...and this is depressing even to read about

[volksdragon]

I wonder how people justify this as being somehow more humane than a death-sentence.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060504/ts_nm/security_moussaoui_cell_dc

Comments

[stemware.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, Moussaoui was taunting the judge and jury trying to get a death sentence because he did not want to spend the rest of his life in solitary. Also in my opinion, the judge and jury decided that the life sentence would also be a more harsh punishment and did not want to give him the pleasure of making him a martyr. And finally, if he were on death row he would have spent the rest of his life appealing and making political statements while in relative comfort.

[halleyscomet.livejournal.com]

I was listening to a report on some of his courtroom antics. Apparently, the prosecution was on the verge of dropping the death penalty idea until Moussaoui stepped up to the bat and started giving them what they wanted.

The commentators were perplexed and couldn't explain why the defendant would do so much to help the prosecution.

Moussaoui wanted the death penalty. He wanted to be a martyr, and being killed in prison would have accomplished that.

The life sentence is so the state doesn't execute him, and the solitary is so other prisoners don't do him in.

None of this is about anything as abstract as "justice." Regardless of his involvement in 9-11, he's set himself up to be a scapegoat, and he wanted to be put to death for it to become a martyr.

This verdict him his martyrdom, and allows the government to pretend they got someone who was responsible.