Now that a US jury has delivered a verdict that al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui is eligible for the death penalty, his lawyers face an uphill battle as they try to save a client who apparently wants to die.

A US appeals court is hearing arguments today on whether the US government should be barred from seeking the death penalty for accused September 11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui because it refused a judge’s order to produce al-Qaida defence witnesses.