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| Court to decide on Mumbai accused | Court to decide on Mumbai accused |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A court in the Indian city of Mumbai is due to decide whether to accept the guilty plea made by the main suspect in last year's deadly attacks in the city. | A court in the Indian city of Mumbai is due to decide whether to accept the guilty plea made by the main suspect in last year's deadly attacks in the city. |
| The ruling is expected one day after Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab told the court he is ready to be hanged after admitting his role in the violence. | The ruling is expected one day after Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab told the court he is ready to be hanged after admitting his role in the violence. |
| Prosecutors said he changed his plea to guilty to secure leniency. | Prosecutors said he changed his plea to guilty to secure leniency. |
| They want the trial to proceed but the defence says it should end if the court accepts his plea. | They want the trial to proceed but the defence says it should end if the court accepts his plea. |
| More than 170 people were killed in the November attacks, nine of them gunmen. | More than 170 people were killed in the November attacks, nine of them gunmen. |
| 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. |
| In May, he had pleaded not guilty to all charges. | In May, he had pleaded not guilty to all charges. |
| 'Inconsistent' | 'Inconsistent' |
| Chief public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam asked the court on Wednesday to keep Mr Qasab's confessional statement on record and allow them to continue with the evidence and trial. | Chief public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam asked the court on Wednesday to keep Mr Qasab's confessional statement on record and allow them to continue with the evidence and trial. |
| If anyone believes that I am doing this [pleading guilty] to get mercy, then go ahead and hang me Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab Profile: Mumbai suspect Excerpts from confession | If anyone believes that I am doing this [pleading guilty] to get mercy, then go ahead and hang me Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab Profile: Mumbai suspect Excerpts from confession |
| Mr Nikam said by making the confession, the accused was putting the larger blame on his accomplice [Abu Ismail] who was already dead. | Mr Nikam said by making the confession, the accused was putting the larger blame on his accomplice [Abu Ismail] who was already dead. |
| "Very shrewdly, very cleverly Qasab has tried to save his own skin by showing he was acting as a subordinate to Abu Ismail," the lawyer said. | "Very shrewdly, very cleverly Qasab has tried to save his own skin by showing he was acting as a subordinate to Abu Ismail," the lawyer said. |
| "He knows that by denying a major role, no Indian court is going to award him the death penalty." | "He knows that by denying a major role, no Indian court is going to award him the death penalty." |
| At this point Mr Qasab said: "If anyone believes that I am doing this [pleading guilty] to get mercy, then go ahead and hang me." | At this point Mr Qasab said: "If anyone believes that I am doing this [pleading guilty] to get mercy, then go ahead and hang me." |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| He also told special judge ML Tahiliyani: "Since I have committed the crime in this world, I should be punished in this world. I do not want to be punished by Allah." | He also told special judge ML Tahiliyani: "Since I have committed the crime in this world, I should be punished in this world. I do not want to be punished by Allah." |
| MAIN QASAB CHARGES Waging war on IndiaMurderConspiracy to murderDestabilising the governmentKidnapRobberySmuggling and possessing illegal arms and explosives Media see early end to trial Attackers' bodies still unclaimed Tears and smirks in court | MAIN QASAB CHARGES Waging war on IndiaMurderConspiracy to murderDestabilising the governmentKidnapRobberySmuggling and possessing illegal arms and explosives Media see early end to trial Attackers' bodies still unclaimed Tears and smirks in court |
| Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi told the court: "I'm not prevailing over my client's wishes. If the trial has to continue, then this statement cannot be on record." | Defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi told the court: "I'm not prevailing over my client's wishes. If the trial has to continue, then this statement cannot be on record." |
| But, if the court accepts the statement, then it must pronounce the judgement in the case, he said. | But, if the court accepts the statement, then it must pronounce the judgement in the case, he said. |
| 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. |
| He is alleged to be the only one of 10 gunmen to have survived. The others were all killed by Indian security forces. | He is alleged to be the only one of 10 gunmen to have survived. The others were all killed by Indian security forces. |
| The attacks led to a worsening of relations between India and Pakistan. | The attacks led to a worsening of relations 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. Islamabad also eventually confirmed that Mr Qasab was a Pakistani citizen. | 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 confirmed that Mr Qasab was a Pakistani citizen. |
| That admission, Mr Qasab said on Monday, was what had prompted him to confess. He said his decision to do so had been taken voluntarily. The move took everyone by surprise, most notably his own lawyers. | That admission, Mr Qasab said on Monday, was what had prompted him to confess. He said his decision to do so had been taken voluntarily. The move took everyone by surprise, most notably his own lawyers. |
| He could face the death penalty if the judge agrees to impose the maximum penalty. | He could face the death penalty if the judge agrees to impose the maximum penalty. |