A man has been given a life sentence for the rape and murder of a 28-year-old Irish backpacker in India. Danielle McLaughlin, from County Donegal, was tragically found dead in a field in Goa in March 2017. Vikat Bhagat was convicted at a court in south Goa on Friday, where prosecutors pushed for the death penalty. Bhagat was sentenced to life in prison for murder, as well as an additional life term for rape and three years for tampering with evidence, all to be served concurrently. Bhagat’s defense plans to appeal the conviction and sentence. The prosecution faced challenges in presenting enough evidence to secure the conviction, but their efforts were acknowledged. The victim’s family, particularly her mother Andrea, have fought tirelessly for justice, with support from various authorities. Although the legal process was arduous, the family is grateful for finally achieving some closure. Despite the pain of losing Danielle, her family will always remember her for her spirit and kindness.
“Their family ‘can finally start grieving now for Danielle,’ she added,” said Ms. McLaughlin, describing Danielle as having a “kindly heart.” Ms. McLaughlin, who hailed from Buncrana, was known to be a talented student of drama and dance. She furthered her education at Liverpool John Moores University. During a previous visit to India, she selflessly volunteered at an orphanage. Returning in February 2017, she aspired to work as a yoga teacher in the country. Tragically, just two weeks after her arrival, she was murdered. Accompanied by an Australian friend, she had been staying in a beach hut and had ventured to a nearby village to celebrate Holi, a Hindu festival. Departing the village the night before her untimely death, she expressed discomfort with her accommodations and sought help from a man she trusted for assistance in finding new lodgings. Her lifeless body was discovered the following day by a local farmer in a field. A subsequent post-mortem examination revealed that her death resulted from brain damage and strangulation. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, based in Newry, supported her family in repatriating her remains to the Republic of Ireland. At her funeral, the presiding priest reflected on Danielle’s compassionate nature, describing her as possessing a “kindly heart and searching mind” and noting her broad international network of friends. The mother of the murdered backpacker lamented that the killer had robbed her daughter of a promising future.
