Watch CBS News

Lawyer: Life Sentence Unfair For Underwear Bomber

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A lawyer assisting the man known as the Detroit underwear bomber says a mandatory sentence of life in prison is unfair for a crime that didn't hurt any passengers aboard an international flight.

In a court filing Monday, Anthony Chambers is asking a judge to declare the punishment cruel and unconstitutional.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is returning to court Thursday, four months after admitting he tried to blow up an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight on Christmas Day 2009.

Chambers says the only passenger who was injured was Abdulmutallab, whose groin was severely burned when he tried to detonate a bomb in his underwear.

The Nigerian man, who had no prior criminal history, surprised just about everyone when he changed his plea to guilty last October. At that time, Chambers had said he had wanted to continue with the trial, but respected his client's decision.

There were 290 people aboard the plane from 26 countries. Abdulmutallab has said he was working for al-Qaida.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.