Mumbai, Aug 3 - The prosecution will advocate the noose but the defence will argue for life sentence Tuesday when a special court pronounces the quantum of sentence for the husband-wife team and their aide convicted for the August 2003 twin bombings in Mumbai.

Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) Special Judge M.R. Puranik had found Mohammed Hanif Sayed, his wife Fahimida M. H. Sayed and their associate Ashrat Shafique Ansari guilty of carrying out the Aug 25, 2003, blasts in Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazar in which 54 people were killed and 244 injured.

The special judge is expected to announce the sentence in the verdict after the prosecution and defence argue on the quantum of punishment for the guilty tomorrow.

'This is a major jolt for the LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and it is the first time in India that a family has been found guilty of carrying out terrorist operations. In view of the serious charges against them, we shall seek the most stringent - death penalty - for the accused,' prosecution lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said last week.

The defence lawyers, however, are adopting different strategies.

Ashrat's lawyer S. Kunjuraman said that he would 'remain totally silent' in the court.

'This is a baseless and meaningless judgement. There is not an iota of evidence against my client (Ashrat) to hold him guilty. I shall move the Bombay High Court, whatever be the outcome tomorrow,' Kunjuraman told IANS.

The Sayeds laywer Wahab Khan said he would strongly oppose the prosecution plea for death penalty and push for life sentences.