Injuries caused to Dec 16 gang-rape victim were fatal: Doctor

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) The in-charge of the Safdarjung Hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) where the Dec 16 gang-rape victim underwent treatment for 10 days, Monday told the court trying the case that the injuries inflicted by the six accused on her led to her death.

The nature of injuries the victim had "can cause death in natural course", the doctor, deposing as a prosecution witness in the Dec 16 gang rape case here, told the fast track court of Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.

He was asked whether the injuries suffered by the victim were sufficient to cause her death in ordinary course of nature.

The doctor, during his cross-examination by accused Mukesh's counsel, also declined the contention that he succumbed to police pressure to allow them record the statement of victim though she was not fit to record it.

"It is wrong to suggest that I and the other doctor had given permission at the asking of the investigating officer or that she was not fit to give her statement even by non-verbal gestures or that she was not conscious, cooperative... meaningfully communicative. It is wrong to suggest that victim was even not fit to give her statement on Dec 21, 2012," he said.

The 23-year-old woman was brutally tortured and gang-raped in a moving bus Dec 16, 2012 by five men and a juvenile. She later died in a Singapore hospital.

The juvenile is facing proceedings before a Juvenile Justice Board, while the other accused were put up for trial in the fast track court. One of the accused, Ram Singh, is dead, having allegedly committed suicide in jail.