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Moussaoui attorneys want 'comprehensive' mental exam

Zacarias Moussaoui

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (CNN) -- Attorneys for Zacarias Moussaoui want their client to undergo a "penetrating and comprehensive" mental health evaluation in the wake of declarations he made in court this week that they are part of a government conspiracy to execute him.

In a brief filed Wednesday with U.S. District Court, the defense attorneys said prosecutors were only interested in a "perfunctory" psychiatric exam and that would not be sufficient to determine their client's mental state, including whether he is "paranoid."

"The competency examination ordered by the court must be directed, at least in part, toward answering the question of whether Mr. Moussaoui really believes that his attorneys are in conspiracy with the government to harm him and, if so, whether that belief, true or not, is the product of competent, rational thinking or the product of paranoia of other mental condition, which in turn may be but a symptom of some other problem," the attorneys wrote.

"No psychiatrist or clinical psychologist could possible answer this question in one short session with Mr. Moussaoui and nothing more," the attorneys added.

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Moussaoui -- the only person charged in connection with the September 11 attacks against the United States -- told a federal judge Monday that he wanted to fire his team of four attorneys because he didn't trust them, asserting they were "experienced in deception."

Reading from a prepared statement for 30 minutes, Moussaoui also called into question the integrity of the presiding judge, Leonie Brinkema, and declared that President George W. Bush was only interested in executing him quickly.

Moussaoui -- indicted on six conspiracy counts, four of which carry the death penalty -- said he wanted to waive his right to a trial by jury. Despite his reservations about her fairness, Moussaoui said he wanted the judge to decide his case.

As for his attorneys, Moussaoui said they were motivated by "greed, fame and vanity" and he wanted to hire a Muslim lawyer of his own choosing. Failing that, Moussaoui said he wanted to represent himself.

Brinkema deferred ruling on Moussaoui's requests at that time, saying he must undergo a psychiatric evaluation first.

Wednesday's filing addresses the type and extent of such an examination.

Defense attorneys said they have been unable to come to any agreement with federal prosecutors over who should conduct such an exam and how it should proceed.

In the meantime, the attorneys asked the court to appoint "conflicts counsel" to assist Moussaoui until it's established whether he is mentally competent and can represent himself.