26/11 conspirator gets 35 years in US prison

VERDICT Do not believe David Headley is a changed man: Judge

Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166, was sentenced to 35 years in jail by a Chicago court. The judgment was delivered to a packed court room amid unprecedented security. A stoic Headley was present in court as were some 26/11 survivors.

Headley, who provided vital assistance to Pakistan- based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), escaped life imprisonment, a development likely to disappoint the Indian government, which has for long sought his extradition.

A day prior to his sentencing, US federal prosecutors had sought only 30 to 35 years in prison, citing ‘’significant cooperation’’ in the US government’s efforts to combat terrorism.

Giving his order, US district judge Harry D Leinenweber said: “He commits crime, cooperates and then gets rewarded for the cooperation. No matter what I do it is not going to deter terrorists... I do not have any faith in Mr Headley when he says that he is a changed person now.”

The Pakistani-born American terrorist, who changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Coleman Headley — to avoid arousing suspicion of Indian immigration authorities — visited Mumbai several times on an American passport, to videograph key targets. Headley had also chosen the spot where Ajmal Kasab and nine other associates would land in Colaba on 26/11.

Accused of providing material support to the LeT and of conspiring to kill and maim persons in India, Headley had pleaded guilty to 12 charges relating to his role in the Mumbai attacks as well as an abortive attack on a Danish newspaper office.