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Judge dismisses potential jurors in underwear bomber case for health reasons, prejudicial beliefsSep 27, 2011 (Detroit Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A federal judge today excused several potential jurors from the so-called underwear bomber trial for reasons ranging from health care issues to people having negative views about Muslims. Among those excused from the jury in the case against Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab are three people who had pre-paid vacation plans, a person who was donating a kidney, a persistent cougher with sleep apnea and someone with an intestinal disorder. Abdulmutallab is going on trial Oct. 11 on charges of attempting to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day in 2009. This morning's hearing also revealed that several potential jurors came to court with their minds already made up that he was guilty, and some expressed strong negative views about Muslims. Comments on jurors' questionnaires included, "I feel the defendant is guilty," while another said he does not trust Muslims and that the defendant should be sent to Guantanamo. One felt the defendant was caught red-handed. Another said he dislikes Muslims and wrote, "He did it." To ensure that a panel of impartial jurors would decide the fate of Abdulmutallab, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds stressed the need to keep people with strong prejudices and predispositions of guilt off the panel. However, Edmunds noted reading the jurors' minds can get tricky. "Sometimes, you just wonder what's in their heads when they answer these questions," she said before adjourning the hearing for a break. Of the 240 prospective jurors who filled out questionnaires, 60 passed muster with the defense, prosecution and judge as a "yes" or a "maybe." In total, 80 prospective jurors will be called back for individual questioning on Oct. 4. Of those, 37 will be picked, ultimately to be winnowed down to 12. Edmunds today will also consider a request by the government to show jurors a video of a bomb demonstration mimicking the explosive that prosecutors say Abdulmutallab concealed in his underwear. In court documents filed last week, federal prosecutors asked permission to admit as evidence a demonstration that is designed to show how Abdulmutallab tried to blow up an airliner Christmas Day 2009 with explosives hidden in his underwear. Specifically, prosecutors want to show jurors demonstrations involving a bomb that is similar to the one Abdulmutallab was hiding in his briefs, documents state. Prosecutors cited other court cases where judges have allowed videotaped explosions involving bomb replicas to be played in court. Edmunds will consider the request this afternoon. Stay with freep.com for more on this story. ___ (c)2011 the Detroit Free Press Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |