In India, death sentence to child killer just after 23 days raises fears over trial fairness
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NEW DELHI: Naveen Gadke was arrested on April 20 and charged with the rape and murder of a baby girl in central India.
Three weeks later a court sentenced the 26-year-old odd-job man to death in the fastest such trial known to have happened in modern India, a nation where public outrage is running high because of a series of rapes and related killings.
Victom's mother told Reuters she was happy with the swift verdict but her daughter would get justice only when Gadke is hung to death, just as quickly.
“Once such men are hanged, no one will dare to do anything like this to any girl,” she said.
Rape victims and their families cannot be identified under Indian law.
Gadke could not be contacted as journalists are not allowed to speak with convicts in jail as per a home ministry directive.
Sachin Verma, Gadke’s lawyer, said his client told him that his estranged wife “framed” him, but said little else.
APP/AFP
