He played the devil's advocate on behalf of freedom everywhere, from the Oxford Union to the dinner table.

ECONOMIST: John Mortimer | The

Di Stefano, 57, of Canterbury, is known as the "devil's advocate" for representing high-profile criminals.

BBC: High profile lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano

But Rimmer, who taught Abdulmutallab at a school in the West African nation of Togo, said it was not clear whether the then-teenager was simply playing devil's advocate during the class.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS