Scarlett Keeling Murder: Goa Court Acquits Both Accused Over Rape And Murder Of British Teen In India

Two men charged with the rape and murder of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in Goa eight years ago have been acquitted on all charges by a court in India, as reported by Telegraph.

India locals Samson D’Souza and Placido Carvalho were accused of drugging, raping, and leaving Keelinig unconscious on the beach where she later drowned.

Scarlett’s mother Fiona MacKeown was in attendance during the hearing, which lasted less than a minute.

“That’s it. Not guilty. That was so quick,” a stunned Fiona said immediately after the verdict was made.

“I’m devastated. We’ve been waiting for all this time,” Keeling’s mother added. “I thought they must be found guilty on at least some of the charges. I’m shocked.”

Mother of Scarlett Keeling vows to appeal acquittal https://t.co/9NmWAKwpsy

— The Independent (@Independent) September 23, 2016

Both men appeared impassive throughout the hearing, with D’Souza clasping his hands in prayer when the verdict was announced.

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“Right from the beginning I knew that the local police did not want to prosecute the killers, and it took a huge effort from me to even get the police to register a complaint,” MacKown said after the hearing.

“I can only say that if international tourists come to Goa, and are murdered, they have no hope for justice in this system. The criminal justice system protects the criminals and not the tourists.

“I don’t have the financial resources or the strength to wait for another eight years in appeal.”

MacKeown expressed her intention to appeal the decision. Unfortunately for her, only Indian federal prosecutors have the authority to do so.

D’Souza and Carvalho were also acquitted of inflicting injury or death through supplying drugs and of destroying evidence.

The Goa Police conducted the initial investigation on the case. Before long, the case was handed over to the national investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In February 2008, the bruised and half-naked body of the 15-year-old Scarlett was found in the drug-infested Goa beach town of Anjuna.

The teenage Brit was enjoying a six-month family holiday when the murder happened. Her mother and siblings were staying in a different state at the time.

According to witnesses, D’Souza was the last person spotted with Keeling and Carvalho was identified as the individual who supplied him drugs.

The two men refused to cooperate with the federal investigation.

Fiona MacKeown traveled to Goa from her North Devon home to hear the verdict, which finally resumed after years of delays.

She plans to visit the beach where the body of her daughter was found.

“I want to go there and connect with my daughter. That may be my last trip to the coast whose dark memories still haunt me,” she said.

As reported by Mirror, Scarlett attended a Valentine’s Day beach party as the rest of the family went on a six month trip. Fiona says that she allowed h er daughter to stay with a 25-year-old tour guide as she travelled with her other children and her boyfriend.

A post-mortem examination revealed ecstasy, cocaine, and LSD were in Keeling’s system at the time of her death.

According to Goa’s Children’s Court, 50 separate injuries were inflicted on the teenager’s body. After a police investigation, Samson D’Souza and Placido Carvalho were charged with murder and accused of drugging, raping, and leaving her unconscious on the beach where she drowned.

“This has been going on for so many years. It went through five judges and three public prosecutors,” Fiona said before the verdict was announced.

“I am feeling nervous.

“It has been such a long time that I was waiting for this day.

“I have complete faith in the competence of the authorities.”

Scarlett Keeling was laid to rest four years later in a simple ceremony held in a garden at the family’s home.

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