MUMBAI: The direction of the trial of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the prime accused in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, may be decided tomorrow (Saturday) when the court is expected to give its findings on claim made by him that he is a minor.On a prosecution plea, judge M L Tahaliyani had ordered an inquiry to determine Kasab's age.Kasab had claimed that he was less than 18 years and therefore could not be tried by the special court.The inquiry concluded on Wednesday with Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam submitting forensic and substantive evidence to show that Kasab was not a minor. The testimony of five witnesses, Ossification (bone) test and dental check has revealed that he was above 20 years. The witnesses, Jail Superindent and the doctor who treated Kasab for bullet injuries sustained in a police encounter on the day of terror, have deposed saying the accused had himself told them that he was 21. The duo even showed the court the registers wherein they had recorded Kasab's age as 21 years.However, Kasab has denied telling Jail Superintendent and the doctor that he was 21. His lawyer Abbas Kazmi has also questioned forensic tests saying that these cannot be regarded as authentic and accurate.
BEIRUT: Thousands of people converged Saturday on central Beirut to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Lebanese former premier Rafiq Hariri.Waving Lebanese flags and carrying pictures of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered under sunny skies in Martyr's Square where members of the parliamentary majority were to address the crowd. The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri's killers to justice. It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June that will pit Western-backed political parties against a Hezbollah-led alliance backed by Syria and Iran.Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others. The assassination was widely blamed on then Lebanese power-broker Syria, which has denied any involvement. The attack on the Beirut seafront was one of the worst acts of political violence to rock Lebanon since t...
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