US court sets March 29 for hearing Rana’s case

By IANS,

Chicago : A US court Wednesday set March 29 as the next date for hearing the case of Pakistan born Canadian terror suspect Tahawwur Hussein Rana, accused of providing material support for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.


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Rana, who is also accused of providing material support to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), looked pale and haggard as he attended the hearing in the US District Court in Chicago in leg shackles wearing an orange jump suit.

US attorney Patrick Fitzgerald was also present for the hearing for the first time since the case began.

At the March 29 hearing, which will be a partially closed door affair, the prosecution and defence will begin the process of examining classified information in the case and how it can be used in the trial.

Earlier Tuesday, the court had adjourned till March 23 the status hearing of co-accused David Headley, charged with conspiring in the Mumbai terror strikes and plotting attacks against a Danish newspaper.

Headley was not present as Judge Harry Leinenweber adjourned the hearing till March 23 after a brief proceeding which lasted barely three minutes.

Headley’s lawyer John Theis said he sought a month’s extension because “the party is talking and we are reviewing the evidence”.

Headley and Rana were both indicted by a federal grand jury here Jan 15 on charges of doing the groundwork and providing material support to LeT to carry out the Mumbai terror attack.

In its 12-count superseding indictment against Headley and Rana, the jury had given extensive details of the planning of the Mumbai attack by the LeT and how its leaders guided the terrorists during the four-day siege beginning Nov 26, 2008 that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

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