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| Delhi gang-rape: five accused face court | Delhi gang-rape: five accused face court |
| (3 months later) | |
| The five men accused of a brutal gang-rape that killed an Indian woman are due to appear in a New Delhi court, with two of them offering evidence possibly in return for a lighter sentence in the case that has led to a global outcry. | The five men accused of a brutal gang-rape that killed an Indian woman are due to appear in a New Delhi court, with two of them offering evidence possibly in return for a lighter sentence in the case that has led to a global outcry. |
| The five men, along with a teenager, are accused of raping the 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in New Delhi. She died two weeks later on 28 December in a Singapore hospital from her injuries. | The five men, along with a teenager, are accused of raping the 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in New Delhi. She died two weeks later on 28 December in a Singapore hospital from her injuries. |
| Television images on Monday morning showed the blue police van believed to be transporting the suspects from Tihar jail as it arrived at the court gate prior to the hearing. | Television images on Monday morning showed the blue police van believed to be transporting the suspects from Tihar jail as it arrived at the court gate prior to the hearing. |
| Two of the accused, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta, moved an application on Saturday requesting they be made "approvers", or informers against the other accused, a public prosecutor in the case, Rajiv Mohan, told the Reuters news agency. | Two of the accused, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta, moved an application on Saturday requesting they be made "approvers", or informers against the other accused, a public prosecutor in the case, Rajiv Mohan, told the Reuters news agency. |
| The men are appearing before a newly formed fast-track court and their trial is expected to take place over the next few weeks. A teenager who is also accused will likely be tried in a juvenile court. | The men are appearing before a newly formed fast-track court and their trial is expected to take place over the next few weeks. A teenager who is also accused will likely be tried in a juvenile court. |
| The brutal case ignited protests across India and neighbouring countries, and prompted government promises for tougher punishments for offenders. Ahead of Monday's court appearance, the five still had no defence lawyers – despite extensive interrogations by the police, who have said they have recorded confessions – after members of the bar association in the South Delhi district where the case is being heard vowed not to represent them. | The brutal case ignited protests across India and neighbouring countries, and prompted government promises for tougher punishments for offenders. Ahead of Monday's court appearance, the five still had no defence lawyers – despite extensive interrogations by the police, who have said they have recorded confessions – after members of the bar association in the South Delhi district where the case is being heard vowed not to represent them. |
| The men will be assigned lawyers by the court before the trial begins but their lack of representation so far could give grounds for appeal later should they be found guilty, experts say. Similar cases have resulted in acquittals years after convictions. | The men will be assigned lawyers by the court before the trial begins but their lack of representation so far could give grounds for appeal later should they be found guilty, experts say. Similar cases have resulted in acquittals years after convictions. |
| "The accused has a right to a lawyer from point of arrest – the investigations are going on, statements being taken, it is totally illegal," said Colin Gonsalves, a senior supreme court advocate and director of Delhi's Human Rights Law Network. | "The accused has a right to a lawyer from point of arrest – the investigations are going on, statements being taken, it is totally illegal," said Colin Gonsalves, a senior supreme court advocate and director of Delhi's Human Rights Law Network. |
| Senior leaders of most states on Friday came out in support of a plan to lower to 16 the age that minors can be tried as adults – in response to fury that the maximum penalty the accused youth could face is three years' detention. A government panel is considering suggestions to make the death penalty mandatory for rape and introducing forms of chemical castration for the guilty. It is due to make its recommendations by 23 January. Official data shows one rape is reported on average every 20 minutes in India. | Senior leaders of most states on Friday came out in support of a plan to lower to 16 the age that minors can be tried as adults – in response to fury that the maximum penalty the accused youth could face is three years' detention. A government panel is considering suggestions to make the death penalty mandatory for rape and introducing forms of chemical castration for the guilty. It is due to make its recommendations by 23 January. Official data shows one rape is reported on average every 20 minutes in India. |
| India set up 1,700 fast-track courts in 2004 but stopped funding them in 2012 because they turned out to be costly. The courts typically work six days a week and try to reduce adjournments that lead to long delays in cases. | India set up 1,700 fast-track courts in 2004 but stopped funding them in 2012 because they turned out to be costly. The courts typically work six days a week and try to reduce adjournments that lead to long delays in cases. |
| "The record of the fast-track courts is mixed," Gonsalves said. Conviction rates rose, he said, but due process was sometimes rushed, leading to convictions being overturned. | "The record of the fast-track courts is mixed," Gonsalves said. Conviction rates rose, he said, but due process was sometimes rushed, leading to convictions being overturned. |
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