Moussaoui death sentencing trial delayed News
Moussaoui death sentencing trial delayed

[JURIST] US District Judge Leonie Brinkema has delayed the sentencing trial [PDF order] of September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui [JURIST news archive] by one month and ordered a two-stage process [PDF text] to determine whether or not he will receive the death penalty, according to ruling released Tuesday. The trial, now set to begin with jury selection on February 6, and opening arguments on March 6, will be divided into separate parts to determine whether, first, Moussaoui intentionally lied about his knowledge of the September 11 attacks and, secondly, to determine whether Moussaoui should receive the death penalty or life imprisonment. Brinkema said that the request for a delay was made in a classified filing by Moussaoui's lawyers. Moussaoui, who pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to six conspiracy charges [indictment] in April, has indicated that he intends to testify on his own behalf [JURIST report] and has vowed to fight against the death penalty. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Fyodor Dostoevsky sentenced to death

Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky was sentenced to death on November 16, 1849 over his involvement in the progressive Petrashevsky Circle of intellectuals. Dostoevsky and his codefendants were scheduled to be executed on December 22 of that year, but their execution was stayed by Tsar Nicholas I after the execution ritual had been carried out. Dostoevsky was sent to Siberia instead to serve a four-year sentence. Learn more about the mock execution of Dostoevsky.

Canada executed Metis leader for treason

On November 16, 1885, the Canadian government executed Metis leader Louis Riel for high treason in the wake of the "Northwest Rebellion" that had pitted the Metis (descendants of French traders and native tribes) in what is now Saskatchewan against Canadian troops. Although Riel has lately been rehabilitated as an Indigenous francophone patriot of the Canadian West, his trial and execution remain sore points between English and French Canada.

US President Nixon signs Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act

On November 16, 1973, US President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act into law. In addition to creating an oil pipeline across the state, the Act also quashed all environmental-legal challenges regarding its construction.