Chicago: Pakistan born Canadian Tahawwur Rana, convicted for aiding the banned LeT terror group in a plot to attack a Danish newspaper, has sought a fresh trial saying he should have been given a separate hearing for charges tied to the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
50-year-old Rana was acquitted of federal charges that he aided the terrorists who carried out the attacks in Mumbai after an eight-day trial in Chicago earlier this year but was
convicted for the Danish plot.
He was convicted of providing material support to the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba, and of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in connection with a separate, foiled
plot involving the Danish newspaper- Jyllands Posten.
Rana's lawyers, led by defense attorney Patrick Blegen, argue in new federal court filings that Rana should be granted another trial because if the Mumbai evidence were not put
before jurors, the panel would not have convicted him on the other counts, the 'Chicago Sun-Times' daily said.
"Rana should not have been forced to defend the Mumbai and Denmark plots simultaneously," Rana's lawyers wrote.
"Charges of involvement in a single terrorist plot creates immense fear, prejudice, and the risk of emotion overwhelming a jury even in the best of circumstances.
First Published: Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 21:31