Police volunteer convicted in rape and murder of doctor in India avoids death penalty, angering victim's family

An Indian court on Monday sentenced a police volunteer to life in prison after finding him guilty in the rape and killing of a trainee doctor last year, a crime that sparked nationwide protests over inadequate safety for women and led to a speedy trial in the country's slow-moving justice system.

Sanjay Roy, 33, who has consistently maintained his innocence, can appeal the judgment in a higher court.

The family of the doctor broke into tears, saying they were "shocked" at the sentence and had hoped her murderer would be hanged. But Judge Anirban Das said the case did not deserve the death penalty as it was not "the rarest of the rare cases," and ordered that Roy must spend his life behind bars.