India Sentences Accused Rapists to Death

09/15/2013

A police bus carries the four men who were found guilty of the rape and death of a 23 year old woman.

Hello, and welcome to As It Is. I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.

This week, a court in India found four men guilty in the rape and murder of a young woman last December. The 23 year old student was raped and attacked with an iron stick on a bus. Her friend, a man, was also beaten before both were thrown off the bus. She died from her injuries two weeks later.

Steve Ember has more.

The four defendants denied any wrongdoing. On Friday, all four were sentenced to death by hanging.

Two others were accused in the rape and death of the woman the Indian media called “Nirbhaya,” a name meaning fearless.

A fifth defendant was 17 years old at the time of the attack. He was sentenced to three years of detention – the strongest sentence possible for someone that age.

Police had arrested another suspect. His body was found hanging in jail last March.

The gang rape incited protests across India. Demonstrators called for stronger measures to protect women from violent crime. The government answered the calls by ordering new anti-rape laws and creating courts to try cases quickly.

But many women say not much has changed in the past year, even with all the media attention and public reaction. Some say they do not believe major change can take place in a society that gives special treatment to men. They say Indian police have been known to ignore crimes against women.