Bombay high court admits Ajmal Kasab's appeal against death sentence - Mumbai - DNA

Bombay high court admits Ajmal Kasab's appeal against death sentence - Mumbai - DNA: "Bombay high court on Wednesday admitted the appeal filed by Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, 22, against his conviction and the death sentence handed out to him for his role in the 26/11 terror attacks.
Saying that “substantial ground was made out,” justice Ranjana Desai and justice RV More condoned the delay in filing the appeal. The court said the appeal filed by Kasab will be heard along with the confirmation of his death sentence, referred to the high court by the trial court.
However, the question is whether the arguments in the case will be opened by the prosecution or the defence. The court will hear the case on a day-to-day basis, October 18 onwards. Kasab will follow both proceedings through video conferencing from Arthur Road jail.
Kasab’s advocate Amin Solkar told the court that Kasab’s conviction and death sentence should stay suspended until the high court confirms them."

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Chrisdian Johnson, 22, knifed Oluwaseyi "Seyi" Ogunyemi, 16, seven times for straying on to his "turf".

Chrisdian Johnson, 22, knifed Oluwaseyi "Seyi" Ogunyemi, 16, seven times for straying on to his "turf".Sentencing Johnson to a minimum 24 years for murder yesterday, Judge Christopher Moss QC said: "Gang violence will not be tolerated."Johnson, of Vauxhall, South London, was caught after police traced the Staffordshire pitbull cross Tyson from its DNA. Johnson was also jailed for 20 years, to be served at the same time, for trying to murder Hurui Hiyabu, 17, who was stabbed nine times but survived.As Johnson was led down at the Old Bailey, he blustered to family: "Cool man".
Judge Moss also ordered the dog be forfeited and it now faces being put down.

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Michael Anthony Martin, 22, pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm.

In exchange for the plea, several charges were dropped, including attempted homicide, recklessly endangering another person, carrying a firearm without a permit and tampering with evidence. According to court documents:Martin shot at Shekir Thomas and Sharnell Thomas multiple times near the intersection of N. Sixth and Liberty streets in Allentown around 11:20 p.m. Nov. 6, 2006.Witnesses said Martin fled the scene and gave police a license plate number. The vehicle was stopped at Lehigh Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard minutes after the shooting and the driver, Derrick Lamb, was nabbed for having a pair of brass knuckles and cocaine on him, police said. Martin, a passenger in the car, was identified by witnesses as the shooter. Police said the shooting was gang-related and noted they found red bandannas, red hats, a red beaded bracelet and a red cell phone in the car, according to court documents. But the Lehigh County district attorney's office wouldn't say this week if Martin is a member of the Bloods street gang.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 23 by Judge James T. Anthony. Lamb, 29, of Allentown pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and was sentenced in August to 10 to 23 months in jail followed by 12 months of probation. Lamb, who received credit for time served in jail since his arrest in November 2008, was paroled in September, according to court records.

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charged with three felonies in connection with the shooting death of a teen on Myrtle Avenue. John Saway, 25, and Santa Ana resident Sarith Yin, 22

charged with three felonies in connection with the shooting death of a teen on Myrtle Avenue. John Saway, 25, and Santa Ana resident Sarith Yin, 22, on Tuesday joined four others facing similar charges.Juan Carlos Rodriguez, 16, was shot in the upper back early Jan. 10 during a party at an apartment on Myrtle Avenue in Tustin. Friends pulled him into the apartment, where police found him dead two hours later.
Saway and Yin are charged with murder, street terrorism and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.They are charged with sentencing enhancements for a gang member discharging a firearm causing death, criminal street gang activity and murder committed for a street gang purpose. Yin pleaded guilty in January 2008 to attempted burglary of a commercial building and street terrorism, and was sentenced to 16 months in state prison and restitution. Saway in January 2007 pleaded guilty to receiving a stolen vehicle while having a prior felony conviction, evading a peace officer and reckless driving and possession of a firearm by a felon.
In the same case, Yin pleaded guilty to criminal street gang possession of burglary instruments or tools. Both men were sentenced to one year in state prison, according to court records.
In March 2005, Saway pleaded guilty to stealing a vehicle, buying or receiving a stolen vehicle or equipment, and evading a peace officer and reckless driving, according to court records. He was sentenced to two years in state prison, 210 days in jail, restitution and three years' probation. In December 2003, he pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a vehicle and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. Yin also had a court history including guilty pleas to unlawful taking of a vehicle and buying or receiving stolen equipment in November 2005 and attempted burglary of a business and street terrorism from July 2006.
Saway and Yin were found by detectives inside a vehicle in Long Beach, police said, and were wanted by their parole officers. Ravy Nhem, 20; Pablo Kachirisky, 21; Steven Kao, 21; and David Escobar, 20, also have been charged with felonies for murder and street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements making them eligible for the death penalty, according to Lt. Tom Tarpley of the Tustin Police Department.The men are being held without bail. The enhancements are murder committed for a criminal street gang, criminal street gang activity and a gang member discharging a firearm causing death, Tarpley said.
Karrina Hernandez, 21, of Tustin, is charged with being an accessory to murder, police said.

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Dominic Anderson, 22, and Abdullah Omar, 21, are charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder in the beating of 19-year-old Raymond Woodland

Dominic Anderson, 22, and Abdullah Omar, 21, are charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder in the beating of 19-year-old Raymond Woodland, who is accused of shooting their friend in the face during an argument at a birthday party at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel.According to charging documents, Anderson wrestled a TEC-9 semiautomatic firearm away from Woodland, then stood on the bed and struck him repeatedly with it in the face and head while Omar held him in a "sleeper hold." Omar was accidentally struck in the temple during the altercation, and both men stayed on the scene with their friend until police arrived.
Police said Anderson and Omar, who each have a handful of minor arrests but no convictions, face serious charges because they went too far. But at a bail review hearing Monday, a District judge disagreed and did not require the men to post bond, releasing them on their own recognizance. Woodland was in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center with "severe life-threatening head trauma," charging documents say. If he recovers and is released from the hospital, police said he will face attempted murder charges in the shooting of 19-year-old Marquis Johnson.

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Mohammed Fahda, 22,wanted in connection with the March 14 shooting death of Abdul Qadier Darwiche in Sydney's southwest.

Mohammed Fahda, 22,wanted in connection with the March 14 shooting death of Abdul Qadier Darwiche in Sydney's southwest. Investigators allege the killing was linked to feuding families involved in the Sydney drug trade. Fahda arrived at Sydney airport about 3.15pm escorted by Tongan police officers, NSW Police said.
He was arrested by officers attached to the State Crime Command Homicide Squad and taken to Surry Hills police station," police said in a statement. He is expected to be charged later with the murder of Abdul Darwiche at Bass Hill on March 14, 2009.
Mr Darwiche, 37, was killed in a hail of bullets while sitting in his car outside a service station. He was shot in front of his young children allegedly after having a verbal argument with another man. The shooting raised speculation that a long-standing gang feud between the Darwiches and the rival Razzak and Fahda families would be reignited. Darwiche's older brother, Michael Darwiche, has since been charged with planning an attack to avenge the March slaying. He and another man allegedly were found in a car with a pistol, ammunition, maps and the names and addresses of Fahda family members. Darwiche claimed to be en route to a McDonald's restaurant.

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