Three of the five men accused in the gang rape and murder of an Indian student were tortured during police questioning and would plead not guilty, a lawyer claiming to represent them said Wednesday.
The gang rape of the 23-year-old woman in the Indian capital in mid-December sparked widespread outrage and protests. The woman died of severe injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
Five men have been charged with abduction, rape and murder. A sixth suspect is a juvenile and separate charges are expected to be filed against him.
Delhi-based lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma claimed that three of the accused had appointed him as their lawyer and they would plead not guilty to the charges against them.
"I am just coming out of Tihar jail after meeting one of the accused. He is not 26 as claimed but only 22 - he was brutally tortured by the police during interrogation ... much of what the
police is saying is fabricated," Sharma said.
Sharma said for over a week the police had interrogated the men and abused them with iron rods to force them to confess.
The prosecutors have said DNA evidence had established the involvement of the accused in the crime. If convicted, the suspects could face the death penalty.
"We want their evidence to be tested in court, we want a trial, a fair trial," Sharma said.
In the absence of lawyers representing the accused during interrogation, police records of their confessions could be challenged in court under Indian law.
The lawyers' association in New Delhi's Saket district court where the pre-trial proceedings began Monday had refused to defend the accused.
The next pre-trial proceeding is scheduled Thursday, where the judge is expected to name the lawyers for the accused and the charge-sheets and documents are expected to be inspected.
The judge is also expected to transfer the case to a fast track court, which is one of five set up in the capital after the December 16 gang rape to expedite crimes against women.
A petition by a group of lawyers against the judge Namrita Aggarwal's order that the pre-trial proceedings should be held in camera was dismissed by a higher court Wednesday.