A federal judge is set to decide on Thursday if the Nigerian man who pleaded guilty to trying to blow up a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit in 2009 will spend the rest of his life in prison.
A bomb hidden in the underwear of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, now 25, caused a fire but failed to explode on a Delta Airlines flight carrying 289 people on December 25, 2009.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds will decide whether Abdulmutallab should be sentenced to life in prison as called for under existing sentencing guidelines.
Abdulmutallab's lawyer, Anthony Chambers, earlier this week asked for a lighter sentence, saying the mandatory life sentence was too harsh for an attempted bombing that killed no one.
"Given the circumstances and what did NOT occur in the instant matter it is fair to say that the mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment is excessive and grossly disproportionate to the conduct," Chambers said in a court filing, emphasizing the word "not."
While not making a specific request, he asked on Abdulmutallab's behalf that the judge impose a sentence below the advisory guideline range because a life sentence would be a "misinterpretation of justice."
Prosecutors have urged the judge to give Abdulmutallab the maximum sentence - consecutive terms of life in prison.
In October, Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty days after his trial began, saying he had wanted to avenge the killing of Muslims by the United States.
Court officials said that Abdulmutallab's parents and one of his sisters will be in the Detroit courtroom on Thursday. Six victims are scheduled to speak before Edmunds declares sentencing.
Abdulmutallab, who has been held at a federal prison in Milan, Michigan since 2009, will also be given a chance to address the court before sentencing.
Prosecutors also last week offered new details about how Abdulmutallab's plot was directed by U.S.-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who had become an al Qaeda leader in Yemen.
Awlaki was killed in a drone attack in Yemen last September. In court papers, the FBI identified Awlaki as "chief of external operations" for al Qaeda's Yemen branch as well as an Internet-saavy propagandist and recruiter.
When the bomb caused a fire but failed to explode, Abdulmutallab was quickly subdued by passengers and crew. The incident led U.S. officials to bolster airport security, deploying full-body scanners to try to detect hidden explosives.
The judge is also due to rule on Thursday whether the prosecution can show a video that the FBI created to simulate the bomb Abdulmutallab tried to detonate.
Muslims always causing Havoc everyone in the World Yet Religion of Peace !!
we no need am let hi go and cool is fcukin ass in prison............. he jus pain me say america prison no dey lik naija own mosquito fr finish am dere......
IF U TINK D DEVIL IS A LIAR, THEN LET A GUY LIE TO U AND U WILL KNW DAT D DEVIL IS A LEANER ........
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:23 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
@Poster, It is easy to detect a liar. Ur heading does nt correspond to d story. There ar obvious mixture of unverified truth wt sentiments. There4, d who report lacks merit nd credibility.
Say no evil, do no evil, hear no evil. Live your life like it's the last day. Today is yours; tomorrow might never come.
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:26 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie
FinlandGuy at 16-02-2012 01:31 PM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: Parma on 16-02-2012 01:26 PM
@Poster, It is easy to detect a liar. Ur heading does nt correspond to d story. There ar obvious mixture of unverified truth wt sentiments. There4, d who report lacks merit nd credibility.
Na your people if bi like say you dey vex.Click the source below and read yourself. Ewu awusa like you.Do i need u to believe the story.Nuisance like U
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:31 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
FinlandGuy at 16-02-2012 01:36 PM (12 years ago) (m)
Quote from: DeLord-Sheriff on 16-02-2012 01:27 PM
y nt death penalty?..he attempted 2 kill 289 ppl, he deserved no mercy..-..-
All muslims hate US with passion,But see de kind sentence wey America give a Terrorist who wanted to kill more 289 people in a jet liner. But if na 4 muslim land this thing happen and dey catch the person,na slaughter they for don slaughter the person since.
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:36 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Bachelorette at 16-02-2012 01:41 PM (12 years ago) (m)
Serves Him right. I wish other Abokis in Nigeria can learn from that, but the annoying thing is that they are all daft. Illiteracy and Religious fanatism get the better of them than good sense of reasoning
I've always lived by 3 principles:
1. Honour ur God, 2. Love ur Family and 3. Defend your Country
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:41 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
fredmichael at 16-02-2012 01:44 PM (12 years ago) (m)
sheriff or what ever sharap u devil and go phyuk ur ass cos u re fake muslem.to suiside bomber let them use the same sharia law with the guy.mwan intant hanging to death as his religio
anyi.......
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:44 PM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
Na your people if bi like say you dey vex.Click the source below and read yourself. Ewu awusa like you.Do i need u to believe the story.Nuisance like U
Guy, who says Muttalab is nt guilty? Afteral, he deserved more dan wt he got 4his crime. Bt all am saying is alwyz avoid sentiments nd say things d way dey ar. If u dey vex too, jst try to control ur anger. Nt all muslims ar misguided criminal like dat boy. Overgeneralizatn is bad.
Say no evil, do no evil, hear no evil. Live your life like it's the last day. Today is yours; tomorrow might never come.
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:50 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie
irosteve at 16-02-2012 01:52 PM (12 years ago) (m)
idiot,u papa spend money take send u to school make u study and to dey usefull to ur self,instead u go learn how to become sucide bomber,make d judge sentence am to life in prisonment wit hard laboure
Posted: at 16-02-2012 01:52 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie
purityjustice
verah
priceless87
Parma
DeLord-Sheriff
gentulity6
Adeboga
kebella
...heheh...if yu wanna smell what kebella is cooking........bring it up!!
MEND
fehinty
Bachelorette
fredmichael
nacmario
mitaly002
irosteve
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