The family of an Irish backpacker who was raped and murdered in India say they are hopeful of discovering the truth after her case is fast-tracked to court.
Danielle McLaughlin, 28, was found strangled to death with her face smashed up by a broken beer bottle in Goa in March.
Today her family from Buncrana, Ireland announced authorities are ‘fast-tracking’ her case after a second post-mortem confirmed brain damage and strangulation as the cause of her death.
A statement read: ‘Danielle’s family remain hopeful that the truth in relation to Danielle’s untimely death will be made known and that justice in her memory will be done.
An Indian man has been charged with the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin (pictured)
‘It is expected that the trial of Vikat Bhagat, who remains the only person charged in connection with the case, will take place soon as it is being ‘fast-tracked’ by the Indian authorities.’
Police have dismissed 23-year-old Bhagat’s claims he tried to save Ms McLaughlin whom he ‘loved’ from three men as they smashed her head with bottles and rocks after Holi celebrations.
He will stand trial charged with murder and four counts of rape.
The family’s statement continued: ‘Danielle’s family wish to express their sincere gratitude to the Coroner’s office in Dublin and the Chief State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy for their help.
‘Dr Cassidy, with meticulous precision, has completed the second post-mortem report in relation to Danielle. Dr Cassidy’s report, among other things, confirms the cause of Danielle’s death in line with the first Indian post-mortem report.
Danielle (pictured), 28, was strangled and her face was slashed with a broken beer bottle after she had spent the day celebrating at holi festival in Goa
Police discounted claims by Bhagat (pictured), who has a long criminal record, that he did not act alone in her death
‘Danielle’s family have also now received the ‘Charge’ documentation in the case from the prosecution authorities in India.
‘The family wish to extend their thanks also to the British Consulate in Mumbai for their invaluable assistance in organising the delivery of the Charge papers to their solicitor, Desmond J Doherty in Derry.
‘Danielle’s family have dealt with a lot of documents and information in relation to Danielle’s case over the last number of weeks and months.
‘They are still trying to cope with and come to terms with the tragedy that has occurred.’
Bhagat was arrested by police soon after Ms McLoughlin’s body was found in a field by a local farmer on March 14.
The victim was seen on CCTV with Bhagat, whom she knew from previous visits to the country in the hours before her death.
Sammy Taveres, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said: ‘We have filed a charge sheet against Vikat Bhagat in the case of rape and murder of Irish tourist Danielle McLaughlin.
‘The 374-page charge sheet comprises 58 exhibits and statements recorded from 68 witnesses in the case.
‘The charge sheet is filed under Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape), 394 (robbery) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the India Penal Code (IPC).
‘We have requested the court to begin the trial as soon as possible. But we do not know yet when would it be commenced.’
Danielle was seen on CCTV (pictured) with Bhagat, 23, who she knew from previous visits to the country in the hours before her death
The 28-year-old’s body was covered in bright colours after taking part in the ‘Holi’ festival in the Palolem beach resort in Goa
The 374-page charge sheet against Bhagat comprised 58 exhibits and statements recorded from 68 witnesses in the case, one police official explained
Bhagat reportedly confessed the murder to police initially but in May he wrote a 29 page open letter denying he was responsible.
He claimed he was actually in love with Danielle, from Donegal, and it was three of his friends who had killed her in front of him
But he alleged police then beat him and forced to incriminate himself by putting finger prints on beer bottles.
His sister Geeta Bhagat, a 25-year-old hospital nurse, said: ‘My brother is being framed.
‘He has told me in the letter that he informed the cops of the involvement of three other men, but the police did not listen to him.
‘Instead they gave him electric shock in his calf muscles and asked him to touch the broken beer bottles for finger prints.
Bhagat was arrested by police soon after her body was found in a field by a local farmer on March 14
Bhagat reportedly confessed the murder to police initially but in May he wrote a 29 page open letter denying he was responsible
‘I had started hating my brother. I am a woman and I could never imagine my brother would rape and kill a woman. But now after reading his letter I believe that my brother is innocent.’
According to Bhagat, the two were drunk and smoking cannabis with others in a restaurant on the night of her murder.
He claimed the two were going to join friends of his in Leopard Valley in Agonda but stopped at a regular spot to smoke, where Danielle was later found murdered.
In his letter, he allegedly wrote: ‘While sipping beer I received a call from (a friend) that they are in Leopard Valley and asked us to join them, to which I replied we will do in sometime and informed them of our location.
‘I saw two bikes coming towards us switching off the headlights. They came to me, when I questioned why they were here, (friend) asked me to tell Danielle to have sex with them.’
According to Bhagat, he and Danielle (pictured) were drunk and smoking cannabis with others in a restaurant on the night of her murder
Bhagat wrote that Danielle then slapped one of the men, who then stripped and raped her before beating her with beer bottles.
Local lawyer Vikram Varma, who had been assisting Danielle’s family also suspected more than one person had been involved in the crime.
Police interviewed the three men named by Bhagat but ruled them out of the investigation.