New Delhi, May 4: Four among the five convicted rapists of Nirbhaya - the other being a juvenile - have appealed the Supreme Court to reconsider the death sentenced awarded to them. The convicts have sought mercy, saying, "death penalty is a cold-blooded killing".

The convicts' counsel appealed the court to "have mercy" upon them as they are young and "belong to poor families". The counsel also cited the abolishment of death penalty in several developed countries.

The top court refrained from deciding on the review petition filed by the Nirbhaya rapists on Friday. The court is likely to finalise its verdict in the next hearing.

The rape case dates back to nearly six years, when the 23-year-old Nirbhaya (name changed) was gangraped in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012.

A total of five adults and one juvenile were later nabbed for the horrific crime. The minor convict has been released following the conclusion of his term at the juvenile justice home in 2016.

Of the five adults charged of raping Nirbhaya, one, identified as Ram Singh committed suicide inside the jail premises on March 11.

The remaining - Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur - were sentenced to death in September 2013, by the Hauz Khas court in Delhi. Their conviction was upheld by the High Court in March 2014.

The Supreme court had rejected the convicts' petition challenging the Delhi HC's order on May 7, 2017. The review plea filed by their counsel is the last legally exhaustible option before the convicts.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2018 05:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).