Headley pleads not guilty

Forty-nine-year-old Headley entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges against him in the superseding indictment returned on January 14 when he appeared for his arraignment before US Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys in US District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

Wearing a regular US prison uniform – an orange jumpsuit, Headley’s hands and legs were shackled while he appeared in the court for the second time in two months.

He answered briefly when the judge asked him that he understood the charges. “I do your honour.”The next status hearing has been set for February 23 but Headley’s lawyers have requested that his presence be waived. Therefore, Headley is not required to be present in the court for his hearing on that date. Co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, Headley’s accomplice and Pakistani-Canadian LeT operative, appeared in the same court on Monday and had pleaded not guilty to providing material support to terrorists.