Prosecutors: Bomber not due new trial

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PORTLAND, Ore., March 13 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors say a man convicted of an attempted bombing during the 2010 holiday celebration in Portland, Ore., does not have grounds for a new trial.

In papers filed in U.S. District Court, prosecutors argued Mohamed Mohamud got a fair trial, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Tuesday.

Mohamud's lawyers failed to show their client had suffered a "serious miscarriage of justice," Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan D. Knight, Pamala R. Holsinger and Ryan W. Bounds said.

Mohamud was convicted Jan. 31 of trying to detonate a weapon of mass destruction during a tree-lighting ceremony at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square.

His defense attorneys filed for a new trial Feb. 14. They charged Judge Garr M. King violated Mohamud's right to a fair trial by allowing the government to conceal the true identities of two FBI undercover agents who were key witnesses in the trial. The ruling prevented the agents from being fully cross-examined, the defense attorneys claimed.

They also charged the government had entrapped their client, and had not proven Mohamud was predisposed to commit the act or that they hadn't talked him into it.

The prosecutors said Tuesday Mohamud was not entitled to a new trial "merely because he did not get to plumb their [agents] life histories."

They added Knight's insistence during closing arguments that the entrapment defense was not available to the defendant was consistent with existing law.

King set a March 25 deadline for defense lawyers to file their reply.

Mohamud's sentencing has been scheduled for May 14, at which time he could receive a punishment of up to life in prison.