Judge Rules Underwear Bomb Suspect's Statements Will Be Heard
DETROIT (WWJ) - Jurors in the trial of the accused "Underwear Bomber" will hear self-incriminating statements made by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Following two days of testimony, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds Thursday ruled that a "national security exception" excused the FBI agents from not giving the 24-year-old Nigerian man his Miranda warning.
Abdulmutallab was not told he had the right to remain silent when the FBI interviewed him at University of Michigan hospital where he was being treated for serious burns after the incident.
Judge Edmunds said testimony of a U of M hospital nurse indicated that Abdulmutallab was lucid and understood what he was saying when he said that he was an Al-Qaeda operative and explained exactly how his underwear bomb was supposed to work.
The decision bolsters the case against Abdulmutallab who faces numerous charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Jury selection in the case set to begin October 4th.
Earlier this week, WWJ's Stephanie Davis sat down for an exclusive interview with Abdulmutallab's standby council, Anthony Chambers, who has requested a change of venue for the trial. Hear the interview at this link.
