Accused file ‘juvenile’ plea in High Court
SHILLONG: The ongoing trial in the Williamnagar gang-rape case is set to be delayed with some of the seven accused involved in the rape of a girl on December 13 last year, approaching the High Court to challenge the order of the Tura Fast Track Court which had rejected their plea to prove that they were juveniles.
This case which is being handled by the Tura Fast Track Court for almost a year now is nearing completion with the statement of the last witness (Investigation Officer) set to be recorded on Thursday.
Public Prosecutor, PL Sebastian, on Wednesday informed that the Investigation Officer (IO) is to depose before the court on Thursday even as some of the accused have moved the High Court against the order passed by the Fast Track Court recently which had rejected their plea that they were juveniles and had also dismissed certificates produced by them.
Four of the seven accused in the case had submitted fake certificates to prove that they were minors. Earlier, nine juveniles out of the total 16 involved in the gang rape case were forwarded to the Juvenile Justice Board.
It may be recalled that soon after the forensic report was submitted in the beginning of September, four out of the seven accused had submitted a plea to the fast track court stating that they were juveniles by producing certificates to prove the same, but their plea was rejected.
“The court will go on with the trail and only the statement of the last witness (IO) is left to be recorded after which the case would come to a close and at the same time, we are also awaiting the order from the High Court in respect to the plea submitted by some of the accused,” Sebastian said.
It was on December 13 last year that the girl was raped by 16 persons near Sacred Heart School in Williamnagar in East Garo hills district.
The girl along with her friends was on their way back home from the Simsang Festival when she was attacked by the rapists.
