- Saturday, February 15, 2025
Danielle McLaughin was found dead in a forested area of Canacona village in Goa on March 14, 2017. The judge will pronounce the quantum of the sentence on February 17
By: India Weekly
NEARLY eight years after Irish-British national Danielle McLaughin was raped and brutally murdered in Goa, a court on Friday (14) convicted the lone accused in the case, a 31-year-old resident.
While the prosecution demanded the maximum sentence for the accused Vikat Bhagat, the judge said she would pronounce the quantum of sentence on February 17.
The maximum sentence in such cases is capital punishment.
In a statement, family members of McLaughin – who was 28 years old at the time of her death in 2017 – said they were thankful to everyone who made efforts to ensure justice for her.
Judge Kshama Joshi of the District and Sessions Court at Margao in South Goa found Bhagat guilty of both the offences, said Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing the victim’s mother Andrea Brannigan.
McLaughin was found dead in a forested area of Canacona village in South Goa district on March 14, 2017.
Her mother was in Goa to witness the verdict. “Our thoughts are with the family today. We continue to provide support as required,” said the British High Commission in a statement.
After the verdict, the victim’s family members also issued a media statement which was read out by their representative.
“We as Danielle’s family and friends are so thankful to everyone involved in our fight for justice, they have treated her like their daughter and have tirelessly fought for her,” it said.
They were thankful that their hard work paid off and Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of “taking Danielle from them”, the family said.
As per the chargesheet filed by Goa Police, McLaughlin, who hailed from Donegal in Northwest Ireland, was on a visit to Goa as a tourist in March 2017 when Bhagat befriended her.
He murdered her after spending an evening with her, the chargesheet said.
Danielle was struck with a stone which resulted in her death, it said. Her body was found lying in a pool of blood without clothes, with injuries to the head and face. (PTI)
