Lawyer of Delhi gang rape accused seeks impartial trial

Manohar Lal Sharma, the lawyer of one of the accused in Delhi gang rape case, on Saturday sought an impartial trial for his client.

Sharma, who is defending Mukesh Kumar alias Thakur, said that the statements issued by the Prime Minister and other leaders and officials, have given direct message to the judicial authorities about what they should do and how they should handle the case.

"I need a judge to hear the matter, who is himself not biased. The judge should not sit for trial if he or she has sympathy for the victim. I have no objection if anyone having sentimental feeling towards the victim, but there should be no bias," said Sharma.

"Despite our repeated request that they should not be handcuffed, the court is disagreeing to that. If judiciary is under pressure, people are under pressure, then I cannot get a fair trial for my client Mukesh," he added.

The hearing of the December 16 gang rape and murder case will be held in a 'fast track' court in Saket from January 21 and proceedings will be heard on a daily basis.

Five of the six accused are being charged with murder.

The court, which is listening to their pre-trial hearings, has ordered that now the trial will take place in the fast track court .

The case of the sixth accused, a minor, is being heard by a Juvenile Justice Board.

The 23-year-old victim, a medical student, was brutally assaulted and gang raped in a moving bus on the night of December 16. She died at a Singapore hospital on December 29 after battling for life for thirteen days.