A Dhaka tribunal on Thursday fixed June 7 for delivering its verdict in a case filed against Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter on charges of killing an eight-year-old girl after rape at Pallabi in the capital.

Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Violence against Children Prevention Tribunal set the date after both the prosecution and defence completed their arguments in the presence of the accused.

Special public prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu, who is assigned to deal with the case, sought capital punishment for both accused Sohel Rana and Swapna Akter.

However, the state-appointed defence counsel for the accused couple Musa Kalimullah sought maximum life imprisonment for the accused instead of capital punishment.

During the argument, Azizur described how the accused were involved in the crime by presenting different evidence, and citing witness testimonies and relevant legal provisions.

He argued that the prosecution had proved the charges absolutely and therefore sought the ‘severe punishment’ stipulated under the applicable legislation.

Azizur told the tribunal that accused Sohel raped and killed the victim by slitting her throat, severing her hands and causing damage  to other parts of her body in the apartment where Sohel and his wife used to live.

During the murder, azizur added, Swapna neither took any action to prevent the crime nor told anyone anything outside the door or window. Furthermore, when she was asked to open the door, she did not open it and, as a result, Sohel broke the window grill and managed to escape.

He also said that the testimonies and cross-examinations of 16 witnesses had established the guilt of both accused.

Defence lawyer Musa argued that the charge sheet was largely based on confessional statement, questioning different aspects of the investigation.

He mentioned that the knife allegedly used in the killing and the tool used to break the window grill had not undergone forensic examination.

A conviction should not rely solely on such evidence, he argued.

He further argued that Sohel was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident and requested life imprisonment award for the accused instead of capital punishment.

Regarding Swapna, Musa argued that Sohel’s confessional statement and witness testimonies did not directly link her to the murder and sought punishment for her under section 201 of the Penal Code for concealing evidence.

Hearing the final arguments, judge Masrur Salekin fixed June 7 for delivering verdict in the case.

Earlier in the morning, accused Sohel and Swapna were produced before the court at around 11:30am for the hearing.

Although the hearing was initially scheduled to begin at 11:30am, it was postponed and began at about 12:00pm as Swapna had fallen ill.

Sohel on Wednesday begged the court’s pardon and Swapna denied the charges against her while they had been defending themselves in the tribunal.

The tribunal on Tuesday, a day after framing charges against the couple, completed recording the testimonies of 16 prosecution witnesses in the case.

The police on May 24 submitted a charge sheet and supporting documents in connection with the rape and murder of the child.

According to the charge sheet, the investigators found evidence of rape and murder against Sohel and of abetting the crimes against Swapna.

The eight-year-old child’s dismembered remains were recovered at Sohel’s apartment in Pallabi on May 19.

Sohel fled the scene by breaking the window grill of the apartment’s toilet. However, his wife was detained from the scene, and he was later arrested that evening in Narayanganj.

The day after the killing, the child’s father filed a case against Sohel, his wife, and an unidentified person with the Pallabi police station.

On May 20 afternoon, Sohel gave a confessional statement before a Dhaka court.

The rape and murder of the child sparked widespread protests and condemnation across the country demanding a speedy and exemplary trial.