I am astounded by the way people are reacting to the Moussaoui trial, only because it demonstrates how little Americans really get religious radicals.
Everyone wants the guy to fry, you know, eye for an eye after 9/11, and I understand that. But if you put this guy to death, you're giving him exactly what he wants. Similarly-minded radicals will see him as a martyr and hero. If he rots in prison, he's just a schmuck who got caught. He's talking all kinds of shit on the stand because he wants death, and the jury is gonna give it to him.
The answer is easy, put that person who wants to die in prison. Being put to death by the state is humane, being put in prison isn't. On top of that, his life to the media, becomes a hellavalot less public. He would basically dissapear in prison until he was finally killed (much like jeffery dahmer). And if they put him in a maximum security wing with little to no contact with the genral population, he will rot a whole lot longer w/ hardly a peep out of the media. Plus, you mentioned about payment in prison, isn't death row the most expensive part of prision? Doesn't it cost more to put someone on death row than it does to keep them in prison for life?
But none of this matters as the jury is going to think they are doing the right thing by giving this guy death.
I would certainly prefer my tax dollars go to keeping in alive in prison than putting him to death so he can become the perfect symbol of martyrism to his buddies. WELL worth the cost in my opinion.
As soon as he spouted off against his attorney's wishes and began admitting (bragging?) about the plans, I knew it was exactly as Jeff says. this guy WANTS to die a martyr.
Reminds me of a Klingon mindset