1. The Delhi gang-rape
In an inhumane incident that shocked the world, a girl barely out of her teen years, was brutally gang-raped and assaulted by six men in a private bus and thrown out of the moving vehicle along with her male friend late last year. The paramedic student and her boyfriend were admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital. The victim succumbed to injuries and died on Dec 29 last year. This sparked outrage and protests from people from all walks of life. On Jan 3 this year, the Indian police filed charge sheet against five adult accused for offences including murder, gangrape, attempt to murder, kidnapping and unnatural offences. On Feb 28, 2013, a minor was charged as well. On March 11, one of the accused, Ram Singh, commits suicide in Tihar jail. On Aug 31, the minor was convicted for gang rape and murder and was awarded three years term at a probation home. On Sept 13, the Court awards death to all four other convicts.
2. The Oscar Pistorius saga
He was the most famous blade runner of our years. Although both of Pistorius' legs were amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, he competed in events meant for single below-knee amputees and for able-bodied athletes. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, Pistorius became the first amputee to win an able-bodied world track medal. However, his flying career came to quite a standstill when on February 14, 2013, his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was found shot and killed at Pistorius’ home and he was taken into police custody and was formally charged with her murder on Feb 15. As his trial for the murder was ongoing, he was also charged with two additional firearm charges on Nov 20, believed to relate to shooting a gun in public on two occasions.
3. The Domestic Goddess drama
Nigella Lawson may be a world-renowned cook who whips up mouth watering food in dreamy kitchens. But this year, she came under intense public scrutiny for her life outside the kitchen. More so when allegations of her drug usage came into limelight. The domestic goddess brought two of her personal assistants to court for allegedly misusing company credit cards belonging to Lawson and husband Charles Saatchi. In June this year however, photos of Saatchi with his hands around her throat outside a London restaurant were leaked causing her private life to be exposed to the public. The scrutiny intensified when Lawson was accused of being a habitual drug user by Saatchi. During her testimony, Lawson admitted taking cocaine several times, but insisted she did not have a "drug problem". On Dec 21, her two personal assistants, were found innocent of the charge.
4. Troubled Lindsay and her equally troubled family
Well, lets put it this way. Lindsay Lohan may be an actress but she has spent more time in courts and rehabilitation centres than in movie sets in recent times. The actress, in August this year, came out of her sixth rehabilitation. Most of the rehabilitations had been for driving under the influence of alcohol and drug possession. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the actress admitted having an addiction to alcohol which she described as a gateway to other drugs. The actress' father, Michael, also has said he has dealt with drug and alcohol addiction. On Sept 13, her mother Dina Lohan, was arrested and charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated.
5. Egypt’s killer riots
Egypt's armed forces overthrew elected Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, and the whole country erupted in countless riots, killing many in the process. Morsi was detained along with his guards at the defence ministry on July 3. On Dec 18, Egypt's public prosecutor ordered Morsi and 35 other Islamists to stand trial on charges including conspiring with foreign groups to commit terrorist acts in Egypt and divulging military secrets to a foreign state. The charges leveled against Morsi and other top Muslim Brotherhood members could result in their execution. Morsi was already standing trial for inciting violence during protests outside the presidential palace a year ago when he was still in office.
