The trial of Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a co-accused with LeT operative David Headley in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been postponed from February 14 to May 16 at the request of the defence.
"The defence asked to continue the trial on May 16 and the government did not object," Rana's attorney Patrick W Blegen said.
US district judge Harry Leinenweber yesterday changed the trial set for Valentine's Day to May 16.
"The date was changed essentially for parties for trial preparation and nobody was opposed to moving it," Blegen added.
The government also filed a motion to empanel an anonymous jury and the evidentiary hearing on a government's motion for the same is set for February 9.
The next status hearing date is also on the same day.
During the earlier hearings last year, both the government and defence lawyers presented classified evidence in the court.
The trial on May 16 will be held in an open court.
While Headley has pled guilty, the 49-year-old Rana has pled not guilty to the charges. Rana was accused with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley in plotting the 26/11 attacks that left more than 160 people dead, including six Americans.
Rana was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts on February 15, 2010, for planning out the attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the bombings and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the process.
He is also accused in plotting an attack on Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten that published controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.
The Chicago resident, if convicted, faces a possible life sentence.
