New Delhi:
A special fast-track court will continue its hearing in the Delhi gang-rape case, where five of the six accused are being tried for charges of rape and murder of a medical student.
The court is expected to decide on a plea by the defence lawyers in the case, on whether an interview given by the girl's male friend to a news channel can be used in the court of law.
Last week, the court heard the testimonies of doctors who had examined the five suspects after their arrest. The medical student's friend, who had accompanied her in the bus, had also testified and was cross-examined by defence lawyers.
The five suspects, who have been charged with gang-rape, murder, kidnapping and robbery, have pleaded not guilty. The sixth accused in the case, who has been declared a juvenile by a Juvenile Justice Board in the city, will be tried separately later this month.
The trial is being held in-camera, meaning the media cannot report the day-to-day proceedings in detail.
Police say 'Amanat' (NOT her real name) was gang-raped and assaulted with an iron rod by the accused on December 16 in a moving bus which she had boarded along with her friend, a software engineer. Her friend was also assaulted. They were then thrown out of the bus, unclothed and bleeding on the road.
Amanat died in a Singapore hospital on December 29. Her family has demanded death penalty for all accused, including the juvenile. They said it would be a travesty of justice if the juvenile is let-off with a minimum punishment because of his age.