Flight diverted to Boston after passenger tries to ignite

[tycoonjack]

Shoe Bomb Defendant Outlined Plot in E-Mail

Two days before he boarded a flight in Paris armed with powerful explosive devices hidden in his shoes, Richard C. Reid told his mother that his alleged attempt to blow up the airliner was "part of the ongoing war between Islam and disbelief, and as such a duty upon me as a Muslim," government lawyers said in a court filing in Boston yesterday.

The government motion, filed by U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, alleges that Reid had help in his failed attempt to down American Airlines Flight 63 on Dec. 22. The court documents contend that he remains a "committed loyalist" to the al Qaeda terror network and "represents a far greater risk to society than virtually any convicted defendant or group of defendants."

The government filed the motion to oppose an attempt by Reid's attorneys to lift restrictions on their ability to communicate with outside parties.

[tycoonjack]

Judge Throws Out One of Nine Charges in Case of Man Accused of Trying to Blow Up Plane With Shoe Bomb

A judge Tuesday threw out one of nine charges against a man accused of trying to blow up a jetliner with explosives in his shoes, ruling that an airplane is not a vehicle under a new anti-terrorism law.

The charge - attempting to wreck a mass transportation vehicle - was filed under the USA Patriot Act, which was passed by Congress after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

U.S. District Judge William Young said that although an airplane was engaged in mass transportation it is not a vehicle as defined by the new law.

[tycoonjack]

One Charge Against Shoe-Bomb Suspect Dismissed

Dealing a blow to tough laws enacted after the Sept. 11 attacks, a federal judge on Tuesday threw out one of nine charges against the man accused of trying to blow up a transatlantic flight with bombs in his shoes.

Prosecutors had charged Briton Richard Reid with trying to wreck a "mass transportation vehicle" in violation of the USA Patriot Act -- legislation that was hastily approved and signed into law by President Bush in October.

But U.S. District Court Judge William Young threw out the charge, ruling that while an airplane engages in "mass transportation" it does not meet the official congressional definition of a "vehicle."

Reid, arrested on Dec. 22 after he was overpowered by flight attendants and passengers on American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris, still faces charges of attempted murder, attempted homicide and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

[dbaker]

vehicle:

A device or structure for transporting persons or things; a conveyance: a space vehicle.
(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

1. That in or on which any person or thing is, or may be, carried, as a coach, carriage, wagon, cart, car, sleigh, bicycle, etc.; a means of conveyance; specifically, a means of conveyance upon land.
(Webster's Revised Unabridged Ditcionary)

1: a conveyance that transports people or objects
(WordNet)

[tycoonjack]

US crew recalls 'shoe bomb' ordeal

The crew onboard an American Airlines flight in which the British man Richard Reid allegedly tried to ignite explosives in his shoes has spoken for the first time publicly about the incident.

The crew's trade union, the Allied Pilots Association of America, decided to release the interview as part of a training exercise for other pilots - despite objections from American Airlines.

Richard Reid is due back in court on Thursday for a pre-trial hearing in Boston, where it will be decided what evidence can be admitted to his full trial which is due to start later this year.

[tycoonjack]

Shoe Bomb Suspect Loses Court Bid

A man charged with attempting to blow up an airliner with explosives hidden in his shoes has lost his bid to keep jurors at his upcoming trial from hearing about a confession he allegedly made to authorities after his arrest.

U.S. District Court Judge William Young said Thursday that federal agents had "scrupulously honored" Richard C. Reid's right to cut off questioning.

Reid's lawyers had claimed Reid invoked his right to remain silent when, after answering an initial round of questions from a state police trooper, he said, "I have nothing else to say."

About four hours later, federal investigators began interrogating Reid. The agents again informed Reid of his Miranda rights, which he said he understood. During that interview, Reid answered some questions but refused to answer others.

[tycoonjack]

FBI Interrogates Shoe Bomb Suspect

A man accused of trying to blow up an airliner with explosives in his shoes told FBI interrogators he was driven by anger over the treatment of Muslims in Israel, transcripts of the interrogations show.

[tycoonjack]

'Shoe bomber' seeks sentence delay

Lawyers for the man who pleaded guilty to trying to blow up a plane with explosives in his shoes are trying to postpone a hearing which could see him jailed for life.

Defence attorneys asked a judge to delay sentencing until they can view secret information in the case against Richard Reid.

Reid admitted at his trial last October that he tried to blow up an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami.

A hearing for him to be sentenced for eight crimes - including attempted murder and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction - is scheduled for later on Thursday.

[tycoonjack]

'Shoe bomber' jailed for life

A US federal judge has sentenced "shoe bomber" Richard Reid to life in prison for trying to blow up a Paris-Miami flight with 197 people on board.

Reid, who is British, had pleaded guilty to eight charges - including attempted murder and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The prosecution welcomed Thursday's sentence.

"Reid's intentions were clear - he wanted to murder innocent people in the name of his fanatical religious beliefs," prosecutor Michael Sullivan said.