Tears and smirks of Mumbai suspect

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab's guilty plea for his part in the Mumbai attacks is the latest twist from the erratic defendant in a highly-charged courtroom drama that has gripped India.

LETTER TO MECCA: 10 JULY

On the day of the dramatic testimony of policeman Sadanand Date, who described hand-to-hand combat with the attackers outside Mumbai's Cama hospital, Mr Qasab asked the judge if he could send a letter to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Qasab's lawyer told the court that he was not aware of what it was that his client wanted to write, or if there was anybody in particular he wanted to send the letter to.

WEEPING IN THE DOCK: 15 JUNE

The man who took this picture of Mr Qasab said it had made him famous

Mr Qasab lay his head down and wept on the day the photographer who took the renowned picture of Mr Qasab brandishing a gun, took the stand. Mr Qasab's lawyer, Abbas Kazmi, said his client was not feeling well.

Sebastian D'Souza identified Mr Qasab as one of the men who fired on commuters at Mumbai's crowded railway station. When asked to identify the defendant, Mr D'Souza said: "How can I forget him? He has made me famous."

BEREAVED MOTHER TESTIFIES: 11 JUNE

There was unrest in court on the day that 23-year-old Nafisa Qureshi described how her six-year-old daughter died in her arms after being shot in the back by gunmen at the railway station. Her father could not contain himself from shouting out: "Listen to me. What about the fact that my daughter died?"

Mr Qasab also complained that he had been made to stand before witnesses prior to them giving evidence so that they would identify him as the attacker when they testified.

YOUNGEST WITNESS SPEAKS: 10 JUNE

Ten-year-old Devika Rotawan was the youngest witness during the trial. On crutches, as a result of the injuries she sustained during the attacks, she calmly identified Mr Qasab as the gunman on the platform.

Mr Qasab is reported to have looked down throughout the proceedings. But her anguished father cried out: "He is the one because of whom my daughter might never have a good future. Hang him, kill him."

SMILING DEFENDANT REPRIMANDED: 12 MAY

The presiding judge issued a sharp warning to Mr Qasab to refrain from smiling during the trial. He was reprimanded on the day that various witnesses described the death of police officer Tukaram Omble at a checkpoint in Mumbai.

Correspondents say the judge showed his annoyance when he said: "I have noticed he [Qasab] always laughs when Omble's name is mentioned and the incident is talked about."

Mr Omble was killed during the gun battle in which Mr Qasab was finally overpowered and taken into custody.

NOT GUILTY PLEA: 6 MAY

MAIN QASAB CHARGES Waging war on India Murder Conspiracy to murder Destabilising the government Kidnap Robbery Smuggling and possessing illegal arms and explosives Mumbai accused relaxed in court Mumbai: Retracted confession

Mr Qasab described himself as a labourer from Faridkot in Pakistan's Punjab province. He pleaded not guilty to the charges set out against him. He told the court: "It's all wrong. I'm not guilty."

During the day's proceedings Mr Qasab was asked to confirm his age as 21. His defence had previously tried to argue he was under 18 and should be tried as a minor.

Mr Qasab sparked laughter in the courtroom when he said if the prosecutor had believed his earlier answer he would not now be in this court.

CONFESSION WAS 'COERCED': 17 APRIL

Mr Qasab retracted a confession made earlier. His lawyer said it was extracted through coercion and force. The confession he withdrew was earlier read in court.

'RELAXED' IN COURT: 15 APRIL

Mr Qasab appeared relaxed in court in an early stage of proceedings. He is reported to have greeted the presiding judged and smiled throughout the proceedings. He told the judge: "If I have to tell you something, I will inform my lawyer."

He appeared curious about the reporters present, made gestures to the special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam and tried chatting with a fellow defendant, Mr Ansari, until he was told to keep quiet by the judge.