Scarlett Keeling case: Goa court acquits two accused, ‘I am shocked’ says her mother

PANAJI: Over eight and a half year old case of mysterious death of British teenager Scarlett keeling at Goa’s Anjuna beach ended in Children’s court with acquittal of the two accused charged for culpable homicide not amounting to murder due to lack of evidence.

The Judge Vandana Tendulkar said that both the accused are acquitted

Reacting to the judgment Fiona mother of Scarlett said that it was quick and I am shock. When asked whether she will challenge the order, Fiona said “yes I will.”

In its efforts to nail the accused, the Central Bureau of Investigations tried to bring the Prime witness from England to Goa. During investigation Britain Micheal Mannion had told the police that he had seen one of the accused, Samson D’Souza lying on the 15-year-old British girl whose body was found at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008. He had said that he also saw the other accused, Placido Carvalho, along with Keeling at a shack, hours before her body was discovered. However, the witness declined to travel to India to give evidence before the court on grounds of threat to his security.

Earlier ,CBI had also made arrangement for Mannion’s deposition on October 15, 2015 from London before the Children’s court in Goa by video conferencing with the help of Indian Embassy in London.

After the local police faced barrage of criticism for failure to properly investigate the case involving alleged administration of drug to the deceased, molestation and consequent death , the government had handed over the case to the CBI. The case had drawn the attention of the international media due to the outburst of the deceased mother Fiona Mackewona against the government and safety of the tourists in Goa

The trial in the case had concluded last month and Goa children’s court reserved the order till September 23.

The judgment was pronounced by Tendulkar in open court. Scarlett’s mother was also present in the court during pronouncement of judgment.

In March 2010, charges were framed against two accused in the. The CBI has filed chargesheets against D’Souza and Carvalho under IPC Sections 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 354 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) and 328 (administrating stupefying drug with an intent to cause hurt).

Bureau Report