US court allows media access to Headley tapes
By Rizwan Khatik - Sat Oct 22, 7:54 am
Chicago: Parts of the interrogation video tapes that were played during the trial of Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley’s childhood friend and his 26/11 Mumbai attacks co-accused Tahawwur Rana was released to the media on Thursday.
United States District court Judge Harry D Leinenweber had on Wednesday allowed the media outlets access to parts of the video tapes of Headley that were recorded by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
The judge ruled that only portions of the tape that were played in court will be allowed to be accessed by the media.
American media outlets had filed the motion demanding access to behind-the-scene video tapes of FBI interrogation of Headley.
The motion was filed on October 6 after prosecutors refused to turn over to various media outlets the video tapes, which were played during the trial of Pakistani-Canadian Rana in June. Headley was the star witness at the trial.
Headley, Pakistan-born American citizen, is accused of scouting targets and conducting a recce in Mumbai before 26/11 attacks that led to the death of 166 people including six Americans.
He testified to the US authorities on conditions that he would not be extradited to India and would not be given the death penalty.
