India rape accused says police tortured him

One of five men charged with the gang rape and murder of an Indian student said police tortured him in custody and he and at least three of his co-defendants say they are innocent, lawyers said.

The five accused arrived in court for a closed hearing with their faces covered by scarves, and accompanied for the first time by defence lawyers.

The victim, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, died on Dec 29, two weeks after being raped on a moving bus in New Delhi, then thrown bleeding onto the street along with a male friend who was also beaten.