Jury resumes deliberations on Rana trial verdict

From Lalit K Jha and Himani Kumar
Chicago, Jun 9 (PTI) The 12-member jury of a federal
court here Thursday resumed final deliberations against
Tahawwur Hussein Rana, charged with involvement in the Mumbai
terror attacks and providing material support to
Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The jury from diverse ethnic backgrounds started the
process on USA vs Rana case Wednesday day after more than two
weeks of trial, in which his childhood friend David Coleman
Headley, co-accused in the Mumbai terror attacks, was the star
witness.
If convicted on the three counts -- helping 26/11
attackers, giving material support to LeT and planning a
terror strike in Denmark -- 50-year-old Pakistani-Canadian
Rana faces a possible life sentence.
Officials were tightlipped as to when the jury would
give its verdict on this terrorism-related case, which has
grabbed international attention over the role of Pakistan's
ISI in the Mumbai (western Indian city) terror plot.
Journalists from various parts of the world including
India, Denmark and Canada are camping outside the Chicago
court to report on this trial and the jury verdict.
The jury, which is meeting behind closed doors at the
federal court house in Chicago, would announce its verdict
only when they arrive at a consensus on all the three counts
of charges against Rana.
Except for the jury, no one has access to the room.
Once the jury reaches its decision, it would inform US
District Judge Harry D Leinenweber, who in turn would inform
the federal prosecutors and the defence attorneys.
Once the verdict is given, the judge would then set a
sentencing date, which is expected to be a few months later.
Wednesday, the jury posed two questions to the defence
and prosecution. It asked whether Pasha (Abdur Rahman, a
retired Pakistani Army major), was involved with LeT or ISI.
It also wanted to know whether al-Qaeda terrorist Illyas
Kashmiri was associated with LeT.
After consultations, judge Harry D Leinenweber told
the jury that they have to rely on "collective memory", which
means that they have to depend on material that is available
in public domain.
According to the prosecution, Pasha and Kashmiri had
been in close touch with Rana and Headley in the run-up to the
26/11 attacks.
The jury was also provided with copies of the audio
and video tapes along with transcripts, besides a set of all
the exhibits including the large number of email exchanges of
Rana, Headley and many others related to the case, which were
shown as evidences by the defence and federal attorneys during
the trial that lasted more than two weeks.