Trial commences in Coimbatore rape case, counsel for accused appointed

Trial begins in Coimbatore gang-rape case involving three accused, with legal counsel appointed for their defense.

The trial for the gang-rape of a 20-year-old college student by three persons near Coimbatore airport in November last year commenced at the Mahila Court here on Monday (February 2).

The three accused in the case — T. Karuppasamy, alias Satheesh, 30; his brother T. Kaleeswaran, alias Karthik, 21; and their distant relative M. Guna, alias Thavasi, 20, all from Madurai — were produced before trial court judge V. Sundararaj. B. Jisha is the Special Public Prosecutor for the case.

Two lawyers have been provided to the three accused through the District Legal Services Authority as they did not have counsel.

Court sources said the survivor’s male friend, who is the complainant, a victim of assault by the accused and also a witness in the case, was examined first by the prosecution and defence counsel.

The survivor was examined after him and the first day’s proceedings went on for several hours till evening.

During the last hearing on January 27, the court framed charges against the three accused and read out the same to them. The accused pleaded not guilty of the charges against them.