Chicago: Pakistani-American David Coleman
Headley, charged with conspiracy in the 26/11 Mumbai terror
attacks, may not be present at a status hearing of his case
scheduled next week in a court here.
The hearing, during which the court will be updated on
the progress of the case, has been set for January 12 before
Judge Harry Leinenweber in the US District Court in the
Northern District of Illinois.
After his arrest, Headley had first appeared in the court
on December 9 when he had pleaded not guilty to charges that
he plotted terrorist attacks in India and Denmark.
US citizen Headley, along with another terror suspect
Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana, were arrested by FBI in
October last year. Indian investigators say that he conducted
a recce of the Mumbai attack sites. The FBI has also charged
him with criminal conspiracy in the 26/11 attacks.
"It is possible that Headley will not be present for the
hearing on Tuesday since his presence has been waived by the
defence," a spokesman for US Attorney`s office told a news agency today.
He said "nothing significant" is expected to happen
during Tuesday`s hearing for which Headley would be needed in
the court.
Headley`s attorney John Theis said the January 12 hearing
would be a routine matter during which the court would be
updated by the defence and prosecution on the progress and
status of the case.
Theis said no new plea or motion would be filed during
that hearing and added that there is no change in Headley`s
not guilty plea.
Suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Headley was arraigned
in December in a hearing that lasted for only a couple of
minutes.
During that court appearance, he had waived his right to
be indicted by a grand jury, which meant that he had waived
his right to have prosecutors present their evidence against
him to a grand jury and obtain an indictment.
If convicted, Headley could face the "maximum statutory
penalty" of life imprisonment or death.
However, in the charges filed by the FBI, the government
has said that Headley is cooperating with the investigation,
possibly to avoid the death penalty.
Security agencies in India, probing the footprints
Headley and Rana, may also file a chargesheet against the duo
in the country by this month-end for allegedly waging a war
against India, Home Ministry sources said in New Delhi.
Once the chargesheet is filed against the two, Indian
security agencies are likely to press America for the access
of both for interrogation and subsequent extradition.
PTI
