Scarlett’s mother demands relook at forensic report

LONDON: Fiona MacKeowna, mother of Scarlett Keeling who was killed five years ago, has urged the Goa children's court to take a relook at the forensic report that discounted rape citing a "negative" result of vaginal swab tests. 

"It is absolutely rubbish. Scarlett was definitely physically and sexually assaulted. Doctors even told me that her face was forced into the water that ultimately killed her. She had bruises on her head and back. This aspect never came out in the forensic report given in the court," Fiona told TOI.

Four doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences have been asked to depose before the Goa children's court in the case. 

The court issued summons to three forensic experts — Dr DN Bharadwaj, Dr T Millo and Dr Sanjeev Lalvani — and a pathology professor, Dr Rama Roy, in connection with the killing of the minor British girl in Goa in 2008. 

The team of doctors had conducted chemical analysis of the remains of Scarlett who was found dead on the Anjuna beach. 

Two accused -- Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho -- are being tried for the death of Scarlett, whose bruised body was found on February 18, 2008. 

The CBI filed a chargesheet in connection with the case and so far the court has examined 22 witnesses. 

Reacting to the Court's order, Fiona said, "I am very happy that the court has asked the doctors to depose. Police may have destroyed important forensic evidence. The court should take a relook at the forensic reports." 

Fiona, who has been trying to meet Britain's foreign office officials to ask for speedy trial, said: "The last time I was given an appointment was in April but the meeting never took place. The foreign ministry in UK has been dragging its feet on the case. I will start pushing them to get justice for my daughter." 

She is also upset with the foreign office for not allowing her access to the file that contains all developments in the case so far. "The foreign office last showed me Scarlett's file three years back. I haven't been privy to the developments ever since. I want to see the file under the Freedom of Information Act. It took me four and a half years to bury my daughter. I have found no response to all my queries from the Indian authorities either," she said.