Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: In a significant verdict, the Margao Principal District and Sessions Court in Goa has sentenced Vikat Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment for the rape and murder of Danielle McLaughlin, a 28-year-old Irish-British backpacker. The crime, which shook the community, occurred on March 14, 2017, during the Holi celebrations in Canacona, a popular tourist area in Goa.
Danielle McLaughlin, originally from Buncrana in County Donegal, Ireland, had travelled to India in February 2017 with an Australian friend.
The two were staying in a beach hut and had participated in Holi festivities in a nearby village the night before her body was discovered. McLaughlin, a former student of Liverpool John Moores University, was found dead in a field near Palolem beach, with severe injuries to her head and face, and evidence of brain damage and strangulation.
Vikat Bhagat, 31, who had a prior criminal record involving theft, assault, and robbery, was the sole accused in the case. Despite his initial denial of the charges, the court convicted him under sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape), and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. The conviction was the result of a lengthy trial that spanned eight years, marked by multiple adjournments and delays, including challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prosecution’s case was bolstered by substantial physical evidence, including injury marks on Bhagat’s body, the victim’s blood found on his clothes and scooter, and a backpack containing blood-stained clothing near his residence. Public Prosecutor Devendra Korgaonkar argued for the maximum punishment, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime.
Danielle’s family, who had tirelessly fought for justice, expressed their gratitude to the public prosecutors, lawyers, and investigating officers. “We have lost nearly eight years of our lives fighting for Danielle, and we are so thankful that we now can start grieving her immeasurable loss,” they stated. The family also acknowledged the support from the British and Irish embassies and consular staff throughout the ordeal.
The sentencing, pronounced by Judge Kshama Joshi, brings a measure of closure to the family, though it cannot alleviate the pain of their loss. As Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris noted, “While nothing can ease the pain of their loss, I hope that this verdict represents some closure for the family.”
