US Features
Timeline: The case of Zacarias Moussaoui
By DPA
May 4, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Alexandria, Virginia - Key dates in the US case against Zacarias Moussaoui, sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for his role in the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington:

August 17, 2001 - Moussaoui is arrested on immigration charges in Minnesota after raising suspicion at a flight school.

September 11, 2001 - Al-Qaeda terrorists crash three hijacked US airliners into New York\'s World Trade Center and the Defence Department outside Washington, killing nearly 3,000. Fourth hijacked plane crashes in Pennsylvania after passenger revolt.

December 11, 2001 - US government charges Moussaoui with conspiring with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda \'to murder thousands of innocent people\' on September 11, saying he withheld knowledge that could have prevented the attacks.

January 2, 2002 - Moussaoui pleads not guilty to six charges of conspiracy, four of which carry the death penalty, at a US federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

July 25, 2002 - Moussaoui pleads guilty to four of the six conspiracy charges, then withdraws the plea after US District Judge Leonie Brinkema says it would mean certain death.

October 2, 2003 - Judge bars prosecutors from seeking the death penalty after the US government refuses to allow three al-Qaeda suspects to appear as witnesses.

April 23, 2004 - Federal appeals court reinstates the death penalty and orders Judge Brinkema to find a compromise on the use of testimony by al-Qaeda members.

April 22, 2005 - Moussaoui pleads guilty to all six charges of conspiracy, guaranteeing him at least life in prison. Vows to fight death penalty still sought by prosecutors.

March 6, 2006 - Trial\'s sentencing phase begins, with prosecutors saying Moussaoui could have stopped the September 11, 2001 attacks.

March 27, 2006 - Moussaoui takes the stand, says he knew when arrested that two planes would hit World Trade Center and he was supposed to fly a fifth plane into the White House on September 11.

April 3, 2006 - Jury finds Moussaoui eligible for death penalty for failing to prevent the September 11 attacks. Final phase of testimony follows.

April 6, 2006 - Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani leads a day of tearful testimony by relatives of victims and witnesses of the September 11 attacks.

May 2, 2006 - On seventh day of deliberations, 12-member jury sentences Moussaoui to life in prison with no possibility of parole.