Packed court for rape-murder case

NEW DELHI - The five men accused of raping and murdering a 23-year-old physiotherapy student after she boarded their bus last month appeared in court amid high drama.

So many lawyers, journalists and onlookers crammed into the courtroom yesterday that there was little space for the accused to be brought in, prompting the magistrate to order the room cleared.

An angry exchange of words took place between lawyers representing the accused and those who said the accused did not deserve representation. Lawyers of the local bar association have asked its members not to defend the accused.

Metropolitan magistrate Namrita Aggarwal finally ordered that the proceedings be conducted in camera and ordered everyone not directly connected with the case to leave the courtroom, which is located across the street from the cinema where the victim watched a film before boarding the bus.