SC stays death sentence of two convicts of Delhi gang-rape case

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the death sentence of two of the four men convicted of raping and killing a young student in Delhi on December 16, 2012.

The execution of convicts Akshay and Vinay was stayed. The top court had earlier stayed the execution of two other convicts in March.

"Today the argument heard by the Supreme Court in the Delhi gang rape case of December 16 and the death sentence which was announced by the Delhi High Court was stayed by the top court on behalf of Akshay Kumar Singh and Vinay Sharma. My bail application was also pending on behalf of both of them which was adjourned till the next date of hearing," said A P Singh, a lawyer for the accused.

A 23-year-old student and her male friend were attacked by six men on December 16, 2012 after they got on a private bus while going home from the cinema. Her friend was thrown to the back of the bus after being battered with an iron rod, which was later used to torture her. The couple was then thrown from the bus. The young woman succumbed due to her injuries 13 days later while battling for her life.

Last September four of her attackers were convicted after the case was fast-tracked, while a juvenile was sentenced to three years in a detention centre. Ram Singh, who is the sixth accused in this case was found dead in jail in March last year.