Scarlett Keeling murder case: CBI to file chargesheet by Oct 23

CBI, which was handed over the case following allegations that the local police is trying to cover up the case, will file its chargesheet against accused - Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho before a Children's court in Goa on or before October 23, CBI officials said on Wednesday.

On February 18 last year, 15-year-old Scarlett's bruised and semi-nude body was found at the Anjuna beach in Goa. Local police had arrested D'Souza, a barman and Carvalho, a drug dealer and had charged them for allegedly drugging, raping and abandoning Scarlett to die on the beach.

The chargesheet includes statements of eye witnesses who saw Scarlett with the two accused on the day of the alleged murder, statement of police and the doctor who examined Scarlett's body and also the statement of the victim's mother Fiona Mackeown.
Both the accused are presently out on bail.

"The CBI's chargesheet should prosecute not only the two arrested accused but also those persons who are involved in the destruction of evidence," Fiona's lawyer Vikram Verma said.

The CBI had in July this year sought time to investigate the case and file its chargesheet following which the High Court had granted it three months time. "However, on October 14 the CBI sought ten more days to file its chargesheet assuring that they would not seek more time," Verma said.

Fiona had alleged that the local police is trying to cover up the case and thus save the accused, following which the High Court transferred the case to CBI. While the forensic expert Silvano Sapeco, who conducted the first autopsy on Scarlett and the police sub-inpector Nerlon Albuquerque, who investigated the case were suspended, both their suspension was later revoked.

"Sapeco in his autopsy report had stated the death as accidental drowning without looking into the 46 bruises on Scarlett's body," Verma said. The second autopsy report conducted by another doctor stated the death as homicide and also confirmed that Scarlett was raped.