By Andrew L. Jaffee

Even though 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui wants to be executed, his defense has trotted out the broken home sob story:

Jan Vogelsang - a clinical social worker from Greeneville in South Carolina, called as an expert witness after interviewing 51 of Moussaoui’s acquaintances - shed light on the youth of the future Al Qaeda fighter.

She said Moussaoui boasted a sharp sense of humour and was a friendly, smiling child, who triumphed over apparent learning difficulties by earning a high school diploma, a technical degree and a master’s degree from a London university.

He grew up in a “violent, chaotic and very, very emotional” home and he and three siblings were often sent to orphanages as the abusive marriage of his Moroccan immigrant father, Omar, and mother, Aicha, deteriorated.

Prodded by defence lawyer Gerald Zerkin, Ms Vogelsang suggested that children from such environments grow up robbed of the life skills and stability needed in normal life.

The would-be Al Qaeda suicide pilot - facing death or life in prison for his role in the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington - often appeared amused at the defence case, shaking his head several times.

After court recessed for lunch he shouted: “Zerkin! A lot of American BS!”

On the last point, I actually agree. Personally, I hope the jury doesn’t give Moussaoui martyrdom. Let him rot and suffer in a cell for the rest of his life. Let him torture himself as a failed jihadi.