  We present a sophisticated likelihood reconstruction algorithm for
shower-image analysis of imaging Cherenkov telescopes. The reconstruction
algorithm is based on the comparison of the camera pixel amplitudes with the
predictions from a Monte Carlo based model. Shower parameters are determined by
a maximisation of a likelihood function. Maximisation of the likelihood as a
function of shower fit parameters is performed using a numerical non-linear
optimisation technique. A related reconstruction technique has already been
developed by the CAT and the H.E.S.S. experiments, and provides a more precise
direction and energy reconstruction of the photon induced shower compared to
the second moment of the camera image analysis. Examples are shown of the
performance of the analysis on simulated gamma-ray data from the VERITAS array.
