New Delhi : The trial in the Delhi gang-rape and murder case will formally begin on Tuesday. Charges have been framed against five accused under 13 sections of the IPC, the sixth being a minor will be treated according to the juvenile law.

The fast-track court will hear the case on a day-to-day basis to ensure speedy justice to the family of the 23-year-old girl who was brutally gang-raped and mutilated by the accused inside a moving bus on December 16. The girl fought a valiant battle for life but failed to succeed. She passed away on December 29 at a Singapore hospital.

The prosecution has called four witnesses, including the girl’s friend who was with her and had tried to protect her. He had later in an exclusive interview  detailed the sequence of events of that night, including the lack of apathy displayed by the common public and policemen after they were thrown out of the bus naked and bleeding.

There are a total of 86 witnesses who have to be examined, reports said. Prosecution hopes to complete this process within a month. Apart from the software engineer friend of the girl, the list of witnesses includes people present the guard who had called up the police on seeing them lying on the road, other people present at the scene, police officials and doctors who treated the girl.

The incident had sent shock waves across the country with thousands of people coming out on the streets to protest against the lack of safety for women and demanded that the guilty be giving strict punishment.

As the physiotherapy student had recorded her testimony before a magistrate, her statement would be crucial in the case along with that of her friend.

The five suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges that were read out to them. If convicted, they could face the death penalty. A sixth, who is a juvenile, is being tried separately and faces a maximum sentence of three years in a reform facility.