Tragic teenager 'fed drugs by minister's son' claims mother

THE mother of a British teenager, whose body was found on a popular beach in western India two years ago told a court yesterday that a state government minister's son was among those who gave drugs to her daughter.

The bruised and partially clothed body of Scarlett Keeling, 15, was discovered on a beach in Goa on 18 February 2008.

During her cross-examination by a defence attorney of two men on trial over the killing, Ms Keeling's mother, Fiona Mackeown, 46, accused Goa state Home Minister Ravi Naik, his son and some policemen of being part of a drug mafia in the area.

Ms Mackeown said that Mr Naik's son, Roy, was among those who gave drugs to her daughter, and implied the minister had manipulated the investigation into her daughter's killing.

"I started suspecting Ravi Naik immediately after the murder of my daughter," she told the Goa Children's Court trying the case.She said police took orders from Naik as he was the state home minister.

Police faced strong criticism for their handling of the teenager's death.

The two Indian men on trial are Samson D'Souza, 28, and Placido Carvalho, 36. They were allegedly seen drinking at a bar with Keeling the night she died and were later arrested and face charges of culpable homicide, sexual assault and destroying evidence.

They face between seven and 21 years in prison if convicted. They are currently out on bail.

Roy Naik has not been charged in the case.

In 2008, Ravi Naik accused Ms MacKeown of taking drugs and tarnishing the image of Goa as a tourist destination. Mr Naik also asked India's External Affairs Ministry not to renew her Indian visa because of her "shoddy background".

Ms MacKeown fought back tears in the court yesterday when she was asked to identify her daughter's belongings.

Later, she told reporters that the defence attorney tried to tarnish her daughter's character by saying in the court that she used to drink and have sex regularly.

"It's disgusting. They were trying to make it look as if because Scarlett had a few beers and drugs, it was OK what happened to her," Ms MacKeown said.