Indian actors face trial for killing rare deer

NEW DELHI (AP) — An Indian court will try five Bollywood actors, including action hero Salman Khan, for allegedly killing two rare deer in a western India wildlife preserve 14 years ago.

Attorney K.L. Vyas says while Salman Khan has been charged with shooting the bucks, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre and others allegedly abetted the crime by encouraging him while hunting in Rajasthan state.

The Indian court system is notoriously slow and it often takes years and even decades for a case to go to trial.

If convicted, they face three to six years in prison. The actors deny the charges.

Four of the accused appeared before Magistrate Chandrakala Jain on Saturday.

Two days ago, Sanjay Dutt, another actor, had a conviction for illegal possession of weapons upheld.