9/11: The Zacarias Moussaoui Trial

Updated: 9/8/11

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- French-born Zacarias Moussaoui, the 20th hijacker, was tried for his role in the 9/11 attacks.

Federal prosecutors argued that by failing to tell what he knew, Moussaoui caused the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, and fought for a death sentence. Prosecutor Rob Spencer told the jury Moussaoui "did his part as a loyal al-Qaeda soldier" by not warning anybody about the attacks after his arrest in August 2001.

Despite pleading guilty to conspiring with al-Qaeda, the jury rejected a death sentence, opting instead for life imprisonment.

Moussaoui clapped his hands and cheered when he heard the sentence, saying "America, you lost, I won."

Judge Brinkema, who presided over the trial however, told him: "Mr. Moussaoui, when this proceeding is over, everyone else in this room will leave to see the sun, hear the birds, and they can associate with whomever they want...You will spend the rest of your life in a supermax prison. It's absolutely clear who won."

The judge continued, "Mr. Moussaoui, you came here to be a martyr in a great big bang of glory," she said, "but to paraphrase the poet T.S. Eliot, instead you will die 'with a whimper'."

Then speaking over Moussaoui when he tried to interrupt, the judge said, "You will never get a chance to speak again and that's an appropriate ending." Brinkema sentenced Moussaoui to six life terms without the chance of parole.

Trace the trial from Moussaoui's guilty plea to the sentencing, and view images from the trial.

Moussaoui Trial: Videos

Father Of 9/11 Victim On Moussaoui Sentencing (May 3, 2006)
Moussaoui Verdict Met With Mixed Reviews In NYC (May 3, 2006)
Moussaoui To Spend Rest Of His Life In Prison (May 3, 2006)
Lawyers: Moussaoui 'Mentally Disturbed' (May 3, 2006)
Moussaoui: I Want To Kill Americans (May 3, 2006)
Moussaoui Defense Has Tough Road Ahead (May 3, 2006)
Prosecutors Wrap Up Moussaoui Case (Apr. 12, 2006)
Grief Continues At Moussaoui Sentencing (Apr. 11, 2006)
9/11 Tapes and Testimony At Moussaoui Trial (Apr. 11, 2006)
9/11 Families Testify At Moussaoui Trial (Apr. 10, 2006)
Giuliani Testifies At Moussaoui Sentencing (Apr. 10, 2006)
It's A Life Or Death Situation For Moussaoui (Apr. 3, 2006)
Jury Considers Death Sentence For Moussaoui (Mar. 30, 2006)
Moussaoui May Get Death Sentence (Mar. 30, 2006)
Emotions Run High As Moussaoui Trial Wraps Up (Mar. 29, 2006)
Moussaoui Hates Americans With A Vengeance (Mar. 27, 2006)
FBI Agent Points Finger At Boss (Mar. 20, 2006)
No Aviation Witnesses' Testimonies Allowed (Mar. 14, 2006)
Judge May Declare Mistrial (Mar. 14, 2006)
Trial On Hold Because Of Coached Witnesses (Mar. 13, 2006)
9/11 Families Watch Moussaoui Trial (Mar. 6, 2006)
Jury Selection Underway In Moussaoui Sentencing (Feb. 6, 2006)
Exclusive: 9/11 Families To Watch Sentencing (Feb. 1, 2006)