Buyer's Remorse

Moussaoui wanted to be the tough guy, the big bad terrorist who was going to destroy the White House. Now, that he's gotten the life sentence instead of the death penalty, he's saying he lied on the stand and wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

Moussaoui said he was "extremely surprised" that he was sentenced to life in prison instead of execution and now believes he can get a fair trial from an American jury.

In a motion filed Monday, Moussaoui said he testified on March 27 that he was supposed to hijack a fifth plane on Sept. 11, 2001, and fly it into the White House "even though I knew that was a complete fabrication."

A federal court jury spared the 37-year-old Frenchman the death penalty last Wednesday. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema gave him six life sentences, to run as two consecutive life terms, in the federal supermax prison at Florence, Colo.

As she handed down the sentence, Brinkema told Moussaoui that he could appeal the life term but that she doubted he would win. "I believe it would be an act of futility," she said.

The judge also pointed out that, although he could appeal the sentence, he had lost his right to appeal his conviction when he pled guilty in April 2005. "You waived that right," she said.

On Monday, Brinkema said his request to set aside his guilty plea and go back to trial on the facts of the case was "too late" under federal rules and must be rejected. Yahoo News

He had wanted the death penalty because it would have allowed him the label of martyr, since he didn't get it, he wants to change his mind. Well, sorry ol' Zacarias, talked the talk and you get to walk the walk as they say.

Tags: Zacarias Moussaoui, terrorist