Scarlett murder case: First witness deposes in Goa court

Panaji (Goa), Apr 6 (ANI): The first witness in the murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling deposed at a Children's court here on Monday

The two accused Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho have been charged with culpable homicide, sexual assault and destroying evidence.

The duo is out on bail at present.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Public Prosecutor S. R. Rivanker said that they have cross-examined the person, who first saw the body of Keeling lying on the sea- shore.

"Today, we examined the first witness, who was the first person who has seen the body lying on the sea shore," said Rivanker, adding that the next hearing would take place on Wednesday (April 7).

"There are three statements that were recorded and something here and there are bound to happen. They are not contradictions in terms, which are very fatal or dangerous to us. They are minor contradictions; they are bound to happen in every cross-examination," he said.

It was only after Scarlett's mother Fiona insisted on a second autopsy that the case took a dramatic turn.

Keeling, a 15-year-old British girl, was raped and murdered at Goa's Anjuna beach in February 2008, triggering criticism of the police and highlighting the lack of safety for tourists in India.

Indian authorities had originally said that Keeling appeared to have drowned after taking drugs. Later, they said a second autopsy had revealed injuries that indicated murder.

The second autopsy revealed bruises all over Keeling's body, sand in her mouth, and not enough saltwater in the lungs for drowning.