Sources close to the case of the only person charged in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States say the defendant plans to change his plea to guilty and accept the possibility of a death sentence.
The sources say Zacarias Moussaoui could change his plea as early as this week, if the presiding judge in his case, Leonie Brinkema, finds him mentally competent.
Mr. Moussaoui was indicted in December 2001 on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and terrorism in the September 11 attacks.
Mr. Moussaoui, who has admitted to being a member of al-Qaida, at first pleaded not guilty. In 2002, he briefly changed his plea to guilty, then rescinded that plea. He has also demanded to serve as his own attorney and interview high-ranking al-Qaida members in U.S. custody.
