Accused Underwear Bomber In Court On New Charges
Nearly one year later, a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow a jetliner over Detroit last Christmas Day was back in Federal Court.
A lawyer is suggesting he will challenge the government's case against a Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Anthony Chambers spoke Thursday after Abdulmutallab was arraigned on two additional charges in federal court in Detroit.
The 24-year-old man is accused of trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam by igniting an explosive in his underwear. The government added two charges Wednesday, including conspiring with others in the failed attack.
A judge entered a not-guilty plea on Abdulmutallab's behalf. He is acting as his own lawyer but is being advised by Chambers.
Chambers says "we'll see what's left'' of the case after he files motions in the weeks ahead. He didn't elaborate.
WWJ and Fox-2 Legal Analyst Charlie Langton says the prosecution should have no problem finding witnesses.
"There were 292 people on the plane -- 281 passengers, eleven crew members. Potentially, ever one of those people will be a witness," Langton said.
Langton says it's still an open question whether Abdulmutallab can get a fair trial here in Detroit.
"Although this case had generated international publicity, we have to see, when a jury is actually picked... if the jurors can put whatever they know about the case out of their minds," Langton said.
