Judge Recesses Moussaoui Trial-Gov Coaching Witnesses

[kpete]

Judge Recesses Moussaoui Trial By Michael J. Sniffen, Associated Press Writer
13 minutes ago



ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An angry federal judge unexpectedly recessed the death penalty trial of confessed al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui to consider whether government violations of her rules against coaching witnesses should remove the death penalty as an option.


On Monday, the Minneapolis FBI agent who arrested confessed Moussaoui — perhaps the key witness in Moussaoui's death-penalty trial — was to be the featured witness.

Special Agent Harry Samit's testimony is equally important to prosecutors and the defense. Samit, who has already testified for the prosecution, faces cross-examination by the defense.

Prosecutors say Samit and the FBI would have foiled the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had Moussaoui confessed his membership in the al-Qaida terror network and his plans to hijack an airplane after he was arrested on Aug. 16, 2001, and interrogated by Samit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060313/ap_on_re_us/moussaoui_2

[im10ashus]

1. I just was reading about this.

Why do they need to coach witnesses? It seems the U.S. is continually screwing up these cases.