The fate of the four men convicted for the “cold-blooded” gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in December last year hangs in the balance with the trial court set to pronounce its order on the quantum of sentence on Wednesday.
The maximum sentence that the four can be given is death penalty on charges of murder, which is given by the courts if the case fits in the “rarest of rare” category of crime.
A number of legal experts and senior advocates are of the opinion that the case falls in the rarest of rare category and capital punishment is the appropriate punishment that must be awarded to give out a strong message.
“This particular case definitely falls in the rarest of rare category. This crime was committed in the most gruesome manner. It was a very barbaric act which must be very severely punished. Death penalty must be awarded to all the four convicts. Otherwise a powerful message will not go across to society and we will be failing our women. I hope and pray that the learned judge awards them capital punishment,” senior advocate Dushyant Dave told this newspaper.
Senior advocate H.S. Phoolka said, “The law as it stands today makes it clear that this particular case falls in the rarest of rare category. However, whether or not death sentence is awarded to all the convicts will depend on their individual roles in committing the crime. Though, in my opinion, capital punishment must be given to all the four convicted by the court, the quantum of sentence given to them will depend on the role played by each one individually during the crime.” Senior advocate Rebecca John said it was unfair for those who haven’t examined the evidence to comment on what sentence should be awarded to the accused. “On charges of murder, the convicts can be given either life imprisonment or death.”
The judge has examined the evidence so the judge is the best person to determine the quantum of sentence,” she said. “I welcome today’s verdict and believe that the strictest punishment should be given to the men who ravaged and mutilated that woman in the most inhuman manner,” she added.