Underpants bomber gets day in court

2011-01-25 20:24

Detroit - A Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner has been summoned to court for a hearing that could end with a judge setting a trial date.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab will be a reluctant participant on Tuesday. He had asked to skip the hearing, but federal Judge Nancy Edmunds says he must appear as long as he's acting as his own lawyer.

It's been 13 months since Abdulmutallab was accused of trying to ignite an explosive in his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam, with nearly 300 people aboard.

Edmunds is likely to take up a request that Abdulmutallab's former lawyers turn over any files to him. He fired them last year and is representing himself with the help of another attorney.

- SAPA