Headley pleads not guilty to Mumbai plot charges

Yoshita Singh
Chicago, Jan 28 (PTI) Pakistani-origin Lashkar-e-Taiba
operative David Headley, accused of scouting targets for the
deadly 2008 attacks in Mumbai, has pleaded not guilty in a
court here to updated terror charges, some of which carry
death penalty.
Headley, 49, entered a plea of not guilty to all the 12
charges against him in the superseding indictment returned on
January 14 when he appeared for his arraignment before US
Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys in US District Court, Northern
District of Illinois, at the hearing that lasted about 10
minutes Wednesday.
The hands and legs of Headley, who was wearing the
regular US prison uniform -- an orange jumpsuit, were shackled
when he was brought into the packed courtroom. He talked
briefly to his lawyers John Theis and Robert Seeder before the
hearing began and at one point he even smiled and laughed.
Headley greeted the Judge 'Good Morning' and responded "I
do your Honour" and "Yes your honour" when Keys asked him
whether he understood the charges the prosecution read out to
him and that the maximum penalty in his case is death if
convicted.
Headley said "That is correct" when the Judge asked him
if he is entering a not guilty plea.
The next status hearing has been set for February 23
before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber. But Headley's
lawyers have requested that his presence be waived. Therefore,
he is not required to be present in the court for his hearing
on that date. (More) PTI