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Mumbai terror attack trial to continue despite confession

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The trial of Mumbai terror attack suspect Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab will continue in an Indian court, despite Kasab's admission of guilt, a judge ruled Thursday. Judge ML Tahilyani ruled that Kasab's confession was incomplete, but should be entered into the record. Kasab, the only captured gunman from the attacks, is faced with 86 charges stemming from his participation in last November's killings. On Monday, he interrupted his trial to tell the court that he and several others traveled from their native Pakistan to India to commit the attack, which claimed at least 170 lives at ten locations across the city. On Saturday, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court began the trial of five men allegedly belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group suspected of planning and coordinating the terror attacks. Two Indian defendants linked to the group have pleaded not guilty to charges related to Kasab's alleged acts and are being tried in an Indian court. In February, Pakistani officials conceded that the attacks were partially planned in their country, and have also stated that the perpetrators traveled by ship from southern Pakistan to Mumbai, where they launched the attack from inflatable boats using outboard engines purchased in Karachi, Pakistan. One scholar suggested that an international tribunal be formed to prosecute persons involved in Mumbai attacks in order to avoid damaging the already-unstable relationship between Pakistan and India.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 23, 2009 (boomark / email).