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Mumbai 'baby face' trial is stopped
Evening Standard16.04.09
THE trial of the "baby faced" killer accused of the Mumbai terrorist attacks was halted when the judge dismissed the defence lawyer for a conflict of interest.
Lawyer Anjali Waghmare failed to disclose that she had agreed to represent a victim in a compensation claim case who is also a witness against Ajmal Amir Kasab, 21. Judge M.L.Tahiliyani said he would appoint a new defence lawyer as soon as possible.
The trial has already been delayed by nine days as police built a bombproof courtroom in the central Mumbai jail where Kasab is being held. He is charged with 12 criminal counts, including murder and waging war against India; 166 people died and 304 were injured when 12 gunmen rampaged through Mumbai in November.
Court officials say they hope the trial will be finished within a year.
