Mumbai: Defending key accused in the Mumbai
attacks case Ajmal Kasab has been a difficult assignment for
his lawyer, who complains about lack of privacy during
discussions with his client.
"The judge has permitted interviews for short duration of
10-15 minutes but it has to be conducted in the court itself
and that too within the earshot of policemen and the court
staff," his counsel Abbas Kazmi said.
Asked about how Kasab came across during his discussions
with him, Kazmi said, "We talk only about the case and its
legal aspects. He has never opened up or conveyed his
feelings."
About the mood swings of the lone Pakistani gunman who
was captured during the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, Kazmi
said those were expressions of frustration and boredom. "I
gave him some story books in Urdu. He finished reading them
but never sought more," he said.
Kazmi claimed there was no evidence to show that Kasab
was a habitual criminal. "He is like any other accused who is
presumed to be innocent unless proved guilty," Kazmi said.
Asked about his strategy for defending Kasab, he said, "I
will not open up my cards now. You will know when arguments
begin."
Kazmi rued that he was not allowed to carry his mobile
phone to the court. "I sit there all through the day as the
trial goes on day-to-day. Without a cell phone, I am unable to
keep in touch with my clients and my practice has suffered".
He is also unhappy about being denied permission to
carry a laptop to the court.
"I cannot carry the bulky 13,500-page chargesheet every
day to the court and hence need a laptop to refer to the
documents. When the witnesses step into the box there is no
material with me readily available to cross examine them,"
Kasab's counsel said.
He also said when the trial commenced in May, he had
requested for four weeks' time to study the chargesheet but
the court allowed him only a few days and even that little
time was spent on holding inquiry to determine whether Kasab
was a juvenile or a minor. "So I virtually proceeded with the
trial without properly studying the chargesheet," the defence
lawyer said.
Kazmi said he had not yet decided on examining defence
witnesses but if need be, he may examine them.
On prosecution's move to file affidavits of 300 more
witnesses instead of examining them personally, Kazmi said,
"If that happens we may cross examine some of them if there is
a need."
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 13:45