Mother of murdered Goa teenager 'to be investigated'
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2008 17:15
Scarlett Keeling was found dead in February
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The mother of a teenager murdered in Goa is to be investigated for negligence, reports claim.
Scarlett Keeling, 15, was found dead on Anjuna beach on February 18th.
Her mother, Fiona Keeling, left Scarlett with the teenager's boyfriend's family while she took the rest of her children travelling round the neighbouring area for three weeks.
Reports now suggest that Ms Keeling may be investigated for negligence, an allegation she has strongly denied.
Ms Keeling claims she was in constant touch with her daughter, although admitted she may have been too trusting of other people.
"Of course I feel responsible, but she wasn't supposed to be out," Ms Keeling told Sky News.
"I feel responsible for being too trusting, I certainly don't feel I was negligent.
"I was always in touch with her on the phone on the days she wasn't with us. She was with good people, who we believe would look after her."
Indian police have received considerable criticism for their handling of the case, after initially claiming Scarlett had drowned and had a history of drug abuse.
Goa's tourism minister Francisco Pacheco has accused the police of deliberately trying to cover up the murder of the British teenager.
A local man, Samson D'Souza, 29, appeared in court yesterday charged with raping the 15-year-old but not with her murder.
Scarlett's mother expressed her displeasure with the way local police had conducted the investigation into her daughter's death and claimed she must have "rocked their boat" on hearing reports of police plans to interview her.
"I must have rocked their boat and they're trying to change the focus. It's worrying because I don't understand the system here," she said.