A juveniles' court in New Dehli is ready hand down the first verdict next week concerning the gang-rape of a physiotherapy student, which sparked mass protests throughout the capital in recent months, the BBC reported. The court has been hearing the case of one of six suspects, who was 17 at the time of the crime, and was soon arrested after the brutal assault of the woman on a moving bus on December 16.
"Arguments will be held first and then the judgement will be out," Rajesh Tiwari, the defense lawyer said, adding the verdict would be delivered on July 11.
The crime spotlighted recurring harassment and violence directed toward women in India. Activists hope the rampant attacks will lead the Indian government to take more preventive action, and toughen its rape laws. Tiwari said he was prohibited by the court from commenting on the trial or its result.
"At this stage we are barred by it from speaking on the expected verdict but after July 11 I will express my opinion," Tiwari told AFP.
The suspect cannot be named under Indian laws.
The juveniles' court can award a maximum term of three years to the suspect if he is convicted as the crime was committed when he was under 18. Five other men were initially put on trial for gang-rape, murder and robbery among other charges and they face a maximum death penalty if convicted. The alleged gang leader and the regular driver of the bus, died in prison in March after a suspected suicide, news reports said.The remaining four suspects are being tried in a special court set up to fast-track the case.
The victim's family has been among those calling for the juvenile to be tried alongside the four other accused, who face the possibility of being hanged if found guilty of rape and murder charges, news reports said.
The woman suffered massive intestinal injuries during the assault in which she was raped and violated with an iron bar. She died 13 days later after the government flew her to a Singapore hospital in hopes of saving her life.
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