A juvenile court is expected to hand down the first verdict today in the fatal gang-rape of a student in India’s capital that highlighted growing abuse against women.
A 23-year-old student was repeatedly raped and beaten in a bus on December 16 and died two weeks later.
The Juvenile Justice Board concluded its trial of the 17-year-old defendant on July 5. The verdict was postponed three times as the board waited for the Supreme Court to rule on a petition seeking a fresh legal interpretation of juvenile in criminal cases.
The court last month directed the board to proceed with the verdict while the justices consider the petition.
Four other men are on trial for the crime. A fifth was found hanged in his cell in March.
The 17-year-old was tried separately on charges including rape, murder and kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The teenager faces a maximum sentence of three years in a reform facility if found guilty.