The jury's decision was no surprise to the families of the 9/11 victims, who are nevertheless much divided about the fate Moussaoui deserves, said AFP.
Rosemary Dillard, who lost her husband Eddy in the attacks, said she was very satisfied with the verdict.
“The jury took their time and did a good job. There can't be a better decision … although some of us don't agree on life sentence,” said Dillard.
However, from the beginning of the trial, many members of the victims' families expressed their rejection to a death penalty.
"I don't think he contributed to what happened on September 11th. I think he's been scapegoated," said Lorie Van Auken, a member of the “New Jersey Widows”.
“I didn't know that hiding information could make you eligible for death penalty,” she added.
Moussaoui's lawyers will try to avoid death sentence
After the verdict was issued, Moussaoui's lawyers said the defense will make its best to avoid the life sentence.
Moussaoui's French lawyer, who has collaborated with the court-appointed American lawyers, said the defense will do its best to convince the jury that death penalty should not be pronounced, AFP reported.
But analysts see that the lawyers will face a considerably tough challenge during the coming phase of the trial. The testimonies of the victims and victims' relatives, in addition to Moussaoui's self-avowed conspiracy with al-Qaida, and his refusal to cooperate with the lawyers will make it difficult to avoid capital punishment.
Moussaoui, 37, is the only person prosecuted in the US for conspiracy in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was arrested three weeks before the attacks for immigration violations.
He later admitted he had lied to the investigators, that he was a member of al-Qaida, and that he knew most of the 9/11 plans. But he also said he was not assigned any role in the 9/11 plot, and that he was expected to carryout a later attack on the White House.
Prosecutors argue that Moussaoui could have helped avoid the attacks or at least minimise their outcomes had he confessed his links with al-Qaida.
