US prosecutors in Detroit give defense documents, other evidence in Christmas plane bomb case

Feds give defense evidence in Christmas bomb case

DETROIT — Federal prosecutors said Tuesday they have shared hundreds of documents and other evidence with lawyers for a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day.

A judge held a six-minute hearing solely to “take the temperature” of the case against Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was not in court. No trial date was set and there was no discussion of his cooperation with authorities or any possible plea bargain.

Abdulmutallab is accused of trying to detonate a bomb hidden in his underwear on an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight December 25 last year.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathleen Corken said the government has turned over a substantial amount of evidence, including FBI reports and video surveillance, but that more still needs to be done. She did not elaborate on what the video shows.

Defense lawyer Jill Price said it takes much time to show evidence to Abdulmutallab because visiting hours are limited at a federal prison in Milan, Mich., where he’s being held.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds didn’t set a trial date but asked for another update on June 22. Any challenges to evidence must be filed by Sept. 10.

High-ranking officials, including FBI Director Robert Mueller, have said Abdulmutallab has been cooperating with investigators. Miriam Siefer, head of the four-lawyer defense team, stuck to her policy of not commenting Tuesday.

A woman who said she was a first-class passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 traveled from Montreal to attend the hearing. Outside court, Shama Chopra said her water bottle was used to help extinguish the fire set by Abdulmutallab in his seat.

“We don’t want Abdulmutallab to get a plea deal,” Chopra, 54, said, referring to herself and her husband. “We want a full trial to get fair justice.”