Headley expected to be sentenced early next year

The sentencing of Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Coleman Headley is expected to happen only by early next year, after the trial of co-accused Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana is complete, Headley's lawyer said in Chicago.

Headley is expected to be sentenced not before early next year. A formal sentence will be given out only after Rana's trial ends, Headley's lawyer John Theis told PTI.

Theis said as per the conditions of the plea agreement, Headley would cooperate in the investigation of terror cases involving Rana and other co-accused Al Qaeda operative Ilyas Kashmiri and retired major in the Pakistani military Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed (Abdur Rehman).

Kashmiri and Syed have not yet been arrested. The plea agreement states that sentencing "will be deferred until after the conclusion of Headley's cooperation".

Rana's trial is expected to begin on November 1. Rana has pleaded not guilty to charges of providing material support to terrorism. He, along with Headley, are currently being held in the federal lock up Metropolitan Correctional Centre.

Earlier this month, a team of Indian investigators was given direct access to interrogate Headley about the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The National Investigation Agency team questioned Headley for about a week. Theis did not comment on the interrogation of Headley, saying only that the access was facilitated keeping in mind the legal process and logistical requirements.

Both Indian and US authorities have remained tightlipped about the details of the interrogation and have not disclosed the contents of the interviews.