Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta (L to R) arrive for an appearance at the Delhi High Court on Sept 24. (AFP)
Four men sentenced to death for the gang-rape and murder of a young medical student were produced at the Delhi High Court today for confirmation of their sentence.
The court said hearings would start from tomorrow "on a day-to-day basis". It also rejected the plea of the convicts' lawyers for a week's time.
On September 13, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh were sentenced to death by hanging at a fast-track court, for a crime that the judge said had shocked the collective conscience of society. Their lawyers have said they will challenge the verdicts.
"We have to deal with this as expeditiously as possible because the sword of death is hanging over them [the convicted men]," Judge Pratibha Rani said today.
During the hearing, advocate V K Anand, representing convict Mukesh, told the court that he will file an appeal within the stipulated time (30 days) given by the trial court. He said the court should hear the reference along with the appeal of the convicts.
Advocate Vivek Sharma, appearing for Pawan, also made a similar request to the bench, saying the court should hear the matter at least after one week. The bench, however, declined their requests.
One of the six men arrested in connection with the attack committed suicide in prison in March; another was a teenager who has been sentenced by a juvenile court to three years in a reform centre.
The trial court has to refer every death penalty case to the High Court for confirmation.