Danielle McLaughlin: CCTV shows Goa murder victim's final moments
Irish woman seen being followed by a man hours before her body is found close to Canacona tourist resort
CCTV footage has emerged showing the final movements of an Irish woman murdered in Goa, in southern India.
Danielle McLaughlin's body was discovered on Tuesday, a mile from the popular tourist resort in Canacona where she was last seen.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"109725","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
McLaughlin, 28, from County Donegal in Ireland, was travelling on a British passport when she arrived in India in February.
She was last seen at a party on Palolem beach on Monday night, celebrating the Holi festival. Her naked body was found by a farmer in an open field close to the beach the following morning. Police said she had sustained injuries to her head and face.
In the CCTV footage, McLaughlin is seen walking in the street with a man behind her, before she turns as if to speak to him.
Police have charged local Vikat Bhagat, 24, with her murder, saying he is the man in a white T-shirt seen in the footage. They also say he had been seen with her at the beach party.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
In addition, officers have seized a scooter and clothes reported to have bloodstains on them.
A source involved in the investigation told the BBC that detectives were confident Bhagat was the "main culprit" in the killing and said he had "confessed" under interrogation.
Deputy Superintendent Sammy Tavares told reporters had they had arrested a suspect who had "confessed to raping the victim and later killing her in order to hide his identity".
A post-mortem has been carried out to determine if McLaughlin had been sexually assaulted.
McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan, paid tribute to her daughter, saying she would be “sadly missed”, reports RTE.
In a written statement, she said: "The family would like to express our thanks to all who have got in touch since receiving this awful news.
"As you can expect we are finding it very difficult at this trying time.”
The Hindustan Times says the murder is the "latest in a series of crimes that has blighted the picturesque state’s reputation as a tourist haven".
In 2008, British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, 15, drowned on a Goan beach after allegedly being given drugs and sexually assaulted before being left for dead.
Two men were later acquitted of her rape and murder.
-
Political cartoons for January 18Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include cost of living, endless supply of greed, and more
-
Exploring ancient forests on three continentsThe Week Recommends Reconnecting with historic nature across the world
-
How oil tankers have been weaponisedThe Explainer The seizure of a Russian tanker in the Atlantic last week has drawn attention to the country’s clandestine shipping network
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians