Accused in Scarlett case let off
Distraught mother says justice denied, will challenge the verdict
Panaji, Sept. 23: “I am shocked,” said a visibly distraught Fiona MacKeown, after a Goa court on Friday acquitted two local men accused of drugging and sexually abusing her teenage daughter Scarlett Eden Keeling, who was left to die on the Anjuna beach here eight years ago.
“It was quick and I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order,” Fiona MacKeown told reporters outside the court hall here after Goa Children’s Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar let off both the accused Samson D’Souza and Placido Carvalho in the high profile death case, which dented the image of the popular tourist state globally.
After Scarlett’s death in February 2008, Fiona had lived in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case.
“It took a huge effort for me to even get the police to register a complaint (in the case),” she said recalling her struggle to get justice for her 15-yearold daughter.
She alleged she knew that the Goa police was not interested in prosecuting the killers.
“It is clear that they (investigating agencies) are either incompetent or corrupt. And all I can say is that if any international tourist comes to Goa and gets murdered, they have no hope for justice,” she said.
Fiona also claimed that medical evidence confirms that her daughter was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after someone gave her alcohol and cocaine.