BRITISH teenager Scarlett Keeling was killed by drowning, according to a pathologist's report released yesterday.
Her family's lawyer, Vikram Varma, said the report concluded the 15-year-old died of "homicidal drowning" and not of a drug or alcohol overdose.
Quoting from the report by the government's chief pathologist at Goa Medical College, Mr Varma said Sc
arlett died after her head was "submerged in water for five to ten minutes". Her death was "consistent with a picture of homicidal drowning in shallow waters", the report said.
The levels of drugs and alcohol in her body were not enough to cause coma or death, it added.
Mr Varma said: "This is what we've been saying all along and what the police have been trying to cover up."
Fiona MacKeown, Scarlett's mother, said she was "shocked but not surprised" at the report.
She said: "I'm just horrified that the police are still covering up my daughter's death. Who are they covering for? It must be someone very important."
Scarlett, on holiday in Anjuna beach from her home near Bideford, north Devon, was found on February 19 semi-naked, raped and murdered.
Local police initially said that Scarlett's death was an accidental drowning.
The full article contains 204 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
