26/11: Tahawwur Rana appears in court for status hearing

Commenting on recent reports that India may gain access to him,like they did to Headley last year,Rana’s attorney Patrick Blegen said he was yet to be approached by the Indian government.

Part of the hearing held yesterday was closed.

On April 25,in a second superseding indictment,US prosecutors charged four additional men,all Pakistani residents,in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 dead,including six Americans.

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit,Rana smiled as he looked around in the courtroom.

The government would file its Santiago Proffer later today,parts of which will be sealed. The Santiago Proffer is a document in which the government presents its case and connects the evidence by joining point to point the evidence,witnesses,conspirators and other details.

Next week,the jury selection would begin with jurors being questioned and questionnaires being filled.

“Rana is a very nice and polite man and it has been very difficult for him and his family,” Rana’s attorney Blegen told media here at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

Blegen said his client might not testify and he would not disclose whether he would or would not testify.

“We’re very much looking forward to cross-examine Mr Headley,” he added.

Headley is likely to testify at the trial. While Headley pleaded guilty,Rana has pleaded not guilty. Blegen also mentioned the government’s prosecutorial team had a very good track record.

Asked about jurors,Blegen said he wanted just and fair jurors who could put aside facts and emotions and apply logic to the case.

Rana was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts on February 15 last year for planning the attacks,providing material support to LeT to carry out the attacks and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the process.

Headley,who was originally Daood Gilani,changed and anglicised his name in order to carry out the carnage without disclosing his Pakistani identity.

Rana,who had served as a doctor in the Pakistani Army Medical Corps before he migrated to Canada,is also accused of plotting an attack with Headley on Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten that published cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. If convicted,Rana faces a possible life sentence.