The death penalty trial of Zacarias Moussaoui yesterday entered what may be its decisive week, with the defendant determined to turn the courtroom into a soapbox for his creed of anti-Americanism.

Moussaoui, the only man tried in the United States in connection with the September 11 attacks, has made clear he wants to speak out, though his legal team would much prefer he didn't.

"I will testify Zerkin, whether you like it or not, I will testify," he shouted at one of his lawyers, Gerald Zerkin, as he was led from court on Thursday.

The Frenchman, who has admitted to conspiring with al-Qaida to fly airliners into prominent US buildings, does not co-operate with his lawyers, after forfeiting the right to represent himself following a string of volatile courtroom appearances.

Many analysts believe testimony from the unpredictable Moussaoui could undo sterling work by defence lawyers who have picked deep holes in the prosecution case for their client's execution.

While he has sat quietly while the jury has been in court, Moussaoui has left no doubt as to his feelings about the US justice system.

"God Curse America!" Moussaoui shouts at just about every recess in the trial, occasionally varying his spiel to invoke divine blessing on Osama bin Laden, or al-Qaida.

Prosecutors rested their case on Thursday, maintaining that Moussaoui's "lies" while in jail in August 2001, gave his al-Qaida "brothers" time to hijack civilian airliners and fly them into the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon, just outside Washington.

The jury has to decide whether Moussaoui is responsible for a single death on September, 11, 2001, and therefore is eligible for the death penalty.

If they decide unanimously that he is, there will be a second stage of the trial, at which September 11 victims will testify as to the devastating impact the attacks wrought on their lives.

Should the jury decide Moussaoui will live, he will remain in prison for the rest of his life.

Source: China Daily