Delhi gang-rape trial: As it happened

Zee Media Bureau

2:10 pm: Quantum of punishment to be announced on Friday The court has reserved its order on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the four convicts till Friday. The announcement will be made at 2:30 pm on September 13. 1:33 pm: Lawyer for fourth convict begins argument The lawyers for Vinay, Pawan and Akshay have finished arguments. VK Anand, the lawyer for fourth convict Mukesh, has just begun arguments. 1:30 pm: `Akshay has responsibilities` Convict Akshay Thakur`s lawyer says he has a responsibility of looking after his ill parents, wife and child. Hence, he should be shown mercy. 1:28 pm: `Why death for convicts?` Batla House encounter accused got life, was let off for politics. Why are these men being considered for death, asks defence. Earlier, lawyer for convicts Vinay and Akshay, AP Singh, invoked Mahatma Gandhi in court, saying, "God gives life and he alone can take it and not man-made courts." 12:18 pm: `Crime not pre-meditated` Defence counsel appearing for Pawan Gupta, one of the convicted in the December 16 gang-rape and murder case, pleaded for mercy citing his young age. Gupta, a fruit vendor, is 19 years old. Defence counsel also said the crime was committed on the spur of the moment and was not premeditated. Counsel opposed the prosecution`s demand for death penalty for the convicted, and said life imprisonment may be given to Pawan instead of death. Pawan is "just 19 years old and there are chances of his reform", the advocate said. 11:46 am: Convicts seek leniency December 16 gang-rape case convicts seek leniency, say life imprisonment is rule and death penalty is an exception. They say court should show mercy considering their young age. 11:35 am: Court rejects contempt notice against Shinde The lawyer of Mukesh Singh, one of the four convicted men, raises objections to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde`s remarks that death penalty be given to the four men. The court dismissed his application seeking contempt of court charges against Shinde, saying that it may be the minister`s personal view and it will go by evidence. 11:28 am: It`s premeditated crime, says prosecution As soon as the arguments began in the packed court room, the prosecution described the act as "a premeditated crime". "It falls in the category of rarest of rare cases," prosecution further argued in the court. Underlining that the convicts killed a helpless girl even when she prayed for mercy, prosecution said there should be `no mercy for merciless convicts`. 11:15 am: Hearing begins in court Prosecution seeks death penalty in Delhi court for all four convicts in December 16 gang-rape and murder case. 11:05 am: `We are innocent` "We are innocent," the four men, convicted of the rape and murder of the 23-year-old, shouted while they were being escorted into the court room. 10:30 am: Convicts reach court Delhi gang-rape convicts have reached the Saket court to hear the quantum of punishment. The arguments for sentencing are scheduled to begin at 11 am. 10:25 am: Verdict must be historic, demand victim`s parents Demanding justice for her daughter, the victim`s mother said she expected death penalty for all the four men held guilty in the barbaric gang-rape of the 23-year-old trainee paramedic. Meanwhile, the victim`s father said: "Incident is historic, verdict must also be historic. It should be such that no one dares to do such crime again." 9:50 am: Verdict unfair, says accused`s mother The mother of one of the accused, Vinay Sharma, said if her son would have been a politician`s son, this would not have happened with him. "We are poor, that is why this is happening with us. This is absolutely unfair." 9:38 am: `Expecting death penalty` BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that a law has been passed in Parliament under which rape convicts can be given death penalty, adding he expects the same in this case. 9:45 am: Convicts enroute to court Delhi gang-rape convicts are enroute to Saket court to hear the quantum of sentencing. The arguments for sentencing are scheduled to begin at 11 am. 8:30 am: Four convicted for Delhi gang-rape; quantum of punishment today Nine months after the gang-rape of a 23-year-old trainee paramedic shook India, a fast-track Delhi court will on Wednesday announce the sentences of four men, who were on Tuesday held guilty in the barbaric crime. The whole nation is waiting with bated breath for the pronouncement of quantum of punishment. Also Read: Delhi gang-rape verdict: Court to pronounce quantum of punishment today` On Tuesday, the court held four accused guilty in the horrendous crime, describing it as "premeditated" and "brutal" act, which had forced the government to come out with a strong anti-rape law. Also Read: Delhi gang rape: All four accused convicted; court says act was `premeditated` The clamour for death for the accused reached a pitch with women activists and several politicians, including opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj, demanding death for the four men to "set an example for the future". The victim`s parents and brother also echoed the same sentiments. "I want death sentence for all of them and only then will I be at peace," the victim`s mother said. The four accused -- Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur -- held in jail since the crime was committed, were present in the court when the verdict was pronounced.