New Delhi:
The five men accused of murdering and raping a medical student on a bus in Delhi have been brought from Tihar Jail to a South Delhi court today. The magistrate handling the pre-trial proceedings has banned the media from attending the hearings.
Concerns for their security were shared by the public prosecutor on Monday when they were brought to court for the first time after being charged with the crime that stunned and outraged India. Now, sources say options like holding their trial via video conference, or a trial within the premises of Tihar Jail are being considered.
That decision will be made by the judge of a fast-track court set up specially last week. But before that, they need to get lawyers who will represent them in court and scrutinise the charges and evidence laid out against them in the chargesheet that has been submitted by the Delhi Police. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.
On Monday, the men were kept in a police cell at the court complex for hours while scenes of chaos and drama played out in the tiny packed court-room. The public prosecutor has said the security of the men is at risk. When an advocate named ML Sharma volunteered to defend them, other lawyers shouted loudly against him. Magistrate Namrata Aggarwal ordered everyone not directly linked to the case to leave before the men were brought into her court.
A few days ago, a man was arrested for planting a bomb outside their homes in a slum in south Delhi.
Mr Sharma, who volunteered to defend the accused, will inform the judge today that Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, and Akshay Thakur have signed him as their lawyer and plan to plead not guilty to all the charges against them. For the other two men accused of rape and murder, the judge may appoint a lawyer.
Concerns for their security were shared by the public prosecutor on Monday when they were brought to court for the first time after being charged with the crime that stunned and outraged India. Now, sources say options like holding their trial via video conference, or a trial within the premises of Tihar Jail are being considered.
That decision will be made by the judge of a fast-track court set up specially last week. But before that, they need to get lawyers who will represent them in court and scrutinise the charges and evidence laid out against them in the chargesheet that has been submitted by the Delhi Police. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.
On Monday, the men were kept in a police cell at the court complex for hours while scenes of chaos and drama played out in the tiny packed court-room. The public prosecutor has said the security of the men is at risk. When an advocate named ML Sharma volunteered to defend them, other lawyers shouted loudly against him. Magistrate Namrata Aggarwal ordered everyone not directly linked to the case to leave before the men were brought into her court.
A few days ago, a man was arrested for planting a bomb outside their homes in a slum in south Delhi.
Mr Sharma, who volunteered to defend the accused, will inform the judge today that Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, and Akshay Thakur have signed him as their lawyer and plan to plead not guilty to all the charges against them. For the other two men accused of rape and murder, the judge may appoint a lawyer.
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