Are photos of burned genitals key evidence in underwear bomber case?
The so-called underwear bomber charged with trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner has some sensitive government data in his possession: photos of his burned genitals.
The picture is part of a batch of photos that federal prosecutors released early to Nigerian terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is representing himself and has until this Friday to challenge the government's evidence.
Prosecutors released several photos to Abdulmutallab on June 1, including five depicting severe burns to his genitalia and thighs, which he sustained after he allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009 using explosives hidden in his underwear.
Federal prosecutors disclosed the existence of the photos in a court document that asks the court to deny a request by Abdulmutallab's legal adviser to delay the Oct. 4 trial date. That adviser, prominent Detroit attorney Anthony Chambers, has argued in court documents that he needs more time to review new evidence in the case to mount a proper defense.
The new evidence includes FBI documents that relate to the construction of the bomb, records show. Federal prosecutors also have released a video titled "America and the Final Trap," which contains a segment in which various al-Qaida officials, including Osama Bin Laden, talk about Abdulmutallab, records show. The video also includes an excerpt of the martyrdom video recorded by Abdulmutallab prior to his foiled mission, records show.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, argue that the amount of new evidence in the case is small, and does not warrant putting off the trial.
"Simply put, the needless delays have to stop," Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Tukel, Cathleen Corken and Michael Martin wrote in court documents filed Friday. They also argued that any delay requests need to come from Abdulmutallab, not his stand-by counsel.
Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian national, is accused of trying to set off explosives that were hidden in his underwear while he was aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, which carried 279 passengers and 11 crew members.
Authorities have said that Abdulmutallab is an al-Qaida operative trained in Yemen for the suicide mission, which was foiled when a passenger subdued Abdulmutallab.
He is facing numerous criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism.
In September, Abdulmutallab fired his government-appointed lawyers and suggested that he wanted to plead guilty to some charges. He has said nothing about a plea since.