The final phase of the trial of one of Goa's most sensational criminal cases in recent times, the 2008 sexual assault and subsequent death of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, got underway in Panaji, even as the victim's mother claims a verdict after eight long years, would bring her closure and for her deceased daughter to justice.
The Goa Children's Court on Wednesday heard arguments from the counsel of the prosecuting agency, the CBI, who claimed that the two beach shack hands Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho had assaulted Scarlett on the night before the teenager was found dead. Defence counsel Marvin D'Souza has claimed that the injury marks on Keeling were a result of "external factors" and not caused due to assault by his clients.
Scarlett was found dead on Anjuna beach in February 2008. Initially, the police tried to dismiss the case as a suicide, but following a sustained campaign by MacKeown, the investigating police retracted from its earlier position, and admitted to the possibility that the teenager could have been murdered.
A second post mortem also revealed that she had been drugged and sexually assaulted.
In course of the trial, the Goa Children's Court examined around 70 witnesses, including MacKeown, who in her court deposition had blamed former Home Minister Ravi Naik and his son for allegedly trying to cover up the probe.
Naik, who has also been linked by a legislative committee report to drug trade in Goa, have however in the past denied any attempt to cover up the investigation.
On Wednesday however, MacKeown has claimed, that she had hope this time round, thanks to a new Government in saddle.
"I believe my daughter is murdered. I have seen the injuries on her body and it would have taken some force to injure her like that. I think the defence is just trying to make it seem like an accident. I believe she was murdered and I believe that will come through," she told reporters after the hearing.
"I think much has changed since the last eight years. I think the police interfered and tried to cover it (the investigation) up. It was supported by the Government, some of the police and some (from) the Governm-ent. Now it is seems different. There is a different Government in place. Some of the policemen who were there, are not there. But I do hope the change is for the better," MacKeown also said. "I hope this case does come to a close now, because the fight for justice has gone on for such a long time," she said.
The mother also said that the British Foreign Office had been in touch with her throughout her ordeal which has stretched over several years.
"They can't give me much support. They can only give what they can give. They stay in touch with me. They keep me up to date with what is happening like the final arguments are happening. They sent me someone to the court from foreign office to support me," she said.
The Keeling sexual assault and homicide case was perhaps one of the most sensational criminal cases of the decade, one which brought the issue of safety of women travellers to Goa, a popular beach tourism destination, in the foreground.