Eye witness to UK teen's murder case

London, March 10: A British man who has claimed that he saw an Indian barman sexually assaulting Scarlett Keeling less than two hours before the 15-year-old British girl's half-naked body was found on a beach in Goa, has approached the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for help and security. According to the witness, who asked not to be identified, the attack took place after Scarlett left Lui's bar on Anjuna Beach high on a cocktail of LSD, Ecstasy and cocaine at 5 a.m. on February 18. Goa Police have now confirmed that Scarlett was murdered after a second autopsy, which was insisted upon by her mother, Fiona MacKeown, who refused to accept that her daughter had drowned.

The witness said that he fled Goa because he believed that his life was in danger from the alleged assailant and the local police. He has also accused British consular officials of "hanging him out to dry" after he asked for their help and protection. "I'm trying to do the right thing; I want to co-operate," he said. "But I feel that I am in great danger and the British authorities are doing nothing to help me," The Times quoted the witness, as saying. Goa Police has detained three Indian men for questioning, including Luis Coutinho, the owner of Lui's. They are searching for four others. The British witness's testimony could now be crucial, if British consular officials agree to help to arrange a meeting with a top Goan police officer and to escort the witness to the police station to guarantee his safety.

ANI