From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
 
Panaji, Mar 9: Goa court on Monday, March 8 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 shores of Anjuna beach on February 18, 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 February 18, 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.