Panaji: The Goa police on Thursday claimed that the prime suspect in the murder of Scarlette Keeling has confessed to the crime and he has already been charged with the rape and murder of the 15-year-old British tourist.
Claiming a breakthrough in the tourist murder probe, the police said the 29-year-old bartender, Samson D'Souza, has confessed to drugging the British teenager and dumping her in shallow water after sexually abusing her.
The second accused in the case, Placido Carvalho, alias Shanuboy, — allegedly a drug dealer — gave drugs to Scarlette on that fateful night.
Goa IGP Kishen Kumar claimed Shanuboy intoxicated Scarlette with a cocktail of narcotics and alcohol. "Samson D'Souza then raped her and left her unconscious beyond the high tide line where she later drowned," he said.
The girl died due to a drug overdose and drowning in shallow water, the IGP said. 15-year-old Scarlette's semi-nude body was found on Anjuna beach on February 18.
Shanuboy, alias Carvalho, was arrested on Wednesday night following two days of interrogation.
A district and sessions court on Thursday rejected his plea for anticipatory bail and sent his to 14 days' police custody.
Carvalho's arrest came 48 hours after a 29-year-old bartender, Samson D'Souza, was arrested in connection with the case after a 'witness' claimed in British media that he had seen Samson with Scarlette hours before her body was found.
According to the police, what really nailed Samson was the circumstantial evidence found on the site and the statement of witnesses who were present at the Louis shack at that time.
Thorough interrogation of the two accused throughout Wednesday night confirmed that the girl had consumed high doses of cocaine and alcohol when she entered the beach shack during the wee hours on that fateful day.
"These two people knowing very well that Scarlette was fully drunk, exploited her," the police claim.
Police say they have also found the missing link as to what really happened between the time she was seen with Samson till the time her body was found.
Mother Claims Cover-up Bid
Meanwhile, Scarlette's mother Fiona Mackeown alleged on Thursday that she was offered money by some unnamed persons to withdraw the case. Mackeown's revelations have strengthened her allegations that there was a coverup attempt in the case.
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"I do believe that there are more people involved. These two guys are small fish. These guys may be paid to take the rap. I do believe that they were probably there that evening and they were involved with my daughter. I believe they drugged and raped her. But I still believe somebody murdered her. The police aren't using that word," she said.
Mackeown has also reiterated her demand for a comprehensive enquiry into her daughter's murder.
"I am still appealing to the Government of India to see that justice is done in this case. I am not suggesting that they have been turning a blind eye towards what's been going on. I do believe that they have not been getting a clear picture of what's been going on," she said.
The Goa police had initially declared Scarlette's death to be a case of drowning. But after her family went on media claiming that she was raped and murdered, the reluctant Goa police later carried out a detailed probe and detected foul play.
Following a demand by Fiona MacKeown, a second autopsy was conducted by a team of doctors which confirmed rape and murder.
The police have already suspended the controversial sub-inspector Nerlon Albuquerque on Thursday for alleged laxity in investigating the case.
Many other high-profile police officers too are under scanner. Senior police officials have confirmed that some policemen did try to protect the suspects after the murder.
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