Chicago: The US government has asked a court
to deny Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Rana`s plea for a new
trial in cases related to the Mumbai and Denmark terror plots,
arguing that he has failed to demonstrate that the court erred
in convicting him for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In June last year, after a three-week trial, 50-year-old
Rana was convicted of providing material support to the banned
LeT, and of conspiracy to provide material support to
terrorism in connection with a foiled plot involving Danish
newspaper Jyllands Posten.
He was, however, acquitted of charges that he aided the
terrorists who carried out the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.
Rana had appealed for a new trial in September last year
citing that the jury was confused and that he did not get a
fair trial.
According to documents released by the US District Court
of the Northern District of Illinois, the federal government
has argued that the court applied the correct legal standard,
considering the totality of evidence.
The court correctly concluded that even considering
Headley`s statements, probable cause existed, it said.
The government argues that the court particularly noted a
September, 2009 conversation in which Rana and Headley
discussed Denmark as a "target" and said there was significant
evidence regarding the defendant`s knowledge and actions.
The court pointed to "at least four pieces of evidence in
the affidavit (that) buttress this finding".
In the instant motion, defendant argues that, at the time
of defendant`s arrest, the government "only had knowledge
regarding the activities of David Headley".
The government lawyers said the record demonstrated
otherwise.
In the government`s response to the motion, there was
significant evidence regarding the defendant`s knowledge and
actions.
PTI
