This Article is From May 02, 2009

Verdict on Qasab's age likely today

Verdict on Qasab's age likely today
Mumbai:

The final word on the age of Amir Ajmal Qasab, the 26/11 terrorist caught during the Mumbai attack, is expected on Saturday.

A special court in Mumbai is expected to give its verdict on the terrorist's age.

The court had ordered an inquiry to determine Qasab's age after he claimed he was 17 and a half years old.

A doctors' report has said that Qasab's bone and dental tests reveal he is over 20 years old. A team of four government doctors had examined Qasab.

Qasab can get the death penalty if convicted. Qasab's lawyer had told the court he was a minor when the attack was carried out and should be tried in a juvenile court, but medical tests have proved otherwise.

Qasab had earlier even stopped the proceedings telling the judge he wanted to speak with his lawyer on the issue of his age, and had a conversation with Kazmi.

Before his medical test on Wednesday, Qasab even told that panel he was 17 and a half.

His defence had asked for three more witnesses to prove their case.

"There is a tiny margin of error. We have to absolutely certain," Qasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi had said.

It is this margin of error that the defence will hope to exploit.  If Qasab is proved a minor he will get away. His only punishment will be correctional action -- a far cry from he can get if he guilty as an accused over 18 years.

.