Headley Pleads Not Guilty to All Chares Including 26/11
Pakistani-born American national and suspected Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley, arrested by FBI last month for plotting terror attacks in Denmark and India, has pleaded not guilty before a US court to all the charges filed against him including involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks.
Headley, 49, was charged by the FBI in a 12-count criminal information with six counts of conspiracy to bomb places in India and Denmark and for providing material support to terrorist plots.
John Theis, defence counsel, told reporters following arraignment that his client was charged with certain acts arising out of things that happened in Denmark and India and that these were serious charges and they were taking them seriously.
“I want to remind everyone that he is presumed innocent of these charges against him,” he said.
About possibility of Indian investigators getting an opportunity to quiz Headley, Theis said, “That is something we will have to look at. I have no idea of assessing the chances. If they make any such requests, we will look at it when it comes.”
He said that as of now no requests have been made to him regarding interrogation or extradition.
Also charged with providing material support to Lashkar, and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of US citizens in India, Headley could face the ‘maximum statutory penalty’ of life imprisonment or death.
While appearing before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber, Headley, clean-shaven and tall, was wearing an orange jumpsuit with white long-sleeved undershirt and blue sneakers.
He was shackled at the ankles. The arraignment hearing lasted for about five minutes during which Headley responded in a quiet voice to the questions posed by the Judge.
Headley had made five trips to Mumbai from 2006 to 2008, taking pictures and making videotapes of targets, including those attacked. After every trip that Headley took to India between September 2006 and July 2008, he allegedly returned to Pakistan, met with other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs, videos and oral descriptions of various locations.
