New Delhi: The Supreme
Court Monday stayed the death sentence awarded to Ajmal Amir Kasab,
the lone gunman captured alive during the Nov 26-29, 2008 Mumbai
terror attack.
An apex court bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice C.K. Prasad
stayed the death sentence till it hears his petition challenging
his conviction and death sentence.
At the outset of the hearing, Justice Alam said that "we have to
afford him full opportunity" to defend himself as provided in the
judicial system.
"That is the price we have to pay to uphold the supremacy of law,"
the court said.
Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, who has been appointed amicus
curiae (friend of the court) to defend Kasab, said: "People may
believe it otherwise, but the due process of law demands that the
accused should be given full opportunity to defend his case in the
highest court."
Kasab was one of 10 Pakistanis who illegally sailed into India
from Pakistan and launched the Nov 26-29 mayhem killing 166
people, including many foreigners.
He was awarded death sentence by a Mumbai trial court May 6, 2010.
Besides other charges, he was convicted for waging war against the
nation. The Bombay High Court upheld the verdict.
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