Done best to defend accused: Kasab's lawyer

Mumbai, Nov 27 : A day after the first anniversary of 26/11, lawyer of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the Mumbai Attack, tendered an 'unconditional apology' to a special court here for his 'irresponsible remarks' on the prosecution procedure.

On Thursday, Kazmi said he is ‘least bothered’ about the affidavits of witnesses filed by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

"This is a historic trial and I have done my best to defend the accused. What happened yesterday was in the heat of the moment and I tender an unconditional apology,” Kazmi told reporters outside the court Friday.

Meanwhile, Judger M L Tahaliyani said Kazmi will continue as the defence lawyer to Kasab for the sake of ‘speedy trial’.

"In the interests of justice the issue has been resolved amicably. Keeping in mind the submissions made by proseuctor and the defence lawyer, it can be said that the observations made by me yesterday would not be taken into consideration,” the judge had reportedly said inside the courtroom on Friday.
Tahaliyani, on Thursday, had reportedly called Kazmi ‘a liar’ and said he would consider if Kazmi would continue to be the defence lawyer.

On Thursday, Nikam had told the court that he desired to file 340 affidavits of formal witnesses and that copies of 233 such documents have already been served on defence lawyer Kazmi.

In turn, Kazmi reportedly said he would decide to cross-examine the witnesses only after the affidavits are filed in the court. He also denied Nikam making any disclosure in his opening remark leading the judge to call him ‘a liar’.

Kasab is being tried at a special cell inside the Arthur Road Jail here.