A Goa court sentenced Vikat Bhagat to life imprisonment for the 2017 rape and murder of tourist Danielle McLaughlin, with additional punishment for evidence destruction, following a guilty verdict.
Panaji: A Goa court on Monday sentenced 31-year-old Vikat Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment for the rape and murder of Irish-British national Danielle McLaughlin in 2017.
The District and Sessions Judge, Kshama Joshi, handed down the sentence, following Friday’s guilty verdict against Bhagat, who was convicted of raping and murdering the 28-year-old tourist. McLaughlin’s body was discovered in a forested area in Canacona, South Goa, on March 14, 2017.
Bhagat has been sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 25,000 for rape and murder. He was also sentenced to two years in prison for destruction of evidence and fined Rs 10,000. The court ruled that both sentences would run concurrently, said Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing the victim’s mother, Andrea Brannigan.
Following the verdict, McLaughlin’s family expressed their gratitude through a media statement, read out by their representative.
“We, as Danielle’s family and friends, are so thankful to everyone involved in our fight for justice. They have treated her like their daughter and have tirelessly fought for her,”
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the statement read.
Police Inspector Philomena Costa, who led the investigation, credited the conviction to a meticulous probe.
According to the chargesheet filed by the Goa Police, McLaughlin, who was from Donegal, Northwest Ireland, had traveled to Goa in March 2017. She befriended Bhagat, who later murdered her after spending the evening with her.
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She was brutally attacked with a stone, causing fatal injuries. Her body was found unclothed, lying in a pool of blood, with severe injuries to her head and face.
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