PORTLAND, Ore., May 2 (UPI) -- Lawyers for a man accused of trying to bomb an Oregon Christmas tree lighting ceremony sought Wednesday to block evidence from an unrelated investigation.
Mohamed Mohamud was briefly a suspect in a 2009 date-rape case at Oregon State University. Oregon State Police gathered a list of phone numbers off Mohamud's phone and a copy of his computer's hard drive, and had troopers question him about future travel abroad, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Mohamud's lawyers told a judge the evidence should not be admitted in his trial for allegedly attempting to set off a car bomb in 2010, because he was quickly exonerated in the rape case.
Prosecutors said the rape investigation did not uncover any information they didn't already have from other witnesses such as Mohamud's father, Osman Barre.
U.S. District Judge Garr King said he'd make a ruling on the evidence as soon as possible, Oregon Public Broadcasting said.
