Scarlett Keeling's mother denies "neglecting" her daughter by leaving her behind in Goa
13 Oct 2008, 1142 Hrs

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London, Oct 13 Fiona MacKeown, the mother of teenager Scarlett Keeling who was killed under mysterious circumstances in Goa in February this year, has reportedly denied the charge of being "guilty by neglecting" her daughter during vacations by leaving her behind in Goa and traveling to other places in India for weeks together.

Fiona has been summoned to Goa for a hearing on Wednesday to answer allegations of neglect.

She said she would not respond to court summons to face such allegations in India, reported The Independent.

Scarlett's death was originally viewed as accidental drowning by police, but Mrs Fiona (43) campaigned for the case to be re-examined and a second post-mortem examination revealed the teenager had been raped and murdered on Anjuna beach on 19 February.

Mrs MacKeown has repeatedly claimed that the authorities attempted to cover up the true cause of death and fears that she would be arrested if she returned to India.

Denying absolutely any suggestion that she was guilty of neglect, her spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "She is not going to court because it is far too short notice and she requires assurance it will be safe for her to return to India without fear of arrest."

Her lawyer Vikram Varma, who is not expected to attend the hearing, said that the allegations have "no substance" and "powerful forces" wanted to cover up the death.

The second batch of tests on Scarlett's body had found evidence of the drugs ecstasy, cocaine and LSD. Two men, Samson D'Souza, 29, and Placido Carvalho, in his 30s, appeared in court on suspicion of drugging Scarlett and assisting in the murder by that act.

The police officer who first investigated the death was dismissed in April. (ANI)