Judge in Shoe-Bomb Trial Is Asked to Drop a Charge

BOSTON — Lawyers for Richard C. Reid, who is accused of trying to blow up a plane with explosives hidden in his shoes, asked a federal judge Monday to dismiss one of the nine charges against him.

The lawyers argued that Reid shouldn’t be prosecuted under an anti-terrorism law created after Sept. 11.

Reid, 28, a British citizen, allegedly tried to light a fuse protruding from his shoe while on a Dec. 22 flight from Paris to Miami. Flight attendants and passengers restrained him.

Defense attorney Owen Walker asked U.S. District Judge William Young to throw out the charge of attempted wrecking of a mass transportation vehicle because airplanes are not commonly considered mass transportation.

Walker also argued that the charge, covered by the USA Patriot Act, is redundant because Reid has been charged with attempted destruction of an aircraft under an older law.

Prosecutor Michael Keegan said the USA Patriot Act was intended to cover violence or terrorism on airplanes.

“Indeed, Congress’ intent was to cover--as far as possible--all mass transportation systems,” Keegan said.

Among the other charges Reid faces are attempting to murder the 197 passengers and crew members on the American Airlines flight.

Young did not immediately rule on the motion.