Scarlett's mother may face defamation charges

Two Goa youths, who are accused in the death of British teenager Scarlett Eden, may file a defamation suit against her mother Fiona Mackeown.

"My clients are exploring the possibility of filing a defamation suit against Fiona along with the Goa police and the media," said Advocate Jose Peter Dsouza, a lawyer representing accused Placido Carvalho and Julio Lobo.

"There are sufficient grounds for defamation and malicious prosecution," Dsouza said.

He said he would file a case against Fiona for defaming her clients, the Goa police for malicious prosecution and also the media for defamation.

He said that while Carvalho was being mentioned in connection with drug peddling, a defamation suit would be filed against allowing Scarlett's diary, which speaks of Lobo's alleged illicit relations, to be made public.

"Publishing of Scarlett's diary was an act of defamation. Lobo's name was published in it, which was a part of police investigation. We need to know how the diary was made public either by Scarlett's mother or police," D'souza said.

Scarlett Eden Keeling was allegedly drugged, raped and left to die on Anjuna beach on February 18.

The lawyer ruled out the involvement of any drug mafia in Scarlett's death. "There is every possibility that the death may be accidental. She may have fallen down or the death may even be suicide as one can see from her diary scraps, which shows suicidal pictures," he said.

D'souza feels that the police should investigate the role of British eye witness Michael Mannion, who was present at the shack. "In fact, Mannion interacted with Scarlett more than Carvalho," he claimed.

The British witness, popularly known as Mike Masala, had fled from Goa fearing for his life after the incident. He returned to depose before the police only after a look-out notice was issued against him by police. Mannion is still in Goa as police have not withdrawn the notice.

D'souza alleged that the police were targeting his clients and ignoring the other witnesses who could have been involved in the case.