Trial in 26/11 to continue; Kasab's plea a part of evidence

A special court in Mumbai has said that the trial in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case will continue, and terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab's guilty plea will become a part of the evidence.

The verdict was slated to be out on Thursday on the guilty plea of Kasab.

Meanwhile, Kasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi has said that he wants to be excused from the 26/11 case since Kasab has no confidence in him. The judge asked Kasab to sort out the matter with his lawyer.

Over the past three days, Kasab has confessed to his involvement in the 26/11 attacks and has stuck to his stand that his statement was given voluntarily and "under no pressure''.

On Wednesday, he went so far as to say that he is ready to be hanged.

Several legal experts has said that if the judge accepted Kasab's guilty plea, it could be the end of what could otherwise have been a lengthy trial.

However, some other experts said there were two other co-accused - Fahim Ansari and Sahabuddin Ahmed - in the same trial and their cases would also have to be considered by the judge when he takes any decision on Kasab's statement.

But the prosecution said it could not entirely accept or reject Kasab's guilty plea.

The prosecution's argument was that there were several contradictions in Kasab's earlier confession and his present statement.

The defence, however, argued that the prosecution had to accept or reject Kasab's statement in its entirety.

Anti-drugs agents raid clinic of Jackson's doctor

Federal drug agents searched the Houston clinic of Michael Jackson's doctor on Wednesday, even as investigators in California

Murray was Michael Jackson's personal physician, and was with Jackson when he died. Murray, who is based in Las Vegas and is licensed in California, Nevada and Texas, has been interviewed by police but he has not been considered a suspect in the singer's death. Meanwhile, investigators in California are also seeking more information from Murray, according to his attorney, Edward Chernoff.

The attorney posted a statement on his law firm's website late on Tuesday saying investigators from the Los Angeles County coroner's office have asked for medical records in addition to those already provided by Murray.
"The coroner wants to clear up the cause of death; we share that goal", Chernoff said in his statement.
"Based on Dr Murray's minute-by-minute and item-by-item description of Michael Jackson's last days, he should not be a target of criminal charges."

Murray has emerged as a central figure in the investigation into Jackson's death.
The doctor, who had been recently hired by Jackson, was with him in his mansion and tried to revive him.Although Chernoff has said the doctor didn't give the pop star any drugs that contributed to his death, Murray has nonetheless received attention from those angry over the singer's death.

Investigators found the powerful anesthetic propofol in Jackson's home, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation. The person is not authorised to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
The officials are working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and California attorney general's office to determine how the medications got there.

Police detectives have already spoken to Murray twice - once immediately after the singer's death and again two days later. Police investigators say Murray is cooperating in their investigation sought more information from the man.