Indian teen goes on trial for gang rape
Source: Agencies |
March 7, 2013, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN Indian teenager went on trial yesterday charged with taking part in the gang rape and murder of a young physiotherapist, a case which has sparked soul-searching about whether the country is too soft on young offenders.
Police say the juvenile and five men lured the 23-year-old woman and her male friend on to a New Delhi bus where they repeatedly raped her and beat them both before tossing them on to a road.
The woman died of internal injuries in Singapore two weeks after the December 16 attack in a case that sparked violent protests and turned a global spotlight on the treatment of women in India.
The 17-year-old defendant has been charged with the same 13 offenses as his co-accused, including rape, murder and robbery, but is being tried separately by the juvenile court. He pleaded not guilty to all charges last week.
If found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in juvenile detention, while his adult co-accused, whose trial began last month, could face the death penalty.
That has infuriated many Indians, including some police and political leaders, who have called for tougher punishments for minors and lowering the age at which people can be tried as adults to 16 from 18.
"The boy appeared in court and heard the proceedings with a quiet and calm composure," a lawyer at Delhi's Juvenile Justice Board said.
The next hearing was set for March 15.
Police say the juvenile and five men lured the 23-year-old woman and her male friend on to a New Delhi bus where they repeatedly raped her and beat them both before tossing them on to a road.
The woman died of internal injuries in Singapore two weeks after the December 16 attack in a case that sparked violent protests and turned a global spotlight on the treatment of women in India.
The 17-year-old defendant has been charged with the same 13 offenses as his co-accused, including rape, murder and robbery, but is being tried separately by the juvenile court. He pleaded not guilty to all charges last week.
If found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in juvenile detention, while his adult co-accused, whose trial began last month, could face the death penalty.
That has infuriated many Indians, including some police and political leaders, who have called for tougher punishments for minors and lowering the age at which people can be tried as adults to 16 from 18.
"The boy appeared in court and heard the proceedings with a quiet and calm composure," a lawyer at Delhi's Juvenile Justice Board said.
The next hearing was set for March 15.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
