BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- An Indian juvenile court has handed down the first conviction for the gang rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi late last year.

According to lawyers, the court on Saturday convicted a teenager of rape and murder and sentenced him to three years in a reform home. The convicted defendant was one of six people accused of tricking the woman and her male companion into boarding an off-duty bus on December 16th.

The Indian government, facing immense public pressure, promised swift justice in the case. This first sentence was the maximum available to the juvenile court. But it wasn’t enough for the victim’s family, who had insisted he be tried as an adult and thus face the death penalty.

"We want him to be hanged and we will challenge this verdict in the High Court. I am not at all happy with this verdict. By not punishing this teenager properly, this verdict is encouraging other teenagers to indulge in such acts and does not provide any safety for girls," said Asha Singh, mother of the victim.

(Source: CNTV.cn)