April 28 (Bloomberg) -- The judge in Zacarias Moussaoui's sentencing trial admonished jurors not to do their own research after learning that one member of the panel looked up the word ``aggravating'' in an online dictionary at home.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, sent the jury to resume deliberating on whether to sentence Moussaoui, who pleaded guilty to conspiring in the Sept. 11 attacks, to death or life in prison. Brinkema said jurors told her today about one member's use of the dictionary. The jury earlier was told to rely only on information presented in court.

The judge said she concluded there was ``no intentional or material violation of the court order and the jury can continue to deliberate.'' Later, the jury ended its deliberations for the week and will return on May 1. The jury began deliberating on April 24.

Moussaoui, 37, pleaded guilty in April 2005 and is the only person charged in the U.S. in connection with the attacks. He testified he knew about the plot when he was arrested a month before the attacks and lied to FBI agents because he wanted the mission to go forward.

The jury is evaluating aggravating factors, weighing in favor of a death sentence, against mitigating factors, which may support a decision to sentence Moussaoui to prison. The judge told the jury today that ``to aggravate'' means ``to make something worse.''

`Role as Jurors'

Brinkema said if jurors have a question they should ask her. Earlier this week, she turned down their request to have a dictionary in the jury room.

Doing outside research ``changes your role as jurors. You would then become an advocate for one side or the other,'' the judge said. ``It's very important that it be done by the rules.''

Lawyers on both sides raised no objections to continued deliberations. After the jurors left the courtroom, Moussaoui shouted, ``Moussaoui aggravating curse on America!''

Yesterday, after the judge announced that deliberations would be canceled for the day because one juror was ill, Moussaoui said, ``Moussaoui biological warfare!''

Prosecutors earlier this week urged the jury to sentence Moussaoui to death for the ``unforgivable evil'' of helping plan the Sept. 11 attacks and rejoicing in nearly 3,000 victims' deaths.

Moussaoui's defense lawyers said his only role in the attacks was ``in his dreams.'' They said he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and came from a violent family. His lawyers are acting over his objections, and he denounced them from the witness stand.

He pleaded guilty to six conspiracy counts, three of which carry a possible death penalty.

The case is U.S. vs. Moussaoui, 01cr455, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria).

To contact the reporter on this story: Bill Arthur in Washington at barthur@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 28, 2006 15:42 EDT