Scarlett Keeling's killers 'gave her drugs', claims her mother

Panaji (Goa), Aug.3 (ANI): The mother of a British teenager Scarlett Keeling has told a children's court in Panaji, Goa, that daughter was given drugs by the two men who have been convicted for her rape and murder.

Fiona MacKeown, 46, who was giving evidence at the Indian Children's Court, told the court that Scarlett was given cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, and she also identified some of Scarlett's clothing at the hearing.

The body of her daughter, 15, a resident of Bideford, Devon, was found on a beach in Anjuna, Goa, in February 2008.

Samson D'Souza, 30, and Placido Carvalho, 42, the two accused, have denied their role in the culpable homicide.

Goa was rife with drugs and top local government officials were involved in the trade, she claimed.

MacKeown broke down when she identified a pair of dark blue shorts, white underwear and brown sandals as her daughter's belongings.

She found the clothes behind a shack on the beach a day after Scarlett's death.

Carvalho's lawyer, Peter D'Souza, questioned the quality of the investigation carried out by India's premier crime-fighting organisation, the Central Bureau of Investigation, pointing out that the investigating officer had not been attending the trial.

He also said there was a discrepancy between the first and second post-mortem examinations where the issue of Scarlett's rape emerged.

Ms MacKeown, who did not believe that Scarlett had drowned accidentally as the first set of tests had found, held a second post-mortem examination after a campaign.

Peter D'Souza also told the court that MacKeown was making false statements under oath when she denied knowing her daughter was sexually active, took drugs and used to get drunk.

The trial is expected to continue for the rest of the year. (ANI)