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Confessed underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is challenging his mandatory life in prison sentence, arguing in court documents filed Monday that a life sentence is "cruel and unusual punishment" and unconstitutional.
Abdulmutallab is facing a mandatory life in prison sentence after pleading guilty to trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner carrying nearly 300 people with a bomb hidden in his underwear. He pleaded guilty to numerous criminal charges, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
"Given the circumstances and what did NOT occur in the instant matter it is fair to say that the mandatory minimum sentence of life is excessive and grossly disproportionate to the conduct," Abdulmutallab wrote in court documents Monday. "Aside from the defendant no passengers suffered any serious injuries and there were no casualties."
The government strongly disagrees, ......
Prosecutors say, "Defendant is an unrepentant, would-be mass murderer, who views his crimes as divinely inspired and blessed, and who views himself as under a continuing obligation to carry out such crimes," they said, "He attempted to murder 289 individuals, no sentence other than life ... could possibly reflect the seriousness of defendant's conduct."
In pushing for a stiff sentence, the government also disclosed on Friday details about Abdulmutallab's relationship with a well-known al-Qaida figure. Read more;
