NYC Wants Death Penalty In Terror Trials, Germany Doesn't

The majority of New Yorkers want to see Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four other suspected terrorists put to death, according to a study by Marist and the Daily News. If found guilty, 73 percent of locals want Mohammed to be executed, while 67 percent of New Yorkers support the death penalty for the other suspects, the poll reveals.

In a study that comes just days after a Gothamist poll revealed that about 80 percent of readers of this site think the terror trials should take place in New York City, the new poll shows that more than two thirds of New Yorkers say they would be willing to serve on the jury. And despite the city's liberal reputation, a "solid 69% expressed confidence that a city jury would return the unanimous verdict required to sentence the accused terrorists to death," the paper reports. "Those guys don't stand a chance," said Henry Romer, 51, a construction manager in midtown Manhattan. "There's no question they'll get the death penalty here."

That's exactly what the German government doesn't want. The Post reports that Germany — which has a ban on the death penalty — will send a team of observers to the terror trials to make sure that evidence obtained by the nation's agents "on the condition that it could not be used to support a death sentence" isn't used to push for capital punishment. The paper notes that it's unclear how exactly evidence gathered in Germany can be differentiated from other evidence, but an attorney who represents suspect Ramzi Binalshibh told the German broadcast network Deutsche Welle that a conviction "would scarcely be possible without evidence from Germany."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Ben Muessig in News on November 22, 2009 1:34 PM

Comments [rss]

nyc1234

This disgusting scum of the earth shouldnt even get a trial....Just let him sit and rot.

neutral observer

i agree with 5borough, douse them in jet fuel and push them off the top of the only building yet to be rebuilt: 7 WTC. Let them feel the pain before they splat on the sidewalk. I'll bring the matches.

used_up_shoe

Let him sit in solitary for 23 1/2 hours a day for the next 40 years. It's the slowest death he can get. No martyrhood for you!

5borough

Light him on fire and drop him from high altitude. Payback in kind.

tingo

Excuse me, but F*ck what Germany wants.

If you're found guilty for flying planes into our buildings and killing thousands, there should be a death penalty. Slow death preferably.

gawkthis

according to the AP, the defendants will plead not guilty so that they can comment on US Foreign policy.

i think they deserve to make their statements, as long as Old Sparky comes out of retirement for this trial and he gets to make his last statement afterward.

Mordicai

Okay-- I actually agree with Germany? I think the ONLY reason not to have a trial in NYC is because I have a hard time thinking you'll get an unbiased jury.

I mean-- well. I think ANY unbiased jury would return a guilty verdict, too-- so there is that. I also think an unbiased judge would return a death penalty...what, what is plan B with these guys? Sorry. FLUSH.

gawkthis

ok, one last one on this topic:

it's about time that someone associated with 9/11 dies besides those who were in WTC 1 & 2.

gawkthis

germany only approves of the death penalty for jews and gypsies?

how can i serve on this jury? i'm willing to pay..how much is ticketron charging for seats?

nik13

ACLU will make sure they get off on technicality. Even better if KSM gets a liberal Jew as his trial judge. He'll be free & eligible to get his taxi medallion.

Clarice City

Deutschland knows first hand how one can get a little carried away with the death penalty. "Dude, I'm telling you America, it's a gateway penalty...next thing you know you're all embroiled in some kind of holocaust..."

Dwayne Hoover

Every Muslim idiot want to be a martyr. Deny them that privilege, and let him rot in solitary confinement in Supermax, just like Ramzi Yousef, Mahmud Abouhalima, Mohammed A. Salameh, Ahmed Ajaj, etc...

snickerdoodle

Bury them all in pig's blood. End of terrorism problem.

dizz86

except the last time i checked, there is no capital punishment law in new york seeing as the most recent one was struck down as unconstitutional...so unless i missed the news of a revamped law being adopted, it doesn't really matter what new yorkers want

JackoPaidOffVictims

It's a federal trial. Not a state trial, NY laws don't apply. Read the original article.

dizz86

a) my bad for not realizing it would be federal

b) this update doesn't actually specify "federal" (which doesn't excuse my laziness in not reading the linked article but i felt like pointing it out.)

dropstep

No man has the right to take another life.

Even the law

Americans are evil war mongers!

gawkthis

i've heard that some of us use ketchup on spaghetti too! americans are barbarians!

angry_pickle

No man has the right to take another life.

Who said? You certainly are enjoying the fruits of America winning the Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II.

unklemike

So, essentially 69% of New Yorkers are willing to convict and execute before the trial has even begun?

Yep, that's gonna be one fair trial.

peanuthead

but, but, but they were little eichmanns . . . .

peanuthead

sensu ward churchill, that is.

HBHB

I'm not a fan of the death penalty but can someone explain how and why we care what Germany thinks?

Dead Himmler

Reading comprehension fail. Germany might withhold key evidence in the case if there is a death penalty. Alot of the plot was planned in Hamburg.

gawkthis

so much for the respect of the law in germany..oh wait, we are discussing germany where the popular opinion as expressed on the current hit music tv show is the law.

ides_of_march

Keep in mind, this is the barbarian who mercilessly sliced the head off of Daniel Pearl on videotape after taunting him about being a Jew. Hmmmm. Maybe that's why the Germans have a soft spot for the guy.

dagblad

oh so NOW they're against state sponsored killing. got it.

Petey

And NYC residents are FOR it. What a mixed up world we live in.

hexatron

oh come on

hexatron

i really wish comments on this site would show up in the right place.

ides_of_march

I'm far more concerned with the death penalty nearly 3000 innocent people got on 9-11. It wasn't a painless lethal injection either. This vile creature should have taken a bullet behind the ear and been buried on a pig farm long ago.