Goa murder: Will witnesses testify?

Even as the Goa police are working overtime to crack the Scarlette murder case, a major problem haunting them is the one regarding witnesses.

There are three witnesses in the case, but the big question is whether they will testify. None of the witnesses want to be identified and this in turn is giving the Goa police a headache.

Both the police as well as the government say that they are keen on solving the case and any protection required for the witnesses will be given.

Each of these witnesses say that Scarlette was seen in the company of several men at the Lui's bar on Anjuna beach on the fateful night of her murder.

They say that she was in an intoxicated state of mind and could barely support herself. The witnesses say that she left the bar at around 4 am with these men and the next thing was that her semi-naked body was found on Anjuna beach.

Now, a British witness has surfaced who claims that he saw Scarlette that night. The Goa police say that his statements regarding the case will be very crucial during the trial.

However, a Times Online report states that the British witness fled Goa as he feared for his life. It also states that he is ready to help provided he is given security and assistance.

It is said that Scarlette was high on Esctasy, Cocaine and LSD. She is said to have fallen on the beach and later helped back into the hotel.

She was talking gibberish and later headed to the kitchen of the hotel where she is said to have taken more cocaine.

According to the witnesses, one of the barmen was on top of her, thus giving an indication that she was sexually assaulted.

The Goa police, who are probing the case, say that a case of sexual assault has become clear as of now.

They are also trying to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

They are also exploring the angle related to death by drowning as they feel that she may have gone towards the water later where she could have died.

However, the post-mortem report indicates that there was no water in her lungs. All they found was sand in the wind pipe, which again is an indication that it could not have been a death due to drowning.

The police will also probe whether the girl could have died due to an overdose of drugs.

Several persons close to Scarlette have said that she was only into charas (hashish) and on that night she could have consumed cocaine for the first time.

With reports suggesting that she had taken a cocktail of LSD, cocaine and Ecstasy, there is every possibility of her dying due to over dose of drugs.

With regard to the wounds, it is being said that it could have happened when she tried protesting while being sexually assaulted.

There are several case studies to indicate that the intake of Cocaine does make people violent.

The Goa government, which was slow to wake up to the case, appears to be serious as of now.

Home Minister Ravi Naik said all angles into the case including the one pertaining to drug peddlers will be probed.