In The Clear: Court Drops Murder Case Against Baby

A court in Pakistan has withdrawn charges of attempted murder against nine-month-old baby Musa Khan, it was reported Saturday, the latest development in a case that provoked widespread ridicule.

The boy appeared in court in the city of Lahore Saturday, sitting on his grandfather's lap and drinking from a bottle of milk, according to television pictures.

He was charged along with his family last week after a mob protesting against gas cuts and price increases stoned police and gas company workers trying to collect overdue bills.

The baby was apparently charged because an assistant sub-inspector complained in a crime report that Musa's whole family had beaten him up and injured his head.

The baby's grandfather, Muhammad Yasin, and his three sons still face the charges, but the young boy will not, officials told the family. 'Police told the court that the nomination of Musa in the case of attacking police and gas company officials was a human error and Musa is not required,' defense lawyer Irfan Sadiq told Reuters.

The BBC reported that the boy's grandfather asked journalists covering the case: 'He doesn't even know how to pick up his milk bottle properly. How can he stone the police?'

Pictures taken at an earlier court hearing of Musa crying as he was being fingerprinted prompted officials to call for an inquiry.

- Alastair Jamieson

First published April 12 2014, 2:44 AM

Alastair Jamieson

Alastair Jamieson is a London-based reporter, editor and homepage producer for NBC News. He joined NBCNews.com in 2011 after more than a decade working as a reporter and news editor for British newspapers including The Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph in London and The Scotsman in Edinburgh.

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