India: Verdict in rape case
An Indian juvenile court has found a teenager guilty over the gang-rape and subsequent death of a 23-year-old woman. Four other adult men are charged with taking part in the attack on a New Delhi bus last year.
The New Delhi court handed down the first verdict on Saturday in connection with the gang-rape of a student, which sparked widespread protests around the country.
The teenager, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was handed the maximum penalty allowed after being tried as a juvenile.
"He has been held guilty for rape and murder and sentenced to three years subject to review," Anil Sharma, the chief investigating officer in the case, told reporters outside the court.
The 23-year-old victim died of internal injuries two weeks after being repeatedly raped and beaten on a moving bus in the capital on December 16. Her male companion was also attacked, before both were thrown off the bus.
Six men, including the juvenile, were originally charged with crimes including with rape, murder, robbery and destruction of evidence.
Four of the adult men are currently standing trial. The fifth died in jail in an apparent suicide.
All the accused deny the charges.
ccp/tj (AFP, Reuters, AP)