US court to sentence 26/11 accused Headley in Jan 2013

The United States is moving forward in its 26/11 Mumbai attacks trail. A US court has fixed January 17, 2013 as the date for sentencing of Mumbai attacks accused Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist David Headley. His accomplice Tahawwur Rana's sentencing date has been rescheduled from December 4, 2012 to January 15, 2013.

52-year-old Headley, who conducted a recce of all Mumbai targets and provided material support to the Lashkar has pleaded guilty of all charges. He could have faced the death sentence on charges of conspiracy to bomb public places in India and six counts of murdering US nationals in India but escaped it by entering into a plea bargain with the FBI.

Also Read: Kasab hanged, Pak still in denial over Hafiz Saeed's role

Rana was held guilty by a jury on June 10, 2011 of conspiracy to attack a Denmark newspaper and aiding Lashker-e-Taiba but was acquitted of involvement in the Mumbai attacks in 2008. Rana's plea for acquittal and retrial was dismissed in June this year after which December four was fixed for his sentencing.

According to Chicago court spokesperson Randall Samborn, US District Judge Harry Leinenweber will announce the sentence of the two accused, who have been charged with conspiracy of 2008 Mumbai attack and plan to attack a Denmark newspaper. "The sentencing date for Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled from December 4, 2012, to January 15, 2013, and the sentencing of David Coleman Headley has been scheduled for January 17, 2013.

"Each sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 9.45 am on those dates before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse," the spokesperson said. The 52-year-old Healdey, who conducted reconnaissance of all the targets in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks for Lashker-e-Taiba, has pleaded guilty of all the charges framed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.