin]

Bump!

[Nachum]

I just watched this with my family. Thanks for putting it up.

[Jerez2]

Why can't the families of the victims present their side? The defendant is allowed to present every possible detail of his life that might be an excuse: his father beat him, his mother dressed him funny, his sister made him eat paint chips, and his teacher gave him an F. He's disadvantaged and disabled. He didn't know what he was doing at the time (but he'll be better soon, so don't put him in lockup for the criminally insane either).

Since the Dark Side is not going to let up with the pity party anytime soon, why should those who are TRULY the victims forego the advantage?

Giving one side such an advantage without giving it to the other -- now THAT is not fair. Using emotion in a trial as as old as the idea of a trial itself. Try reading Dickens sometime (for one example), you'll see what I mean.

Or is your idea of a 'fair trial' only one in which the criminal is allowed to go free?

[Terridan]

We purchased a DVD that covered the attacks on the United States. I watch it, my children and husband watch it... we cry in anger, and for such a great loss of human lives. We will never forget! God bless all of you!

[mvpel]

Are you sure that the defense presents every possible detail of his poor oppressed life during the trial, or does it occur during the sentencing phase?

If you're a defense attorney, you're usually going to use the SODDI or TODDI defense - "Some Other Dude Did It" or "That Other Dude Did It." On a few occassions, such as self-defense cases, you can use the "I Did It, And I Was Right to Do It" defense, but presumably that's not a factor in this particular trial.

You don't start talking about how the defendant DID IT but his mother dressed him funny, when the burden is on the STATE to prove that he even did it in the first place.

Like I said, I have no problem with victim testimony during a sentencing phase, when the factual guilt of the defendant has already been determined.

But does the testimony of the victim's family, who were nowhere near the scene of the crime, talking about how terrible they feel about their loss, help prove that the defendant IS THE ONE who committed the crime?

If the answer to that question is "no," then they shouldn't be testifying during the trial phase.

Got a conviction? Then bring on the parade of victims' families! Have three days of heartbreaking testimony! Get the jury so riled up about the horror and tragedy of the crime that they come back with three consecutive death sentences and burial in a pig sty! Fine by me.

But a fair trial is the bedrock of our legal system. If you are falsely accused of a heinous crime, I hope your lawyer has the smarts to strenuously object to non-witness, non-evidentiary emotional testimony during your trial.

[Cindy]

What a heartbreaker this piece is Ivan....

"I Remember September 11, 2001" (A Resource Link Site for citizens Remembering the attack on America, Archived Resource Information, Encouragement and Help links, and links of interest for CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT in Fighting Terrorism.) *ATTENTION RESEARCHERS: This 9-11 Site is updated on a regular basis and includes links to THE TALIBAN, JIHAD, SUICIDE-HOMICIDE BOMBERS and more.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/748497/posts

Where It's 9-11 All the Time...
various links | 09-11-02 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
"Where it's nine-eleven all the time
and no Sun sets, and no clocks chime
where no voice speaks and no bird trills
the Moon hangs frozen o'er the hills
The winds are still, they seem to say,
Reflect, remember, stop to pray..."

[LBGA]

from my 9/11 memorial page ... if anybody knows the creator of the fireman image, I will give them credit on the page too ...

FDNY Ice Sculpture - Created by Darlene Racicot (Timmons, Ontario, Canada).

[expatguy]

How very correct you are sir.

[RaceBannon]

Outstanding montage!

[NMFXSTC]

Many young ones are seeing the value in our seniors and vets. Here is one who is, indeed, "nation wide" and a true American...visit this outstanding young lady's page and spread the word about her:

http://www.geocities.com/nlmendicino/

[carton253]

You're a brave soul, mvpel.

Yes, it is the epitome of courage to be an anonymous poster, under a nom de plume, on a web site.

Yes, that takes courage.

[exit82]

Thanks--she is quite a young lady. I think she has posted on FR recently as well.

[caisson71]

C'mon. This whole "smoking gun" requirement is grandstanding. We have testimony from Saddam's "bombmaker' to the Senate and on public TV, information from defectors, list of bombmaking material from countries like France, Germany, Russia, etc. Everyone realizes the opposition to Bush's plan has more to do with the 2004 elections and the reenergized anti-America crowd. "Proof", aside from another twin towers, will never be sufficient to those who cannot accept they are wrong.

[mvpel]

Weeping relatives != circumstantial evidence.

[Bobby777]

THANK you! ... I'll put that in text on a "mouse-over" or under the picture ... appreciate the info ...