Goa court convicts local man for rape-murder of Irish-British woman Danielle McLaughlin
The Hindu
Court convicts accused in Danielle McLaughlin murder case, family thankful for justice, sentencing awaited on February 17.
Nearly eight years after Irish-British national Danielle McLaughlin was raped and brutally murdered in Goa, a court on Friday (February 14, 2025) convicted the lone accused in the case, a 31-year-old local 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.
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 took 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. Her mother is in Goa to witness the verdict.
The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on Monday (February 17, 2025), he said, adding that the public prosecutor demanded the "maximum sentence" for Bhagat. The maximum sentence in such cases is capital punishment.
McLaughlin was found dead in a forested area of Canacona village in South Goa district on March 14, 2017.
"Our thoughts are with the family today. We continue to provide support as required," said the British High Commission in a statement.
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