India | Posted on Mar 23, 2008 at 01:06pm IST

Scarlette case takes a dramatic twist, cops see red

Pramod Acharya, CNN-IBN

Panaji (Goa): The Scarlette Keeling murder case has taken a dramatic new twist. A fresh report by the Forensic Department of Goa Medical College revealed the 15-year-old British tourist was forcibly drowned and did not die of drugs overdose as the police had been claiming.

“There is a lot that needs to be examined like how did the drugs reach them. We also want to find out about the drugs chain,” IGP, Goa, Kishan Kumar said.

The forensic report states that injuries on Scarlette's face suggest that the assailants held her head in such a position that her mouth and nostrils were covered. The report also explained that bruises and abrasions on the body suggest struggle.

According to the report, there is a possibility that the head was submerged in water for five to 10 minutes and levels of ethyl alcohol detected in this case are not enough to cause coma and death.

Meanwhile, Scarlette's mother Fiona and her lawyer said the Goa police have lost credibility after the report.

“I have been saying all along that it's obvious she struggled before she died. A CBI enquiry is the only way to have a non-biased probe. We are in touch with the British High Commission. They are lending help and backing for a CBI enquiry,” Fiona said.

The report also confirmed CNN-IBN's special investigation, which revealed that the police were informed about the homicidal possibility after the first post mortem itself.

With this fresh report by forensic experts, the Goa Police’s position on the murder stands contradicted.

Now, the real question is did Goa Police investigate the case in the right direction or will this report force them to look deeper into the case.

(With inputs from Tulshidas Chari)

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