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Umar Abdulmutallab Trial: Nigerian Juror Dismissed

A Nigerian woman has been dismissed after being picked out as a juror for the trial of underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. 

A Nigerian woman has been dismissed after being picked out as a juror for the trial of underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. 

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According to the Associated press, just thirty minutes after 12 jurors and four alternates jurors were selected for the trial, U.S. District Judge, Nancy Edmunds told the court that there was a problem with one juror. She then dismissed a woman who had identified herself as being from Nigeria, Abdulmutallab's home country without any explanations to the court.

The woman had said in court that she is from Nigeria's "Middle Belt," where there have been dozens of ethnic and religious clashes leaving hundreds dead.

Prior to her selection, lawyers on both sides had not objected to keeping the Nigeria woman in the jury pool when she was questioned in court Wednesday. She had said on a jury questionnaire that she was "embarrassed" at the time of the attack. "We all feel it as a community," she said in court.

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The start of the trial is scheduled for Tuesday, 11th of October, where lawyers will present their opening statements.  Abdulmutallab, who is acting as his own lawyer but has a court-appointed attorney, may deliver his own remarks. He has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

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