<p>“I have been warned that my life is in danger from the drug mafia,” she told the Goa Children’s Court. Asked by the defence to substantiate her allegations of a nexus between Goa’s politicians and the drug mafia, Fiona said, she had been told that “Ravi Naik is the head of the drug nexus along with his son; that policemen are also involved.” She had not made these disclosures before the CBI or the police because she did not have evidence to back it, she said.<br /><br />Ravi Naik is Goa’s home minister and defence lawyer Peter D’Souza — representing Placido Carvalho, one of the two men on trial for Scarlett’s death — said the British mother’s allegations appeared to have been based on mere gossip. Pulling out the stops the defence also tried to paint an unflattering picture of the 15-year-old victim, suggesting that she was into drugs, alcohol and also sexually active at such a young age. <br /><br />Drugs in her system<br /><br />Fiona said she was not aware if Scarlett had ever taken mashish (magic mushroom) or used cocaine, heroin and ecstasy on a regular basis. But it was a fact that there were drugs in her system as the forensic tests showed.<br /><br />She claimed Scarlett had “been given” drugs in the few days leading to her death by Samson D’Souza (the main accused), Carvalho, Julio Lobo(her boyfriend), Ravi Naik’s son, Roy and Roy D’Souza. “They were all giving drugs to a minor,” she told the court. <br /><br />The 46-year-old mother of nine from Devon, UK, turned emotional when she was asked to identify her daughter’s shorts, underwear and sandals — the only material evidence in the case — that she herself recovered from the beach a few days after Scarlett was found dead on February 18, 2008.<br /><br />Fiona who has battled an indifferent police to bring the case to this stage told Deccan Herald outside the court that she was expecting the defence to bring up her past and paint a bad picture of Scarlett. “Is it ok to rape a girl who has had a beer?” she asked.<br /><br />The trial will resume on August 18 with the cross-examination of Samson D’Souza, who has been charged with culpable homicide and sexual assault in the case.<br /><br /></p>
<p>“I have been warned that my life is in danger from the drug mafia,” she told the Goa Children’s Court. Asked by the defence to substantiate her allegations of a nexus between Goa’s politicians and the drug mafia, Fiona said, she had been told that “Ravi Naik is the head of the drug nexus along with his son; that policemen are also involved.” She had not made these disclosures before the CBI or the police because she did not have evidence to back it, she said.<br /><br />Ravi Naik is Goa’s home minister and defence lawyer Peter D’Souza — representing Placido Carvalho, one of the two men on trial for Scarlett’s death — said the British mother’s allegations appeared to have been based on mere gossip. Pulling out the stops the defence also tried to paint an unflattering picture of the 15-year-old victim, suggesting that she was into drugs, alcohol and also sexually active at such a young age. <br /><br />Drugs in her system<br /><br />Fiona said she was not aware if Scarlett had ever taken mashish (magic mushroom) or used cocaine, heroin and ecstasy on a regular basis. But it was a fact that there were drugs in her system as the forensic tests showed.<br /><br />She claimed Scarlett had “been given” drugs in the few days leading to her death by Samson D’Souza (the main accused), Carvalho, Julio Lobo(her boyfriend), Ravi Naik’s son, Roy and Roy D’Souza. “They were all giving drugs to a minor,” she told the court. <br /><br />The 46-year-old mother of nine from Devon, UK, turned emotional when she was asked to identify her daughter’s shorts, underwear and sandals — the only material evidence in the case — that she herself recovered from the beach a few days after Scarlett was found dead on February 18, 2008.<br /><br />Fiona who has battled an indifferent police to bring the case to this stage told Deccan Herald outside the court that she was expecting the defence to bring up her past and paint a bad picture of Scarlett. “Is it ok to rape a girl who has had a beer?” she asked.<br /><br />The trial will resume on August 18 with the cross-examination of Samson D’Souza, who has been charged with culpable homicide and sexual assault in the case.<br /><br /></p>
