Killer raped and murdered backpacker – now he fights for his freedom | World | News
Danielle murdered in Goa, India’s popular backpacking destination (Image: Copyright unknown)
A depraved murderer who raped and brutally murdered an Irish backpacker in Goa is trying to secure his release from prison, just over a year after his conviction.
In a disturbing case that sent shockwaves across the UK and Ireland, Danielle McLaughlin was attacked in India’s popular backpacking destination Goa during a dream holiday. His killer, Vikat Bhagat, is applying for release from custody after one of the world’s longest murder trials.
Danielle, 28, from Buncrana, Co Donegal, was found dead in a pool of blood where authorities said she had been raped and murdered. Bhagat, who received his sentence last February, is requesting a postponement of his sentence, which will effectively free him, until the high court decides on his criminal appeal.
Throughout the proceedings, the South Goa Sessions Court was told that Vikat Bhagat hit Danielle with a beer bottle as she tried to fight him off before raping and strangling her, according to police charge sheets.
According to information given to the court, 23-year-old Bhagat then smashed the victim’s face with a stone to destroy the evidence. Bhagat was convicted of rape and murder last year.
Danielle, from Buncrana, Co Donegal, was found dead in a pool of blood (Image: Internet Unknown)
The case was later re-examined in an Irish Times podcast, while Danielle’s family continued an investigation in Ireland in search of answers. This request was approved in May.
Miss McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan, told the BBC: “All I wanted was a local inquest, so I’m hoping this will eventually lead to a death certificate.”
He also expressed deep concern that evil Bhagat’s eviction application might be accepted.
At the hearing, the statements of local farmer Prashant Komarpant, who came across Danielle’s body, were heard.
Vikat Bhagat is now preparing an application for publication (Image: Internet Unknown)
He told the court he made the discovery at approximately 7am on the morning of March 13, 2017, and alerted another man, who then notified the police.
He said: “On the morning of March 14, I started the day early as usual and headed to my field, a small farmland in Devabagh.
“About 150 meters inland, I saw the naked, sprawling body of a young white woman lying in a pool of blood.
“His face was mutilated beyond recognition. Angry and scared, I approached my friend Amar Komarpanth, who then called the police.”
Goa police reached the scene within the next 20 minutes and documented Prashant’s statement. According to the information given to the court, the body was taken to the police station around 14:00 on the same day.
According to the charge sheet, Bhagat tried to pressure the woman at a secluded place between Canacona and Agonda beaches. According to the indictment, when the woman resisted, he attacked her with a beer bottle, raped her and then strangled her.
It was also stated that the defendant continued to hit the victim in the face with a stone in order to destroy the evidence.
Goa police reached the scene within 20 minutes (Image: Internet Unknown)
During the investigation, police obtained CCTV footage of Danielle allegedly with Bhagat, whom she had met during her previous visits to India.
Bhagat was later arrested and charged with murder, rape, theft and destruction of evidence under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Danielle was on a backpacking adventure in India. He had gone to Goa to attend Holi, India’s vibrant color festival.
