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Goa mother faces 'neglect' probe | Goa mother faces 'neglect' probe |
(40 minutes later) | |
The mother of a British girl found dead on a beach in Goa has said police may question her about possible negligence. | The mother of a British girl found dead on a beach in Goa has said police may question her about possible negligence. |
Fiona MacKeown, 43, left her daughter Scarlett Keeling, 15, in Goa while she travelled to another part of India. | Fiona MacKeown, 43, left her daughter Scarlett Keeling, 15, in Goa while she travelled to another part of India. |
Mrs MacKeown, who lives near Bideford, Devon, said: "I don't think I was negligent. I just think I was naive." | Mrs MacKeown, who lives near Bideford, Devon, said: "I don't think I was negligent. I just think I was naive." |
Indian police originally insisted that Miss Keeling, whose body was found on 19 February, had drowned, but a man has now been charged with her rape. | |
I think I was probably naive and too trusting of the people around her Fiona MacKeown | I think I was probably naive and too trusting of the people around her Fiona MacKeown |
The superintendent of police, Bosco George, in Goa, told the BBC "we will have to question the mother" but would not say in connection with what. | |
He also said the police had made no formal or informal request to ask her to come for questioning. | |
JP Singh, chief secretary to the government of Goa, told the BBC the case had been blown out of proportion. | JP Singh, chief secretary to the government of Goa, told the BBC the case had been blown out of proportion. |
He said the coverage of the case had overlooked basic facts including that the 15-year-old had been left alone and had a history of drug abuse. | He said the coverage of the case had overlooked basic facts including that the 15-year-old had been left alone and had a history of drug abuse. |
Mrs McKeown said she had left her daughter in the care of a 25-year-old tour guide that Miss Keeling had befriended in the resort of Anjuna. | |
She and her six other children then went to the neighbouring state of Karnataka. | |
Police criticised | Police criticised |
She told the BBC: "I think I was probably naive and too trusting of the people around her. | She told the BBC: "I think I was probably naive and too trusting of the people around her. |
"That's probably the worst thing I've done. I don't think I was negligent in any other way. | "That's probably the worst thing I've done. I don't think I was negligent in any other way. |
"As far as I was concerned she was in very good hands and these people cared for her." | "As far as I was concerned she was in very good hands and these people cared for her." |
She added: "She wasn't left here, at the end of the day. She was in contact, in constant contact with us." | She added: "She wasn't left here, at the end of the day. She was in contact, in constant contact with us." |
Indian police have faced severe criticism over their handling of the case. | Indian police have faced severe criticism over their handling of the case. |
Goa's Tourism Minister Francisco X Pacheco accused officers of deliberately trying to cover up Miss Keeling's murder. | Goa's Tourism Minister Francisco X Pacheco accused officers of deliberately trying to cover up Miss Keeling's murder. |
Local man Samson D'Souza, 29, appeared in court on Monday charged with her rape but not with murder. | Local man Samson D'Souza, 29, appeared in court on Monday charged with her rape but not with murder. |