apm
11-17-2006, 02:38 PM
Moroccan convicted over 9/11 plot
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39941000/jpg/_39941212_1motassadek203cred.jpg Motassadek was previously cleared of knowing about the 9/11 plot
A German appeals court has found a Moroccan, Mounir al-Motassadek, guilty of being an accessory to murder in the 11 September 2001 attacks on the USA.
The Karlsruhe court sent the case back to a lower court for sentencing.
In August 2005, a Hamburg court jailed Motassadek for seven years, following a year-long retrial.
But the Karlsruhe judge on Thursday overturned the Hamburg court's decision to acquit Motassadek, 32, on thousands of counts of accessory to murder.
He now faces up to 15 years in jail.
Motassadek was originally jailed for 15 years in 2003, convicted of helping the 11 September plotters, who were based in Hamburg, with logistical support and other aid.
But that verdict was overturned by Germany's Supreme Court in 2004 and a retrial ordered.
The court ruled last August there was no proof that Motassadek knew about the 11 September plot and jailed him instead for membership of a terrorist organisation.
He again appealed.
Defence lawyers at the retrial criticised the lack of direct testimony from witnesses held by the US.
The Moroccan acknowledges he was close to the hijackers but has always insisted he knew nothing of their plans.
He has admitted attending an al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan.
(update by apm)
Although the highest German court, the Bundesgerichtshof, has found him guilty, Motassadeq was allowed to remain free because of a decision of the higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht)of Hamburg which is responsible for the case, because the judges did not suppose any existing escape danger.. However - according to the latest news spreading all over the german media at the moment - at the request of the Federal Prosecutor this decision was taken back by the Bundesgerichtshof earlier this evening. Motassadeq was arrested at 7:30pm and taken in pretrial detention. Now he waits for his trial because of the 246-fold aid for murder (" in an especially heavy case ", according to actual German Law this could mean a harder sentence) and to the 1000-fold aid of murder.
//best news this day. i hated it to see how motassadeq and his lawyers played tricks and fooled the public.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39941000/jpg/_39941212_1motassadek203cred.jpg Motassadek was previously cleared of knowing about the 9/11 plot
A German appeals court has found a Moroccan, Mounir al-Motassadek, guilty of being an accessory to murder in the 11 September 2001 attacks on the USA.
The Karlsruhe court sent the case back to a lower court for sentencing.
In August 2005, a Hamburg court jailed Motassadek for seven years, following a year-long retrial.
But the Karlsruhe judge on Thursday overturned the Hamburg court's decision to acquit Motassadek, 32, on thousands of counts of accessory to murder.
He now faces up to 15 years in jail.
Motassadek was originally jailed for 15 years in 2003, convicted of helping the 11 September plotters, who were based in Hamburg, with logistical support and other aid.
But that verdict was overturned by Germany's Supreme Court in 2004 and a retrial ordered.
The court ruled last August there was no proof that Motassadek knew about the 11 September plot and jailed him instead for membership of a terrorist organisation.
He again appealed.
Defence lawyers at the retrial criticised the lack of direct testimony from witnesses held by the US.
The Moroccan acknowledges he was close to the hijackers but has always insisted he knew nothing of their plans.
He has admitted attending an al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan.
(update by apm)
Although the highest German court, the Bundesgerichtshof, has found him guilty, Motassadeq was allowed to remain free because of a decision of the higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht)of Hamburg which is responsible for the case, because the judges did not suppose any existing escape danger.. However - according to the latest news spreading all over the german media at the moment - at the request of the Federal Prosecutor this decision was taken back by the Bundesgerichtshof earlier this evening. Motassadeq was arrested at 7:30pm and taken in pretrial detention. Now he waits for his trial because of the 246-fold aid for murder (" in an especially heavy case ", according to actual German Law this could mean a harder sentence) and to the 1000-fold aid of murder.
//best news this day. i hated it to see how motassadeq and his lawyers played tricks and fooled the public.