Mumbai Gunman Retracts 'Coerced' Confession

(NEWSER) - The trial of the one surviving Pakistani accused in November’s devastating attack in Mumbai started and stopped today when the judge dismissed the defendant's lawyer, the Times of London reports. Azam Amir Kasab’s court-appointed attorney was not permitted to defend him because she had previously discussed representing a victim of the attack, the judge ruled. The trial will not resume until a replacement is found. More»

Says he's 21 years old; co-defendants also plead not guilty

(AP) - The only surviving suspected gunman in last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai pleaded not guilty today to all charges against him, including waging war against India and murder. The presiding judge read out all the charges against Mohammed Ajmal Kasab in a Mumbai courtroom; Kasab responded with a plea of not guilty and said, "I don't accept these charges." Kasab will face the death penalty if convicted. More»

Concession comes after India shares 100-page evidence dossier

(NEWSER) - The Pakistani government finally admitted today that the lone surviving gunman from November’s Mumbai attacks is its citizen, the BBC reports. It’s the first time India’s rival conceded a connection to the terrorist siege, despite weeks of heavy US pressure to comply. The foot-dragging was partly to appease Pakistanis, who resent India’s haste to blame them, adds the Los Angeles Times. More»

(NEWSER) - The only surviving gunman of the deadly terror attacks in Mumbai admitted his role in the November rampage in a dramatic courtroom confession today, reports the Times of India. "Sir, I plead guilty to my crime," Ajmal Kasab told the presiding judge, before describing how the attacks were carried out. The Pakistani national also named the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba as the organizer of the attack. Until today Kasab had denied any role in the attacks, and it was unclear why he suddenly made the statement. More»

Kasab appears via video link from prison, could face death

(AP) - The trial of the surviving gunman from last year's Mumbai terror attacks began today with Mohammed Ajmal Kasab addressed the court via video link from prison because of concerns he poses too great a security risk to appear in person. He indicated to an Indian court today he would accept a government-provided attorney and repeated that he was from Pakistan. More»