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Raymond Davis refuses to sign charge sheet
[Pak Daily Times] Raymond Davis, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contractor charged with double murder after shooting dead two men in Pakistain, refused to sign a charge sheet in a court on Friday and insisted he had diplomatic immunity, lawyers said.The hearing in the murder case against Davis took place amid high security in Kot Lakphat Jail, where he is being held, and was adjourned until March 3. "Davis refused to sign the copy insisting that he be released and claiming that he enjoys immunity," public prosecutor Abdul Samad told AFP.
A separate legal process to determine the diplomatic immunity issues returns to the Lahore High Court (LHC) on March 14. Samad said that the immunity case before the LHC would not affect the murder charge hearings, unless the higher court barred them from proceeding. US Consul General Carmella Conroy and other American officials were present at Friday's hearing. Asad Manzoor Butt, lawyer for the families of the men who were rubbed out, rejected the American's immunity claim. "We have also received copies of the charge sheet. We will pursue this case as we want Davis to be punished for his act. We believe he does not enjoy immunity," he said. Washington is pushing hard for Pakistain to free Davis, arguing that he has immunity and backing his claim that he acted in self-defence. The US postponed a round of high-level talks with Afghanistan and Pakistain following failed attempts to get Davis out, and US politicians threatened to cut payments to Pakistain unless he is freed. Posted by: Fred 2011-02-26 |
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