[JURIST] During the final day of defense arguments in the sentencing trial [case docket] of Zacarias Moussaoui [JURIST news archive], Moussaoui's defense lawyers submitted to the jury a government-approved statement that the government had no evidence that "shoe-bomber" Richard Reid [BBC profile] worked with Moussaoui as a potential 9/11 hijacker. Moussaoui testified [JURIST report] in March that he and Reid were selected by al Qaeda to fly a fifth plane into the White House as part of the Sept. 11 attacks [JURIST news archive]. The government statement Thursday, a stipulation read to the jury, referred to evidence that Reid had appointed Moussaoui as the beneficiary of his will during the summer of 2001, indicating that the two did not expect to complete a suicide bombing mission together.

Following the summation of the defense case, prosecutors called a psychiatrist who examined Moussaoui to rebut defense testimony [JURIST report] that Moussaoui suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and is unable to prepare an adequate defense. Moussaoui pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to six conspiracy charges [indictment] last year. The jury has already determined that Moussaoui is eligible for the death penalty and now must decide whether he should be executed. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday, after which the jury will begin deliberations. AP has more.