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Two men cleared over Scarlett Keeling Goa death Two men cleared over Scarlett Keeling Goa beach death
(35 minutes later)
Two men have been cleared of all charges over the death of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling on a Goan beach in 2008.Two men have been cleared of all charges over the death of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling on a Goan beach in 2008.
Placido Carvalho, 48, and Samson D'Souza, 37, faced charges of culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault at Goa Children's Court.Placido Carvalho, 48, and Samson D'Souza, 37, faced charges of culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault at Goa Children's Court.
The teenager, from Bideford in Devon, was on a six-month "trip of a lifetime" to India with her family when she died.The teenager, from Bideford in Devon, was on a six-month "trip of a lifetime" to India with her family when she died.
Her mother Fiona MacKeown said she was "devastated" about the verdict.Her mother Fiona MacKeown said she was "devastated" about the verdict.
For live updates on this story click hereFor live updates on this story click here
"I am reeling," she told reporters outside the court. "It's been eight years of agony. I feel devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict."I am reeling," she told reporters outside the court. "It's been eight years of agony. I feel devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict.
"We had been waiting all this time and it's just rubbish. India's whole judicial system has totally let me down."We had been waiting all this time and it's just rubbish. India's whole judicial system has totally let me down.
"Somebody murdered my daughter in this country and somebody must be held accountable.""Somebody murdered my daughter in this country and somebody must be held accountable."
At the scene: BBC Correspondent Justin RowlattAt the scene: BBC Correspondent Justin Rowlatt
It took a matter of seconds for the president of Goa's Children's Court to give her verdict. There was a moment of silence as the packed courtroom took on board what she had said. Scarlett Keeling's mother, Fiona MacKeown, was visibly shocked. Samson D'Souza, one of the two accused, smiled as he left the court. He told the BBC he had always been confident that he would be acquitted. "There was no evidence against me", he said. Ms MacKeown and her lawyer are now meeting to discuss whether to appeal the judgement.It took a matter of seconds for the president of Goa's Children's Court to give her verdict. There was a moment of silence as the packed courtroom took on board what she had said. Scarlett Keeling's mother, Fiona MacKeown, was visibly shocked. Samson D'Souza, one of the two accused, smiled as he left the court. He told the BBC he had always been confident that he would be acquitted. "There was no evidence against me", he said. Ms MacKeown and her lawyer are now meeting to discuss whether to appeal the judgement.
Scarlett's bruised and partially clothed body was found on Anjuna beach just after dawn on 18 February 2008.Scarlett's bruised and partially clothed body was found on Anjuna beach just after dawn on 18 February 2008.
The family had spent two months at the Goan resort before travelling down coast to Karnataka - but Scarlett was allowed to return to attend a Valentine's Day beach party.The family had spent two months at the Goan resort before travelling down coast to Karnataka - but Scarlett was allowed to return to attend a Valentine's Day beach party.
She was left in the care of 25-year-old tour guide Julio Lobo, Ms MacKeown said.She was left in the care of 25-year-old tour guide Julio Lobo, Ms MacKeown said.
"That's the last memory I have of her, squealing and being excited because I said yes," Ms MacKeown has recalled.
"I have to live with that every day that I let her go."
Two days after Scarlett's body was discovered, her mother found her sandals, pants and shorts close to the beach.Two days after Scarlett's body was discovered, her mother found her sandals, pants and shorts close to the beach.
"There was no investigation," she has said."There was no investigation," she has said.
The police in Goa initially concluded the teenager died accidentally but, after a campaign by her family, a second post-mortem examination in March 2008 revealed she had been drugged and raped before drowning in seawater. The police in Goa initially concluded the teenager died accidentally but, after a campaign by her family, a second post mortem in March 2008 revealed she had been drugged and raped before drowning in seawater.
Traces of cocaine, ecstasy and LSD were found in her system.Traces of cocaine, ecstasy and LSD were found in her system.
She suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack, the court was told previously.She suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack, the court was told previously.
The case was taken up by India's Central Bureau of Investigation and Mr D'Souza and Mr Carvalho were arrested in March 2008.The case was taken up by India's Central Bureau of Investigation and Mr D'Souza and Mr Carvalho were arrested in March 2008.
They were charged with culpable homicide, grievous sexual assault, destroying evidence, assault with criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty and administering drugs with intent to harm. They denied all the charges.They were charged with culpable homicide, grievous sexual assault, destroying evidence, assault with criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty and administering drugs with intent to harm. They denied all the charges.
The prosecution alleged that Mr Carvalho and Mr D'Souza, who was working at a beach-side shack near where Scarlett's body was found, had plied her with drugs then attacked her.The prosecution alleged that Mr Carvalho and Mr D'Souza, who was working at a beach-side shack near where Scarlett's body was found, had plied her with drugs then attacked her.
But it took two years for the trial to begin, in March 2010, and a further six years to reach a verdict. But it took two years for the trial to begin, in March 2010. With 72 witnesses to be called, the court case was expected to last a year but prosecutor SR Rivonkar resigned the following February, causing further delays.
Ms MacKeown had to wait four-and-a-half years to bury her daughter. By December 2013, 30 witnesses had given evidence, with dozens more to go.
Along with the delays in court, Ms MacKeown had to wait four-and-a-half years to bury her daughter.
She was finally laid to rest in June 2012, in a garden at the family's home in Devon.She was finally laid to rest in June 2012, in a garden at the family's home in Devon.
"She wanted to be more grown up than she actually was," Ms MacKeown said. "She was very bubbly, she was always singing and dancing and had lots of friends. She was clever, lively and intelligent."
As Judge Vandana Tendulkar returned the not guilty verdicts, the accused broke out into smiles.As Judge Vandana Tendulkar returned the not guilty verdicts, the accused broke out into smiles.
"I am happy with the verdict. Justice has prevailed," Mr D'Souza told reporters."I am happy with the verdict. Justice has prevailed," Mr D'Souza told reporters.
Defence lawyer Marvin D'Souza said the investigation had been influenced by diplomatic pressure and trial by media.Defence lawyer Marvin D'Souza said the investigation had been influenced by diplomatic pressure and trial by media.