December 16 gangrape: Dying declaration fake,alleges defence

Sharma is representing Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta,two of the four sentenced to death for the gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old woman aboard a moving bus in December last year.

The defence began its arguments against the death penalty and conviction on November 10,after the prosecution completed its submissions to the court. Sharma also questioned the prosecution arguments that the SIM card of the woman was recovered on the basis of information given by the accused.

The Delhi High Court is presently hearing arguments on behalf of the defence in the appeals filed by the four convicts and the reference sent by the state to confirm the death penalty imposed on the accused.

The prosecution had wrapped up its arguments seeking confirmation of death penalty in the first week of November.

Of the six men arrested last year for the gangrape,Ram Singh,the bus driver,was found dead in his jail cell during the trial,while the juvenile was tried by the Juvenile Justice Board. The juvenile has been sent to a correction home.

Akshay,Vinay,Pawan and Mukesh were sentenced to death by a trial court in September.