Goa, February 17, 2025: A court in Goa sentenced 31-year-old local resident Vikat Bhagat to life imprisonment on Monday for the rape and murder of Irish-British tourist Danielle McLaughlin in 2017.
On Friday, the court had declared Bhagat guilty of raping and killing the 28-year-old tourist, whose body was discovered in a forested area in Canacona village, South Goa, on March 14, 2017.
District and Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi sentenced Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 25,000 for the rape and murder, and an additional Rs 10,000 for the destruction of evidence. Bhagat will also serve two years for evidence destruction, with the sentences to run concurrently, according to Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan.
Following the verdict, the victim’s family issued a statement, read by their representative: “We, as Danielle’s family and friends, are deeply thankful to everyone who fought for justice. They treated her like their own daughter and worked tirelessly on her behalf.”
The family expressed gratitude that their perseverance had led to Bhagat being held accountable for “taking Danielle from them.”
Police Inspector Philomena Costa, who led the investigation, praised the thoroughness of the probe that contributed to the conviction. “I am extremely happy with the verdict,” she said.
According to the chargesheet filed by Goa police, McLaughlin, from Donegal in Northwest Ireland, was visiting Goa in March 2017 when she befriended Bhagat. After spending the evening together, Bhagat murdered her by striking her with a stone. Her body was discovered in a pool of blood, unclothed, with severe head and facial injuries.
