Charges framed against 2 locals in Scarlet case

PTI, PANAJI | 08 March 2010 20:00 IST

Goa court today framed charges against two locals for grave sexual assault and destroying evidence in the sensational Scarlet Eden Keeling death case, reported in the state in 2008.

Goa Children's court also pressed charges including culpable homicide, outraging modesty, destroying evidence and moreover, grave sexual assault under Goa Children's Act, against duo - Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho.

The battered semi nude corpse of British teenager was found on the shore of Anjuna beach on 18 February 2008. The police investigation had zeroed down on the duo accused, who were also chargesheeted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe at its fag end.

Goa Children's Court President B P Deshpande today directed to begin the trial in this case, which had attracted world attention due to the initial shoddy investigation by Goa police and subsequent campaign by Fiona Mackeown, Scarlett's mother, claiming police-drug peddler nexus in the state.

The charges read that duo accused, on 18 February 2008 between 3:30am to 5:30am at Luis Shack, Goverkarwada, Anjuna beach, administered or caused to be taken by the minor victim cocaine lines, ecstasy tablets and beer, which are stupefying, intoxicating or unwholesome drugs with intent to cause or knowing it likely that will thereby cause death.

The court pressed sections 328 (intention or facilitate the commission of offense), 354 (outraging modesty), 201 (destroying evidence) and 109 (abetment in the offense under section 304-II) of IPC and section 8(2) of GCA 2003 against the accused.

The CBI in their chargesheet claimed to have examined over 200 witnesses.

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As per the newspaper reports, recently one Hon. Highcourt Judge gave a statement that with the current speed of disposal of cases, it would take 320 years for disposal of all the pending cases in various Courts in India.

What does this mean? If this is true, then is this system adequate to meet the challenges before the country and control the crimes? If such is the delay involved in the system, then why no efforts are made by the lawmakers and Judiciary and the Government to take remedial actions? Or is this deliberately been allowed to degenerate to this level for political reasons?

- Vishwas Prabhudesai, Loliem | 09 th March 2010 09:57