Maharashtra Court Awards Death Penalty for Rape and Murder of 9-Year-Old Girl

A court in Maharashtra has sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl. The accused was an acquaintance of the victim's father, making the crime a severe breach of trust. The court described the act as one of extreme brutality, noting the child was subjected to what it called 'animal passion.' Condemning the nature of the offense, the court observed that a child who deserved a carefree childhood was instead met with horrific violence. The case was classified as one of the rarest of rare crimes, warranting the capital punishment awarded.