Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, told a U.S. military judge in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Thursday that he would welcome the death penalty. He and four suspected terrorists who were arraigned face 2,973 counts of murder.
In his first public appearance since he was captured five years ago, Mohammed also told the judge he has been looking to become a martyr for some time and that he wants to represent himself at his trial.
NPR's Jackie Northam, who was at the trial, told Robert Siegel that it was a lively day in court, with the prisoners at different tables, laughing, gesticulating and speaking to each other in Arabic.
She also said that Mohammed looked much different than from the photos taken of him five years ago. He has a "long, bushy, gray beard; thick, black goggle-type eyeglasses … and an owlish appearance," Northam says.
As for whether the five prisoners could represent themselves, there was no clear-cut decision. Northam says the lawyers and judge "seemed to go around in circles" about whether the prisoners were competent or had back-up legal representation.
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