Chicago: David Headley's guilty plea hearing
at a Chicago court saw unprecedented security, with metal
detectors, sniffer dogs and a fleet of US marshals deployed at
the building.
Appearing before Judge Harry Leinenweber last night, the
Pakistan-American terrorist responded "Yes, your honour" and
"I do" when asked if he was changing his 'not guilty' plea and
if he understood the charges against him and the sentences
they carry.
49-year-old Headley, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit
with his legs shackled, stood with his lawyers John Theis and
Robert Seeder throughout the over 30-minute 'change of plea'
hearing.
He told the court that he be addressed as 'David Headley'
for the proceedings, not using his original name of Daood
Gilani.
Prosecutor Daniel Collins read out the evidence and the
12 counts against Headley, who said he understood all the
charges and that he had not been forced into admitting them.
Leinenweber too read out in detail the charges against him
and the conditions in the plea agreement, saying he "wanted to
make sure" if Headley understood the charges clearly.
At the beginning of the hearing, Headley took an oath and
stated his name, age and education and replied in the negative
when asked whether he had taken any narcotics, alcohol or
medication in the last 24 hours.
He said "no" when asked if he disputed any detail in the
charges or the indictment.
The hearing saw an unprecedented level of security in the
courtroom, with metal detectors, a fleet of US marshals and
sniffer dogs being used for security.
Apart from a battery of local journalists, reporters from
a few Danish newspapers, including Jyllands-Posten against
which Headley plotted an attack, were also present during the
hearing.
A 35-page written plea agreement, signed by Headley and
the US prosecutors, containing a detailed recitation of
Headley's participation in the foreign terrorism conspiracies
was presented before Leinenweber.
Underscoring the importance of the case, Chicago's top
federal prosecutor, US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, was also
present for the hearing. Appearances by Fitzgerald, a top
counter-terrorism expert, in court cases is very rare.
"Yes, your honour", Headley replied when told that the
charges carry a maximum of life imprisonment.
"Yes, I am pleading guilty", he nodded at the end of the
hearing, after which he was escorted out of the courtroom.
A sentencing date has not been set. The sentencing has
been deferred until after the conclusion of Headley?s
cooperation.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 19, 2010, 22:03