Richard Reid, who allegedly tried to blow up a trans Atlantic flight with explosives in his shoes, pled not guilty Friday to eight federal charges, which could carry up to five life sentences.
Reid, 28, wore shackles and an orange jumpsuit, rising at the appropriate times and keeping his head lowered through most of the proceedings.
“These charges are very serious,” said U.S. District Attorney Michael Sullivan after Reid’s arraignment. “Congress has indicated these are very serious charges.”
Reid’s attorneys, Tamar Birckhead and Owen Walker, disputed the language of the charges on the ninth count, which was for attempting to wreck a mass transportation vehicle. The defense claimed an airplane does not classify as a mass transportation vehicle.
“We feel confident count nine is most appropriate,” Sullivan said. “We feel the evidence supports that charge. It was absolutely worded correctly.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked long and hard to put together this count nine indictment,” said U.S. District Attorney Charles S. Prouty.
Reid was indicted Wednesday on all nine counts. The indictment also alleged Reid received training from al-Qaida.
Reid’s attorneys said in a statement they were angry a government source released information about the grand jury proceedings.
“The secret of the grand jury proceedings is a vital safeguard in our system of justice,” Birckhead and Walker wrote.
The two also said there was no known link between Reid and al-Qaida.
Sullivan refused to comment on any outside investigations, but he did say it appeared to him that Reid worked alone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations is still investigating the case.
Sullivan said the court date was not yet set; however, Judge William Yong will be meeting with the U.S. district attorney, the defendant and his attorneys on March 4.
Reid has been held in custody since Dec. 22, when he was initially charged with hindering the performance of the duties of the flight crew members by assault or intimidation.
“One-hundred-and-ninety-seven passengers and flight crew could have lost their lives if Richard Reid had been successful in igniting the explosive devices in his footwear,” Sullivan said in a statement. “I would like to commend the flight crew and passengers for their heroic efforts in restraining Richard Reid and preventing this senseless act of terror.”
According to the complaint affidavit, about one-and-a-half hours after American Airlines Flight AA63 took off from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, a flight attendant thought she smelled a burnt match. When she tried to confront Reid, he put the match in his mouth. The flight attendant then to went to tell the captain, and upon her return, she realized he was trying to set fire to his shoe.
Soon afterward, the flight attendant noticed a wire protruding from his shoe. When she tried to grab his shoe, Reid allegedly pushed her to the floor. She yelled for help and for water when another flight attendant joined the struggle. At this point, other passengers came to help and restrained Reid.
Two of Reid’s charges pertain directly to the alleged assault on the flight attendants.
If convicted, Reid faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on four of the counts, 20 years imprisonment on three counts, and 15 years imprisonment on one count. If convicted of count eight, which pertains to use of the bomb, Reid faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison to be served consecutively to any other term he receives.
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