The most important aspect is that the crime happened inside the girl’s home. It proves just how vulnerable women continue to be even in supposed safe places like their homes. The second is that the killers may have been friends or acquaintances, spending time with her at home. For years, women have been told to stay within four walls and not mix with strangers. Well-meaning though the advice may be, it has been blown to smithereens as more cases turn up of women being assaulted in their homes, at workplace, schools, colleges and even medical institutions by men who are known to them. It is symptomatic of a sick, inequitable society that safe spaces for women are shrinking at an alarming and very disturbing rate.

We have learnt little from the the Nirbhaya case, which became the catalyst of a nation-wide movement. While help became more accessible, and the concept of naming and shaming the accused became more common, there still seems to be no let up in assault cases.

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In the end, it would be the greatest travesty if this victim is judged by parameters like the time she came home, or who she let into her house. It’s high time we focus our judgment on the killers instead.