File photo
New Delhi:
A Delhi court on Saturday allowed the accused in the December 16 gang-rape case to bring two more witnesses in their defence and fixed August 22 for the start of hearing of the final arguments in the case.
Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna, while fixing the date for final arguments in the case, directed the counsel for accused Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta to close their evidence on Monday without making any "delay or excuses".
"I am fixing Thursday (August 22) for final arguments, so now conclude your (accused) evidence before it," the judge said, adding no further chance will be given to them.
The court's order came on an application filed by Vinay who had sought to call three new witnesses to establish that the prosecution witnesses, whose statements were recorded by the court, were "false" and were "tutored".
Vinay's counsel had said the prosecution was allowed to bring their witnesses during recording of defence witness' testimonies.
"If they were allowed to bring new witnesses, we should also be given an opportunity to produce our witness in the interest of justice and fair trial on behalf of the accused," the counsel added.
The court had already concluded recording statements of the defence witnesses in the case but it observed the accused should be given a last chance in the interest of justice and for a fair trial.
Vinay had claimed that on December 16, he had gone to a music event organised by the Church in the DDA district park at Hauz Khas in south Delhi and co-accused Pawan Gupta was also present there.
However, his claim was refuted by prosecution witnesses.
According to the prosecution, Ram Singh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh had allegedly gang-raped the girl in a moving bus. The medical student died of injuries on December 29 last year while undergoing treatment in a Singapore hospital.
During the trial, Ram Singh was found dead in Tihar Jail on March 11 and court proceedings against him stand abated.
The sixth accused, a juvenile, is facing inquiry before the juvenile justice board in Delhi.
Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna, while fixing the date for final arguments in the case, directed the counsel for accused Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta to close their evidence on Monday without making any "delay or excuses".
"I am fixing Thursday (August 22) for final arguments, so now conclude your (accused) evidence before it," the judge said, adding no further chance will be given to them.
The court's order came on an application filed by Vinay who had sought to call three new witnesses to establish that the prosecution witnesses, whose statements were recorded by the court, were "false" and were "tutored".
Vinay's counsel had said the prosecution was allowed to bring their witnesses during recording of defence witness' testimonies.
"If they were allowed to bring new witnesses, we should also be given an opportunity to produce our witness in the interest of justice and fair trial on behalf of the accused," the counsel added.
The court had already concluded recording statements of the defence witnesses in the case but it observed the accused should be given a last chance in the interest of justice and for a fair trial.
Vinay had claimed that on December 16, he had gone to a music event organised by the Church in the DDA district park at Hauz Khas in south Delhi and co-accused Pawan Gupta was also present there.
However, his claim was refuted by prosecution witnesses.
According to the prosecution, Ram Singh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh had allegedly gang-raped the girl in a moving bus. The medical student died of injuries on December 29 last year while undergoing treatment in a Singapore hospital.
During the trial, Ram Singh was found dead in Tihar Jail on March 11 and court proceedings against him stand abated.
The sixth accused, a juvenile, is facing inquiry before the juvenile justice board in Delhi.
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