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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Scarlett mother snubs India court | Scarlett mother snubs India court |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mother of teenage rape and murder victim Scarlett Keeling has failed to appear before a court in India to face neglect allegations. | |
| Fiona MacKeown, 43, from Bradworthy, Devon, refused to travel to Goa for Wednesday's hearing because she feared being arrested on arrival. | |
| Ms MacKeown had left Scarlett, 15, in the care of a tour guide when she was found dead on a beach in February. | Ms MacKeown had left Scarlett, 15, in the care of a tour guide when she was found dead on a beach in February. |
| She claims authorities are trying to cover up events surrounding the death. | |
| Ms MacKeown was summoned by Goa's Directorate of Women and Child Development. | Ms MacKeown was summoned by Goa's Directorate of Women and Child Development. |
| Describing the allegations as "a farce", her lawyer Vikram Varma said the case could not proceed in his client's absence. | Describing the allegations as "a farce", her lawyer Vikram Varma said the case could not proceed in his client's absence. |
| Sustained campaign | Sustained campaign |
| Mr Varma said: "It is now being looked at by a government officer who has quasi-judicial powers. | Mr Varma said: "It is now being looked at by a government officer who has quasi-judicial powers. |
| "He will then decide whether to transfer the case to the police for further proceedings." | "He will then decide whether to transfer the case to the police for further proceedings." |
| Ms MacKeown "denies absolutely" any suggestion that she was guilty of neglect in relation to Scarlett and the events surrounding her death. | Ms MacKeown "denies absolutely" any suggestion that she was guilty of neglect in relation to Scarlett and the events surrounding her death. |
| The teenager's body was found on Anjuna beach on 19 February. | The teenager's body was found on Anjuna beach on 19 February. |
| Ms MacKeown had gone travelling with her six other children, leaving Scarlett in the care of the 25-year-old guide. | Ms MacKeown had gone travelling with her six other children, leaving Scarlett in the care of the 25-year-old guide. |
| Police initially said her death was an accidental drowning. | Police initially said her death was an accidental drowning. |
| However, after a sustained campaign by Ms MacKeown, they carried out a second post-mortem examination which revealed Scarlett had been murdered. | However, after a sustained campaign by Ms MacKeown, they carried out a second post-mortem examination which revealed Scarlett had been murdered. |
| Two local men case - Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho - have been arrested over the case. Both have been granted bail. | Two local men case - Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho - have been arrested over the case. Both have been granted bail. |