Moussaoui gets new appeals court hearing

by Elizabeth Stawicki, Minnesota Public Radio

A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va. has ordered new appellate arguments for a convicted terrorist with Twin Cities ties, Zacarias Moussaoui. One of the judges that heard his appeal had to retire due to illness.

Moussaoui had enrolled at Pan American International Flight Academy in Eagan just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to learn to fly a 747 jet even though he had little flight training.

The flight school called the FBI, which arrested Moussaoui on immigration charges. The French Intelligence Service confirmed Moussaoui was linked to Osama bin Laden's terror network.

Moussaoui pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the Sept. 11 attacks. The jury declined to recommend the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Moussaoui appealed his case before a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, but one of those judges had to retire due to illness so the court set a new argument date of Sept. 12.