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The prosecutors in the forthcoming 9/11 trials in
New York will be seeking the death penalty if the five defendants are
found guilty. That could pose a problem for Germany, which is supplying
vital evidence for the prosecution.
The U.S. government could have hardly picked a more symbolic venue for
the trial of its worst enemies. With its colonnade of Corinthian
pillars, the 27-story U.S. Courthouse in Lower Manhattan is a daunting
fortress of justice. On Sept. 11, 2001, judges and court clerks
gathered on the upper floors of the building were able to observe the
impact of the second jet that crashed into the World Trade Center, just
a few blocks away.
The men accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks will soon be put on
trial here, not far from the scene of the crime. Next year federal
prosecutors in New York are expected to read indictments against Khalid
Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh and three other alleged conspirators.
They will be transferred from the detention facility at the U.S. naval
base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to a courtroom less than a mile from
Ground Zero, where they will receive a fair trial instead of facing a
military tribunal. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try
the suspects in a civilian court has made international headlines and
prompted sighs of relief in many parts of the world.
No Capital Punishment in Germany
But it looks like the upcoming trial will cause headaches for
Germany. Holder and U.S. President Barack Obama have announced that they
intend to seek the death penalty if the five defendants are found
guilty. German law prohibits capital punishment, yet evidence provided
by German investigators will play a key role in the trial.
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