A court in Pakistan sentenced British-born Islamic militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh to death Monday for the kidnapping and murder of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl. Lawyers said Sheikh Omar, as he is better known, and three accomplices, who were also found guilty of the killing and were jailed for life, showed no emotion as each verdict and sentence was read. (Read photo caption)

There was no immediate reaction from Pearl's family and widow Mariane, who gave birth to their son in Paris on May 28.
Lawyers for the defense, who described the verdict as unjust and argued their clients' innocence throughout the closed-door trial, said they would appeal.

Omar and his accomplices -- Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil -- were made to stand, one by one, as Judge Ashraf Ali Shah read each verdict and sentence.

The four, all bearded and wearing traditional pajama-like shalwar kameez tunics and skull caps, remained impassive throughout.

While the defense said it would appeal, prosecutors said they would press for heavier sentences for Omar's accomplices.

Execution in Pakistan is carried out by hanging, but usually only after an exhaustive appeals process. A life sentence generally means a maximum 25 years in jail.

Pearl was researching a story on Islamic fundamentalism for the Wall Street Journal when he was kidnapped in the port city of Karachi on January 23.

Although no body has been formally identified as his, a video tape emerged clearly showing he had been killed.

The Wall Street Journal issued a brief statement on the verdict.

"We continue to mourn Danny Pearl. And we continue to hope that everyone responsible for his kidnapping and murder will be brought to justice. Today's verdict is one step in that direction."

Omar, the London-born son of a Pakistani cloth merchant, denied charges of kidnapping, murder and terrorism.

He has been indicted in the United States and faced extradition if acquitted. It was not immediately clear what effect the conviction would have on that process.

PHOTO CAPTION

Sheikh Omar, seen in an undated file photo, has been sentenced to hang for the murder of American reporter Daniel Pearl. REUTERS/Handout