Defence counsel appearing for Pawan Gupta, one of the convicted in the Dec 16 gang rape and murder case, Wednesday pleaded for mercy citing his young age. Gupta, a fruit vendor, is 19 years old.
Defence counsel also said the crime was committed on the spur of the moment and was not premeditated.
Counsel opposed the prosecution's demand for death penalty for the convicted, and said life imprisonment may be given to Pawan instead of death.
Pawan is "just 19 years old and there are chances of his reform", the advocate said.
Arguing on the quantum of sentence in the case, the prosecution sought death penalty for the four men accused who were convicted for the gang rape and murder of the physiotherapist intern.
The court Tuesday called the crime "premeditated" and "brutal". The case shook the nation, and raised a howl of protests.
