'Underwear Bomber' Won't Speak To Jurors At Trial
DETROIT (WWJ) - A man charged with trying to destroy a Detroit-bound flight with a bomb on Christmas Day 2009 will not speak to jurors when trial opens next week.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24 of Nigeria, is acting as his own lawyer and had indicated that he wanted to give the opening statement on Tuesday.
But his standby attorney said Friday that won't happen.
"Anthony Chambers will be conducting the opening," reported WWJ Newsraduio 950's Vickie Thomas, who is covering the trial. "He just imformed the court and the government of that. He was supposed to let them know by 4 o'clock so he has met that deadline."
Chambers talked with Talk Radio 1270 WXYT Morning Show Host and WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton earlier Friday, saying he was upset with the 12-member jury and four alternates chosen to decide Abdulmutallab's fate. (Read more on this, here).
Abdulmutallab suffered severe burns on an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight on Christmas 2009. The government said he was trying to detonate a bomb in his underwear in a failed attempt to bring down the plane on behalf of al-Qaida.
Opening statements are scheduled for next Tuesday.
Stay with WWJ and CBSDetroit.com for continuing coverage.
