Two Suspects Cleared Of The Rape And Killing Of Teenager Scarlett Keeling.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3803625/Two-Indian-men-CLEARED-death-British-teenager-Scarlett-Keeling-beach-Goa-eight-years-ago-2008.html

[jackthehat]

Must be a devastating blow to her family.

[andy-hughes]

It would appear from the report that the procedures necessary to prosecute this case successfully have not been followed.

Sadly, other countries do not offer the robust judicial system that we enjoy.

A travesty, and a tragedy.

[Mamyalynne]

The description 'shell shocked' in the article sums it up, so sad after all this time.

[agchristie]

From link:-

'Somebody murdered my daughter in this country and someone needs to be held accountable. I'm devastated and shocked.

'We thought justice would finally be done, but it hasn't. We had shown faith in the Indian judicial system, but the Indian system has let me down. This verdict is rubbish and we will file an appeal in the High Court.'

If the verdict was 'rubbish' why did the mother use the phrase 'somebody[i murdered my daughter' and not [i]they]?

I do wonder if the verdict would have been different had a key witness not been exempted.

[youngmafbog]

//A travesty, and a tragedy.//

So you know, without doubt, what a Court doesnt then?

Looks to me like their Judicial system does work. I must admit I thought this would be aa kangaroo court, but obviously not.

[andy-hughes]

YMB - ////A travesty, and a tragedy.//

So you know, without doubt, what a Court doesnt then?

Looks to me like their Judicial system does work. I must admit I thought this would be aa kangaroo court, but obviously not. //

I understand that the case was dismissed because of lack of evidence, which is right and proper under the judicial system.

The travesty occurs when an eye-witness's testimony is not admitted.

The tragedy is self-explanatory.

[andy-hughes]

Ag - //If the verdict was 'rubbish' why did the mother use the phrase 'somebody[i murdered my daughter' and not [i]they]? //

I think you have to be aware of what you say when surrounded by lawyers, including the defence lawyers in this case.

Saying 'They murdered my daughter ..." would be slanderous, and no doubt lead to instant arrest and charges.

[anotheoldgit]

As a reader suggested, if she was raped, wasn't there any DNA evidence?

Another reader Ajeet, Delhi, India, also stated:

/// It must be a shock to the Brits that we don't send innocent to jails just because the Brits want us to. That India was when the Brits were ruling us, but now its punishing the natives only when they do the crime. ///

And:

/// Though tragic, the Indian justice system is now turning like the British one. ///

I wonder if our Mr Ajeet actually lives in Delhi or has chosen to settle with the nasty Brits?

[agchristie]

Andy > Saying 'They murdered my daughter ..." would be slanderous, and no doubt lead to instant arrest and charges.

What I was trying to get across was that the mother ridiculed the verdict implying that it was incorrect and on the other hand left room for doubt saying 'somebody killed my daughter'.

[youngmafbog]

//The travesty occurs when an eye-witness's testimony is not admitted. // (Sorry not copied you whole post)

And you know the reason for this then? This often happens in this country too, not all evidence is admissible.

It's a tragedy no-one has been 'done' for it, but surely you are not advocating (it's a travesty) that a potentially innocent man goes to jail?

Often I am not happy with a Courts decision, but it's the fairest way there is and sometimes things will go wrong. But without ALL the evidence to sift through we cannot know whether this was such a case.

[agchristie]

It is a travesty that key evidence was ruled inadmissable though it has to be remembered that such evidence would be cross-examined and there would be no guarantee of conviction based on that evidence.

[andy-hughes]

YMB - //It's a tragedy no-one has been 'done' for it, but surely you are not advocating (it's a travesty) that a potentially innocent man goes to jail? //

No I am not advocating that - clue - I did not say that.

You have developed a habit of seeing things in my posts that are not there, and the questioning me about them.

Very strange.

[andy-hughes]

AG - //What I was trying to get across was that the mother ridiculed the verdict implying that it was incorrect and on the other hand left room for doubt saying 'somebody killed my daughter'. //

I don't read it that way.

I think what the mother is saying is that someone is responsible for the death of her daughter, and if the court decides that these two are not guilty, then it follows that another person or persons is / are guilty.

[agchristie]

Andy - if somebody told me that the verdict is 'rubbish', I would assume that the person did not accept that the accused was innocent and the court is wrong.

I think the mother is understandably frustrated and disappointed that the men have walked free but that she opposes the verdict.