Death Sentence for Kasab

Will it be death for Ajmal Kasab or a life term in prison? The decision will be out today.

The special 26/11 trial court in Mumbai heard the arguments on Tuesday and will announce the quantum of sentence today. While the prosecution wants death sentence for Kasab, his lawyer has appealed for leniency on the grounds that he's just 22 years old.

Kasab is India's costliest prisoner. Around 35 crore rupees have been spent to keep him in jail till now. If sentenced to death, Kasab will be the 52nd person on death row in India.

On Tuesday, the public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam, attacked Kasab for two hours, describing him as "worse than a wild beast... Kasab is a killing machine... and the orders for this machine came from Pakistan." Kasab kept his head bowed throughout Nikam's arguments.

On Monday, Kasab was found guilty on more than 80 of the 86 charges brought against him for planning and executing the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. (Read: Kasab guilty says 26/11 verdict)

Nikam has laid out eight arguments on why Kasab deserves to be hanged, among them, that the 26/11 attacks was meticulously planned and that policemen and defenceless civilians were "mercilessly butchered." The prosecutor also argued that Kasab wanted to inspire others to take part in fidayeen or suicide attacks. (Watch: 'Kasab was smiling after killing others')

As an example of why Kasab should get the death penalty, Nikam said that the terrorist had expressed disappointment that he landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) after rush hour on 26/11/2008. Kasab had anticipated a busier station, based on CDs he had been shown of CST before the attack, Nikam said. The prosecutor also said that in his confession to the Mumbai police, Kasab said that he was upset that he could not kill more people at the station. At CST, Kasab killed close to 60 people in an hour with his partner, Abu Ismail. (Read: 26/11 trial: Key moments | Kasab's flip flops)

Photographs taken by newspaper photographers of Kasab, taken in action while firing at CST's passengers and shopkeepers, showed that "he enjoyed the acts of murder," said Nikam. The terrorist "was happy to see people in pain and anguish as a result of his firing," the prosecutor stressed. (Pics:Mumbai attacked | Bravehearts | In memory)

Meanwhile Kasab's lawyer, KP Pawar, has pleaded with the court to consider a life sentence instead. Kasab was only 21 when he participated in the attack against Mumbai, and he acted under the influence of terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), he said.

Even if judge ML Tahaliyani decides on the death penalty, it will not be implemented immediately. Kasab has the option of appealing to higher courts, and can also file a mercy petition for the consideration of President Pratibha Patil.