The sixth accused in the case of December 16 gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student here was on Monday declared by the Juvenile Justice Board as a minor, which would enable him to walk free till June 4, this year when he attains the age of 18 years.
The accused, who was described as the most brutal of the six accused by the Delhi Police in its charge sheet, was declared as 17 years, six months and 24 days-old (as of Monday) by the Board, which relied on his birth certificate and school documents produced before it. Section 15 (g) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act mandates that a juvenile aged between 16 and 18 years, if convicted of an offence, can be sentenced to be sent to a special home for a period of three years at the maximum, and, thereafter, be released on probation.