The closed-door trial of four men charged with the kidnap and murder of American reporter Mr Daniel Pearl concluded in Pakistan today, with court sources saying the verdict would be announced next Monday.
The trial by the Anti-Terrorism Court opened on April 5th.
British-born Islamic militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, also known as Sheikh Omar, is charged with masterminding Mr Pearl's kidnap and murder while three others - Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil - are charged with acting on his instructions. They all pleaded not guilty.
Mr Pearl went missing in the southern port city of Karachi on January 23rd while investigating Muslim groups and their possible links with Osama bin Laden, Washington's prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Subsequent emails from his kidnappers carried photographs of Mr Pearl in chains and with a gun to his head. One accused him of spying for the Israeli secret service agency, Mossad.
A month after his disappearance, a gory video showing the reporter had been murdered was delivered to the US consulate in Karachi. It showed Mr Pearl being forced to admit he was Jewish, before showing his throat being cut.
Police found a body in a shallow grave on the outskirts of Karachi in May, but have not yet confirmed whether the remains are those of Mr Pearl.
Sheikh Omar was also indicted in the United States last year in the kidnapping of an American and three other tourists in India, and the US government has asked for him to be extradited.