Mum of murdered British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling has blasted a key witness after her accused killers walked free
The teen's body was found half stripped on the popular Anjuna beach following a 2008 Valentine's Day party
THE mother of murdered British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling yesterday blasted a key witness after her accused killers walked free.
Fiona MacKeown said Brit Michael Mannion had “let down” her 15-year-old daughter, who was raped and killed on holiday in Goa, India, in 2008.
Locals Samson D’Souza, 36, and Placido Carvalho, 47, were yesterday cleared of culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault after Mr Mannion failed to testify.
Scarlett’s mum Fiona, 51, said she was “heartbroken and exhausted”, adding: “I can’t think straight. I still haven’t got justice for my little girl.”
Scarlett’s semi-naked body was found after a Valentine’s Day party at Anjuna Beach. The teen, whose family had travelled along the coast without her, suffered 50 separate injuries.
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D’Souza and Carvalho were accused of plying Scarlett with drugs before attacking her. Mr Mannion, 44, a pal of D’Souza, spoke several times of witnessing the attack.
He claimed to see his friend on Scarlett’s lifeless body on the night she died.
But he failed to give an official statement and said he was too stressed to testify.
Fiona, from Bideford, Devon, said: “The case depended on Michael coming forward and giving an official statement. He promised over the years he would. He’s spoken about witnessing the attack many times but backed down at the last, critical moment.
“He’s a despicable coward and he’s let Scarlett down. I hope he can’t live with himself.”
D’Souza smiled yesterday as he left court, insisting: “There was no evidence against me.”
It is the latest blow to Scarlett’s family after a series of delays.
Police initially said Scarlett’s death was an accidental drowning, and launched a murder case only after a second autopsy was demanded.
It also took four years before her body was returned to the UK.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our focus is on continuing to support the family.”
HIPPY LIFE WITH 9 KIDS
SCARLETT’S mum Fiona MacKeown led a hippy lifestyle with nine kids.
The family grew their own veg on a plot of muddy land littered with caravans in Bideford, Devon.
They lived on benefits but occasionally sold puppies and ponies.
One villager described Fiona as being “very proud” of her gipsy background but said: “They were like Red Indians running around in the woods here. You would see the kids riding horses without saddles and they were clean but unkempt.”
Fiona faced accusations of neglect for leaving Scarlett in Anjuna while the rest of the family travelled along the coast during their trip to India.
The resort is notorious for drug-fuelled beach parties and it later emerged Scarlett was in a sexual relationship with a local tour guide, 25. Fiona once said of leaving her: “Of course I will regret that as long as I live.”
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