In a major development for the infamous Delhi Gang rape case, a court in India has formally charged one of the accused, who is a 17-year-old. The Juvenile Justice Board has charged the boy with rape, murder and other crimes, including kidnapping. March 6, 2013 has been set as the date for the start of his trial.
On the other hand, the five other accused have gone on trial at a specially convened fast-track court and face the death penalty. The brutal assault has shocked the country and has raised a debate over the treatment of women in India.
The rape victim was a student of physiotherapy, who cannot be named in India for legal reasons. The lady, who was accompanied by a male friend, was attacked on a bus on December 16, 2013, in the Indian capital city of New Delhi. The police said that the assailants beat both of them and then raped the woman.
The victim suffered massive injuries, internal as well as external and died about two weeks later. The 23-year-old girl was raped on the moving bus after which the male friend was thrown out of the vehicle while it was still moving. The juvenile has been charged with gang-rape, kidnapping, attempt to murder and dacoity.
