Delhi gangrape trial to begin on Feb 5
The accused have been charged with murder, gangrape, unnatural offence, destruction of evidence, attempt to murder, kidnapping, causing hurt while committing robbery, dacoity with murder, and common intent among others. The trial in the case will begin on February 5.
The hearing in the case had started on January 21 at the fast-track court which was set up to try the case that had led to a nation-wide outrage against crimes against women.
The accused were formally charged in the Saket court 18 days after they gangraped and tortured the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus, causing multiple-organ failure that led to her death.
They also assaulted her 28-year-old male friend. Both were thrown out of the bus after around 40 minutes, naked, bleeding and shivering. The friend is the main witness in the case.
The chargesheet, with annexures, runs into thousands of pages and includes the victim's statement, details of the accused, evidence and forensic reports.
All the accused were arrested between December 17-21 following a nationwide outcry over the crime, which also triggered protests in several cities. In Delhi, protesters clashed with security forces.
The union cabinet on Friday approved an ordinance for enhanced punishment in cases of crimes against women, including sexual assault, acid attacks, voyeurism and trafficking, as suggested by the Justice JS Verma Committee.
The government had recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee that an ordinance be issued.
The Verma Committee, set up by the government on December 23 to review laws to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault, submitted its report to the government January 23. The panel was set up after the December 16 incident.
PTI