Headley, Rana to be sentenced in Jan 2013

Chicago, Nov 29: The sentencing of American-born Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, accused of involvement in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been fixed for Jan 17 next year while that of his accomplice Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled for Jan 15 from Dec 4.

According to Chicago court spokesperson Randall Samborn, US District Judge Harry Leinenweber will announce the sentence of the two accused, who have been charged with conspiracy of 2008 Mumbai attack and plan to attack a Denmark newspaper.

"The sentencing date for Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled from Dec 4, 2012 to Jan 15, 2013 and the sentencing of David Coleman Headley has been scheduled for Jan 17, 2013.

Each sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:45 am on those dates before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse," the spokesperson said.

The 52-year-old Healdey, who conducted reconnaissance of all the targets in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks for Lashkar-e-Taiba, has pleaded guilty of all the charges framed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Headley was accused by the FBI of plotting against the employees of a newspaper in Copenhagen and later of conspiring to bomb targets in Mumbai, providing material support to terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and aiding and abetting the murder of US citizens in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Headley pleaded guilty to all charges on Mar 18, 2010. The terrorist could have faced death on charges of conspiracy to bomb public places in India and six counts of murdering US nationals in India but he escaped it by entering into a plea bargaining with the FBI under which he will cooperate with their investigation of terrorist activities.

Rana was held guilty by a jury on Jun 10, 2011 of conspiracy to attack a Denmark newspaper and aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba but was acquitted of involvement in the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

Rana's plea for acquittal and retrial was dismissed in Jun this year after which Dec 4 was fixed for his sentencing.

PTI