- Title: INDIA: Court adjourns the hearing of Mumbai terror accused
- Date: 22nd July 2009
- Summary: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (JULY 21, 2009) (ANI) PROSECUTING LAWYER UJJAWAL NIKAM COMING SOUNDBITE (English) UJJAWAL NIKAM, PROSECUTING LAWYER, SAYING: "I requested the judge to adjourn the matter till tomorrow because I have convened a meeting of the senior police officers for discussing the matter at length in detail with the statement which Kasab had made before the court and evidence which prosecution is possessing." REPORTER TALKING TO NIKAM NIKAM GOING DEFENDING LAWYER S G ABBAS KAZMI COMING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) S G ABBAS KAZMI, DEFENDING LAWYER, SAYING: "We should understand that it was not a confession. When he (Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab) said by standing in the court that 'I plead guilty to the crime' he was pleading guilty. That was a plea record in a way that could happen at any stage of the trial."
- Embargoed: 6th August 2009 17:53
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA9FP6UKH6DHQOU50TFEIAHY7SL
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: A special court on Tuesday (July 21) adjourned the case of 26/11 Mumbai terror accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab until Wednesday (July 22). The prosecution had sought time to reply to Kasab's statement he made on Monday (July 20).
"I requested the judge to adjourn the matter till tomorrow (July 22) because I have convened a meeting of the senior police officers for discussing the matter at length in detail with the statement which Kasab had made before the court and evidence which prosecution is possessing," said Ujjawal Nikam, public prosecutor.
Meanwhile, Kasab's defence lawyer SG Abbas Kazmi said that Kasab's admissions about the Mumbai terror attacks should not be taken as his confession. Kazmi, while addressing media persons, said Kasab's admissions were in response to a query asked by special judge.
"We should understand that it was not a confession. When he (Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab) said by standing in the court that I plead guilty to the crime, he was pleading guilty.'' ''That was a plea record in a way that could happen at any stage of the trial, " said Abbas Kazmi.
Pakistani citizen Kasab is the only surviving gunman from the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people in November last year and raised tensions between India and Pakistan, halting the already fragile peace process. Twenty-one-year-old Kasab faces 86 charges, including waging war on India, murder and possessing explosives.
In court on Monday he pleaded guilty to the crime. The prosecution alleges Kasab is seen in the footage carrying a weapon and entering one of the hotels which was attacked. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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