US: Federal prosecutors told the Zacarias Moussaoui jury yesterday it was time to sentence him to death while defence lawyers urged jurors not to make him a martyr.
"Let me be blunt, ladies and gentlemen," said assistant US attorney David Raskin. "There is no place on this good earth for Zacarias Moussaoui."
But one of the court-appointed defence lawyers, Gerald Zerkin, urged the jury instead to choose a decision that "requires some courage" and sentence Moussaoui to life in prison.
"He wants you to sentence him to death. He came to America to die in jihad and you are his last chance," Mr Zerkin said. "He clearly sees that as his last way to martyrdom."
The jury, which is only deciding the punishment since Moussaoui has pleaded guilty, began deliberations yesterday afternoon.