Gulbarg massacre: Defence seeks leniency in sentencing convicts

The court will decide on the date of pronouncement of the quantum of sentence on Friday.The special SIT court is hearing the arguments of the defence on mitigating circumstances and other factors before determining the sentence for the convicts.

On Monday, prosecution had sought death penalty for all 24 people convicts in the case.Special Judge PB Desai on Thursday heard the lawyer for accused, Abhay Bhardwaj, who presented lengthy arguments against demands for capital punishment or life sentence untill death, made by the prosecution lawyer.

The judge said the date for pronouncement of quantum of sentence will be decided on Friday, after hearing the SIT lawyer, especially on the aspects of compensation to families of the victims, which has been sought by the victims’ lawyer.

The court had on June 2 convicted 24 people and acquitted 36 others, while dropping conspiracy charges. Out of the total 66 accused, six had died during the trial. Of the 24 convicted, 11 have been charged with murder, while 13 others including VHP leader Atul Vaidya, have been convicted for lesser offences.

Bhardwaj said the court should consider mitigating circumstances for convicts including their criminal record, age, socio-economic background, possibility of rehabilitation and whether they can reform, before pronouncing their sentence.