[JURIST] AP is reporting that court officials have said that the jury in the Zacarias Moussaoui sentencing trial [JURIST news archive] has reached a verdict. The verdict will be read in court at 4 PM ET. Moussaoui pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to six conspiracy charges [indictment] last year relating to the Sept. 11 terror attacks [JURIST news archive] and the current trial is to determine whether Moussaoui should receive the death penalty or life in prison.

The trial began [JURIST report] in early March and the case went to the jury [JURIST report] last week. The jury must decide whether Moussaoui was responsible for any deaths in the terror attacks and therefore eligible for the death penalty. If the jury reaches a unanimous decision that Moussaoui is eligible for execution, the sentencing trial will then move to a second phase to hear testimony from Sept. 11 victims and their families to determine whether the death penalty should be imposed in this case.

4:20 PM ET – The jury has decided that Moussaoui is eligible for the death penalty [JURIST report].