First New Delhi gang-rape verdict postponed

A juvenile court in Indian capital New Delhi trying a teenager for the kidnap, rape and murder of a 23-year-old medical student gang-raped in a moving bus in the city last December has postponed its verdict until later this month.

“The court has completed the hearing. The order has been deferred to July 25th,” public prosecutor Madhav Khurana said.

The juvenile, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident and who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces a maximum three-year sentence at a correctional facility if found guilty.

Legal experts said the seven months he had spent in custody would be taken into account by the sentencing judge. The juvenile, who reportedly ran away from home at the age of 11, has denied the charges.

So have four adults on trial at a specially convened fast- track court in Delhi expected to announce its judgment over the next few months. If found guilty, all four could be given the death penalty.

A sixth suspect was found dead in Delhi’s Tihar jail in March. Prison officials claim he died by suicide but defence lawyers and his family allege he was murdered by prison inmates incensed by the crime.

Parents
The victim's parents – who also cannot be named – were present at court yesterday.

“We hope we get justice on July 25th,” said the woman’s mother, who previously called for all the suspects to be hanged.

The victim died at a Singapore hospital on December 29th from internal injuries she sustained during the attack two weeks earlier.

Returning home from the cinema at about 10pm on December 16th, she and her male companion were lured on to an off-duty bus by the men who were subsequently charged, who promised to take them home.

Besides taking turns raping the woman, the six men also beat up her companion. Both were then hurled naked from the moving bus.

The attack caused outrage across India, with tens of thousands of protesters demanding tough new rape laws, better police protection and a campaign to change society's views about women.

This prompted parliament to pass a law earlier this year toughening sentences for rapists. Sex crimes against women have continued apace, however.