Delhi gangrape: Drama in court as lawyers target rapists' advocate

A Delhi court, hearing the December 16 gangrape-cum-murder case today, witnessed high drama even before the proceedings began when a lawyer showed up to defend the accused and the advocates present in the courtroom vehemently objected to it.

This is the first time that a lawyer has come forward to defend the five accused.

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Advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, who claimed he was contacted by the accused' family members for defending them in the case, showed his willingness to defend the five.

However, the other advocates present in the court room warned him that he should not appear for the five accused, Ram Singh, Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur as they are involved in a very heinous crime.

Awaiting the arrival of the accused, several lawyers and mediapersons were present in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal much before the scheduled time of hearing of 12:30 pm.

The courtroom was also occupied by a contingent of police personnel to control the crowd and any possible untoward incident which might take place.

The moment the accused were brought near the court room and the police asked the people to make way for them to enter.

However, the persons present there began shouting at the cops saying there are more policemen in the court than general public and lawyers taken together.

Meanwhile, the judge who entered the court room requested the advocates and the public present in the court room to make room for the accused to be produced but the people present in the court refused to do so and asked the judge to bring them inside so they can see their faces.

Faced with that kind of response from the people present in court, the judge left for her chamber saying "you advocates and the public) shout and till that time the accused will be not produced".

... contd.

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