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An Indian court has sentenced a man to life in prison for the rape and murder of a young doctor in a case that sparked national outrage and protests.
The judge rejected requests for the death penalty but said that Sanjoy Roy, a hospital volunteer who was convicted over the weekend, will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Roy maintains his innocence and is expected to appeal the sentence to a higher court.
The victim’s family said they wanted him hanged and were “shocked” by the sentence.
“We will continue our fight and we will not let the investigations stop… Whatever happens, we will fight for justice,” the woman’s father told AFP.
Indian law prohibits the disclosure of the identity of victims of sexual violence and that of their family members.
The killing of the intern at the hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata where she worked sent shockwaves across the country last August.
The 31-year-old had fallen asleep in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Government Medical College and Hospital after a night shift. Her half-naked, badly injured body was later found near a podium by a colleague.
The crime sparked widespread protests and concerns about the safety of health workers in India, especially women.
According to charges filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), seen by the BBC, Roy went to the hospital drunk and found the doctor sleeping alone.
The autopsy report indicated that the woman had been strangled and had injuries that indicated she had struggled.
Roy was arrested the day after the crime and has consistently denied the charges.
In Kolkata, doctors went on strike for weeks, demanding action against the accused and officials they said were complicit in delaying or botching the investigation.
