A court in India’s western Goa state has sentenced a 31-year-old man to life in jail for the 2017 rape and murder of Irish tourist Danielle McLaughlin. The conviction was given on Monday, nearly eight years after the savage crime stunned the region.
McLaughlin, 28, was discovered dead at a renowned beach resort in Goa in March 2017 by a farmer, and an investigation revealed that she died as a result of cerebral injury and strangling. The case received international attention and raised worries about women’s safety in India.
McLaughlin’s family issued a statement thanking the public prosecutor and the investigating officer for achieving justice after Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of the crime on Friday. They also dismissed the charges of many suspects, claiming that Bhagat was the only one who killed Danielle.
Her mother, Andrea Brannigan, and sister, Joleen McLaughlin Brannigan, stated that after years of struggle, justice had “finally been achieved.” A separate post on the “Truth For Danielle McLaughlin” Facebook page expressed relief that her truth had been heard.
“We have lost nearly eight years fighting for Danielle, and now we can start grieving. She was more than a daughter, sister, and best friend—she brought light into every room and positively impacted all who knew her,” the statement read.
The McLaughlin case highlights India’s continuing violence against women, as sexual assault incidents continue to climb despite tighter legislation against them. Tougher sentences were enforced when a young woman was gang-raped and killed in Delhi in 2012, but activists argue that this has had little influence on crime prevention.
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The National Crime Records Bureau estimates that 31,516 rape cases were registered in India in 2022, a 20% rise from the previous year. Because of the stigma associated with sexual violence and the public’s distrust of law enforcement, many occurrences go unreported.
Goa, known for its stunning beaches and vibrant tourist scene, has developed a negative reputation as a result of high-profile crimes involving foreigners. Scarlett Keeling, a British teenager, was raped and murdered there in 2008, causing anger throughout the world.
McLaughlin, a former Liverpool John Moores University student, had been sleeping in a beach cottage with an Australian friend when she died. She had to a nearby village to celebrate Holi, a Hindu holiday. She left the village that night, and her body was discovered the following day.
