HC relies on 'graphic' testimony of victim's male friend

The Delhi High Court, while confirming the death penalty of four convicts in the December 16 gangrape case, relied upon the testimony of the victim's male friend saying he not only identified them in the dock but also gave graphic details of their role in the offence.
A bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani also considered the testimony of Ram Adhar, who had boarded the bus on the fateful prior to the victim and her male friend and was robbed by the convicts.
"The complainant/injured eye witness has identified all the accused persons during his deposition in court... He also testified that the conductor who was calling out to passengers to board the bus was not amongst the accused persons present in the court (the JCL, who was tried separately by the Juvenile Justice Board). In his testimony, he graphically delineated the role played by each of the accused persons by name," the bench said in its 340-page verdict.

"Adverting to the dock identification of the accused persons by Ram Adhar, the said witness, who is also the complainant in robbery case, clearly described the incident which took place with the same accused persons being the key players and in which he was the unfortunate victim," the court said.