A fast-track court in New Delhi was Thursday slated to hear legal arguments on charges against the accused in the gang-rape and killing of a 23-year-old student that triggered outrage across the country, dpa reported. Prosecutors were expected to present charges of murder, rape, kidnapping, destruction of evidence and other offences against five suspects in the closed hearing. "After their arguments, we will argue whether charges framed by the police are correct and if [the accused] could be tried," a lawyer for the defendants said without giving further details. Defence lawyers said they had not yet been given copies of the postmortem reports, and plan to challenge the murder charge arguing that the cause of death is still unknown. The suspects face the death penalty if convicted. Defence lawyers have said their clients would plead not guilty. A sixth accused, who police believe is a minor, is expected to be tried separately in a juvenile court. The woman was allegedly beaten with an iron rod and raped by the accused in a moving bus in the Indian capital on December 16. She died in a hospital in Singapore two weeks later. The crime shocked the country and sparked unprecedented protests that put pressure on the government to improve safety for women.
