Delhi Gang Rape: All 4 accused found guilty of rape and murder; Arguments for quantum of sentencing start tomorrow

The four accused (Mukesh, Pavan, Vinay and Akshay) in the Delhi gang rape of December 16, 2012 have been found guilty of 13 charges including rape, murder, kidnapping and conspiracy. The arguments for quantum of sentencing will begin tomorrow at 11am..The verdict was pronounced by a Fast track Court presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna. The Saket District Court complex, where the Fast Track Court is housed, witnessed unprecedented frenzy as both, media personnel as well as the general public, gathered in large numbers outside the complex to hear the verdict..Speaking outside the court, Advocate AP Singh who represented two of the accused said that, “The decision has been taken under political pressure.” He also said that he would file an appeal in the High Court..VK Anand, accused Mukesh’s lawyer, told Bar & Bench that his client was only driving the bus, a fact he had confessed before the court and that he was not aware of what was happening in the bus. Anand said he would appeal against the verdict..The decision marks an end to the 9-month long wait after a medical student was gang-raped in a moving bus by six men. The trial of the five accused had commenced on February 2. The main accused Ram Singh had committed suicide on March 11 while the trial of the remaining 4 accused continued. The prosecution had slapped 13 offences against the accused including murder, gang rape and dacoity. A total of 83 witnesses testified for the prosecution..The sixth accused, who was a juvenile at the time of commission of offence, was tried by the Juvenile Justice Board adjacent to Feroz Shah Kotla and sentenced to 3 years at a special home..Advocate VK Anand represented the accused Mukesh, Advocate AP Singh appeared for Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur while Advocate Vivek Sharma represented Pawan Gupta. These lawyers had come forward to defend the accused despite calls by the Saket Bar Association not to appear for any of the accused..Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan appeared for the State.