Lawyer of Mumbai raid suspect dismissed

Agence France-Presse

Moments after the high-profile trial kicked off, the packed courtroom was told there could be a conflict of interest as the lawyer defending Mohammed Ajmal Kasab had links to a potential prosecution witness. "We need to give a just and fair trial to Kasab, and it is necessary to appoint a lawyer who can handle a case of this nature properly and with due diligence," judge M.L. Tahaliyani told the court.

The decision left 21-year-old Kasab, who faces the death penalty if convicted of taking part in the November 2008 rampage of killing in India's financial capital, without any legal representation. Kasab, who was making his first public appearance since his arrest, then asked the court to provide him with a Pakistani defense lawyer. The judge rejected the request on the grounds that a lawyer had to be Indian, but stressed that the Indian legal system "will do whatever we can that is legally right."

Pakistani assistance

"Pakistan can assist you to find you a lawyer," the judge said, adding that the Indian government would communicate to Islamabad the appeal for legal aid. Kasab, said to belong to the banned Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, faces a string of charges including "waging war" on India, murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.

The 60-hour-long attacks saw 10 gunmen land in the city by boat and murder more than 160 people in a packed railway station, two luxury hotels, a trendy cafe and Jewish centre. A further 300 others were wounded.

Preparation for the trial had already been dogged by the struggle to find a lawyer willing to defend Kasab. Last year, the Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate Court's Bar Association resolved not to represent him, while the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party called for Kasab to be executed without trial outside the railway station.