India: Five men accused of gang rape of Indian student appear in Delhi court
A vehicle, which is believed to be carrying the accused in a gangrape and murder case, arrives at an entrance to Saket District Court in New Delhi on January 7, 2013.
Five men accused in the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi have appeared in Delhi's the Metropolitan Magistrates' Court for a pre-trial hearing.
However, the magistrate hearing the case ordered that their first appearance in court take place behind closed doors, according to a report in The Australian newspaper.
Then, the case — which shocked and sparked widespread outrage India — had to be temporarily adjourned after chaotic scenes in the courtroom.
CNN quoted one lawyer attorney, pointing his finger at one of the defense lawyers, as saying:
"You will not defend those barbarians!"
According to CNN, the local bar association has vowed not to represent any of the suspects.
After walking out once, when rowdy legal and media representatives reportedly would not quiet down, Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal reportedly said:
"The court has become jam-packed. It has become impossible for this court to conduct proceedings in this case."
France 24 wrote that the uproar over the alleged gang rape attack — involving a student who boarded a bus with her boyfriend after watching the movie ‘’Life of Pi’ at an upscale mall on Dec. 16 — prompted the government to begin legal proceedings barely one week after the woman's death from her injuries.
Normally, it takes months for the prosecution to assemble such a case.
The victim's father has called for her name to be made public "to give courage to other women," Reuters reported.
Prosecutors have said there is DNA evidence tying the defendants to the crime scene, including blood stains on the clothes of the accused that match that of the victim, who died at a Singapore hospital a week ago.
Meanwhile, according to the BBC, four Delhi policemen have been suspended over the handling of a separate suspected rape and murder case.
The alleged victim, 21, whose body was found on Saturday, told the BBC she was gang-raped.
More from GlobalPost: Father of Delhi gang rape victim: 'Name my daughter'