Convicted Mumbai terrorist wants appeal

MUMBAI, June 5 (UPI) -- A Pakistani man sentenced to death in India for his part in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai has asked for legal counsel to appeal his conviction.

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab was one of a small group of militants responsible for a three-day reign of terror in Mumbai in 2008 that left 173 people dead. He was the only one to survive the attack.

Kasab, in a letter written in late May, asked the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority to provide him with legal counsel, The Hindu reported. K.K. Sonawane, the organization's secretary, said Friday that acting Chief Justice J.N. Patel, who heads the MSLSA, is expected to decide whether to grant the request this weekend.

If the organization provides Kasab with counsel, it must assign the case to an experienced lawyer, Sonowane said.

"This case is important and has international dimensions," he said.

The High Court has not confirmed Kasab's sentence, which was handed down May 6 by a special sessions court. Kasab was convicted of waging war, murder, terrorist acts and other crimes.