Headley turns FBI informant to avoid death penalty?

Washington: Pakistani-origin US national David Coleman Headley, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative charged with criminal conspiracy in the 26/11 terror attacks, now appears to have turned into an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to avoid death penalty.

Headley, 49, was arrested on October 3 by the FBI and has been charged for being involved in the Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people, including six US nationals, were killed.

Given the strong case against him, Headley is unlikely to come out of the jail and faces death penalty. "But by talking this time, Headley might escape the death penalty," the Philadelphia Inquirer said.

However, Headley, having been informant to federal prosecutors at least twice in turn for reduced sentences, has again turned an informant to avoid death penalty.

The FBI chargesheet against Headley indicates this by stating that he is "cooperating in the investigation." He has pleaded not guilty.

Court records indicate that Headley, earlier known as Dawood Gilani, was arrested twice on drug charges and on both the occasions, his sentence was reduced and he was able to leave jail early. He was a good informant to the drug enforcement agencies and helped them in unearthing of some of the major drug cartels.