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Main Mumbai suspect pleads guilty | Main Mumbai suspect pleads guilty |
(20 minutes later) | |
The leading suspect in last November's deadly attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) pleaded guilty. | |
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab stood up before the court to say he admitted his role in the killings. | |
Mr Qasab, who is a Pakistani, faces 86 charges, including waging war on India, murder and possessing explosives. | Mr Qasab, who is a Pakistani, faces 86 charges, including waging war on India, murder and possessing explosives. |
It is not clear why he has changed his plea. In May, he pleaded not guilty to all charges. More than 170 people died in the attacks, nine of them gunmen. | It is not clear why he has changed his plea. In May, he pleaded not guilty to all charges. More than 170 people died in the attacks, nine of them gunmen. |
Prosecutors say Mr Qasab is the sole surviving attacker. | Prosecutors say Mr Qasab is the sole surviving attacker. |
'Shocked' | 'Shocked' |
The BBC's Prachi Pinglay, who was in the courtroom in Mumbai, said Mr Qasab appeared calm. | |
MAIN QASAB CHARGES Waging war on IndiaMurderConspiracy to murderDestabilising the governmentKidnapRobberySmuggling and possessing illegal arms and explosives Tears and smirks in the dock | MAIN QASAB CHARGES Waging war on IndiaMurderConspiracy to murderDestabilising the governmentKidnapRobberySmuggling and possessing illegal arms and explosives Tears and smirks in the dock |
He said there had been no pressure on him to confess and it had been his decision to do so. | |
"I request the court to accept my plea and pronounce the sentence," he told the judge, smiling. | |
Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said: "We were not expecting this. We were all shocked when he made a plea of guilt. | Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said: "We were not expecting this. We were all shocked when he made a plea of guilt. |
"It is for the court to decide whether to accept his plea or not. It was all of a sudden. The court is now recording his plea." | "It is for the court to decide whether to accept his plea or not. It was all of a sudden. The court is now recording his plea." |
Shortly afterwards Mr Nikam told the BBC the confession was "a victory for the prosecution". | Shortly afterwards Mr Nikam told the BBC the confession was "a victory for the prosecution". |
During his testimony, the suspect gave details of his journey from Pakistan, the attacks at a historic railway station in Mumbai and the city's Cama hospital. | |
Mr Qasab's lawyer said he had nothing to do with the confession. | Mr Qasab's lawyer said he had nothing to do with the confession. |
It is not fully clear what prompted Mr Qasab to change his plea. | |
He said he had done so because Pakistan had finally admitted he was a Pakistani citizen, but that was some time ago. | |
Police say Mr Qasab confessed before a magistrate to the attacks after his arrest, but he retracted that confession at an early hearing. | Police say Mr Qasab confessed before a magistrate to the attacks after his arrest, but he retracted that confession at an early hearing. |
His lawyers said then that it had been coerced. | |
Wept in court | Wept in court |
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, 21, was arrested on the first day of the attacks and has been in Indian custody ever since. | Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, 21, was arrested on the first day of the attacks and has been in Indian custody ever since. |
In his initial appearances before the court, Mr Qasab appeared relaxed and smiled and grinned. | In his initial appearances before the court, Mr Qasab appeared relaxed and smiled and grinned. |
But more recently, he broke down and wept in court as a witness recounted the violent events which took place over three days in late November. | But more recently, he broke down and wept in court as a witness recounted the violent events which took place over three days in late November. |
The attacks led to a worsening of relationship between India and Pakistan. | The attacks led to a worsening of relationship between India and Pakistan. |
India accused Pakistan-based fighters from the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of carrying out the attacks. | India accused Pakistan-based fighters from the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of carrying out the attacks. |
In the immediate aftermath of the killings, Pakistan denied any responsibility, but later admitted the attacks had been partly planned on its soil. | In the immediate aftermath of the killings, Pakistan denied any responsibility, but later admitted the attacks had been partly planned on its soil. |
Islamabad also eventually admitted that Mr Qasab was a Pakistani citizen. | Islamabad also eventually admitted that Mr Qasab was a Pakistani citizen. |