India, Nov. 11 -- The 17-year-old accused of assisting her father in the murder of seven members of their family in Bengaluru could face trial as an adult if a juvenile justice board determines she meets the criteria under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. The law allows children aged 16-18 accused of heinous offences, including murder, to be tried as adults following a preliminary assessment of their capacity to understand and commit the alleged crime.

The girl, a second-year pre-university student at a private college, allegedly assisted S Indushekar, 52, in killing his wife, Sunitha, and six of her relatives at their home over about 15 days in October. She was arrested along with her father on November 5.

A police officer said investig...