Court bans media from murder and rape trial

Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal upheld a prosecution request for a closed hearing after hundreds of journalists, lawyers from other cases and curious onlookers had crowded the court where the five were to appear.

Outside more than a dozen TV satellite trucks jammed the streets, and dozens of reporters from India and around the world were left waiting for news.

The five defendants later appeared before the magistrate, who scheduled another pre-trial hearing on Thursday that is expected to result in the case being sent to a special “fast-track” court. Indian courts are notoriously slow, with some cases dragging on for decades. The trial is expected to begin in the coming days. Indian rape trials are normally closed to the media.

Authorities have charged the men with murder, rape and other crimes that could carry the death penalty. The crime caused nationwide outrage, leading to massive protests.

A sixth suspect, who is 17, is expected to be tried in a juvenile court, where the maximum sentence would be three years in a reform facility.

Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan said last week that a DNA test confirmed that the blood of the victim matched blood stains found on the clothes of all the accused.

Two of the defendants have offered to become informers against the others, presumably seeking lighter sentences.

The attack has led to calls for tougher rape laws and reforms of a police culture that often blames rape victims and refuses to file charges. The nation’s top law enforcement official said the country needs to crack down on crimes against women.

Since the attack New Delhi has set up five fast-track courts to handle sexual assault cases, which often get bogged down for years. The chief justice also asked courts in Indian states to set up fast-track courts to try crimes against women.