Kasav retracts confession, to plead not guilty

Mumbai, Apr 17: Mohammad Ajmal Kasab aka Azam Amir Kasav's defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi said that Kasav wants to retract his confession, claiming it was extracted.

"On Kasav's instruction, a retraction application has been filed, retracting the so-called alleged confession," said the lawyer, who is defending the Pakistani national. "He's going to plead not guilty," he added.

Kasav had claimed in court that he was 'physically tortured'. Earlier Kazmi had requested the court to try Kasav in a juvenile court as he is a minor. "He is still under 18. In such circumstances he is deemed to be a juvenile and this court has no jurisdiction to try this case," Abbas Kazmi told the trial court.

However the court dismissed the accused application that claimed he was a 'juvenile". Kasav faces a number of charges including 'waging war on India', murder, attempted murder and kidnapping. Kasab has been booked for direct involvement in seven cases and as a co-conspirator in five cases. If convicted, he may get death penalty.

OneIndia News