Kasab challenges death penalty in high court

In a fresh development in the 26/11 terror attack case, Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab on Tuesday filed an appeal in the Bombay high court challenging death penalty awarded to him for killing 166 persons on November 26, 2008.

"We have filed an appeal today," his lawyer Amin Solkar told PTI. Kasab has challenged death penalty saying it was a harsh punishment imposed on him and pleaded that there were lapses in evidence produced by police in the trial court.

The appeal has challenged identification of Kasab in the court saying the eye witnesses had easily identified him because his photograph had appeared prominently in newspapers and television on the day of attack.

The appeal also challenged trial court's ruling which upheld Kasab's confession as "true and voluntary", Kasab's lawyer said.

The appeal would be heard by high court along with the matter pertaining to confirmation of death sentence awarded to him.

The court has decided to hear both matters on a day-today basis from October 18 and allowed Kasab to appear through video conferencing.