Scarlett Keeling murder case: Accused hail verdict

Scarlett’s mother Fiona Mackeown, in the media campaign after her daughter’s death, had called for the investigation of drug racket in the state that led to the death of her teenage daughter.

PANAJI A Goa court on Friday cleared two men of rape and culpable homicide of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, eight years after her death.

It came after a series of delays in the eight-year long case, which saw a change in prosecutor.

Samson D’Souza reportedly said: “Justice has prevailed”.

Fiona MacKeown, the mother of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling, said she was shocked by the verdict.

Ms MacKeown claimed there had been “delay tactics” by authorities and “they hoped I’d get exhausted and get fed up of waiting or wouldn’t come back”.

Her mother’s unconventional lifestyle drew criticism and she had to fight to protect her reputation and that of her daughter.

“Since the incident happened, it (the trial) has been going on. but forget the image of Goa, forget prospects of tourism, what I am sorry is about the family and (Scarlett’s) her mother”, he said.

Fiona also claimed that medical evidence confirms that her daughter was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine.

According to Goa’s Children’s Court, 50 separate injuries were inflicted on the teenager’s body. “I thought they must be found guilty on at least some of the charges”.

D’Souza was charged of sexually abusing the girl and leaving her to die on the shore, while Carvalho was accused of providing narcotics to her on the fateful night.

Fiona had allowed her to stay with a 25-year-old tour guide while she travelled with her other children.

“My last memory of her is her squealing and jumping up and down, hugging me and saying, ‘Thanks mum, I love you, ‘” she has told journalists. Refraining from commenting further, Khan said that once they get the order copy CBI will determine the grounds to challenge it.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as “Masala Mike”, also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution’s case.

“I’d really like to see her reasons for acquitting them on everything after the statements clearly said we know about the drugs – so many witnesses said about the drugs I thought she’d have at least charged them with that”.

‘Obviously I will regret that decision for the rest of my life that I let her go to that party.