Men accused of murdering Brit teen Scarlett Keeling in India may walk free after witness refuses to talk
Michael Mannion said he saw the murder but has now been reported as unable to testify
THE family of a British schoolgirl raped and killed in India could face fresh torment as the men accused of killing her walk free.
Scarlett Keeling, 15, was attacked on Anjuna Beach in Goa in 2008 after being given drugs.
The teenager, from Bideford, Devon, suffered 50 separate injuries in the horrific attack while on a dream family holiday.
Local men Samson D’Souza, 30, and Placido Carvalho, 42, appeared in court over her death this week. They deny culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault.
But the UK Government has warned Scarlett’s family that the case is likely to collapse because a key British witness has not taken the stand.
They are relying on Michael Mannion, 44, to go on the record and say he saw the murder.
Bearded Mannion, also known as Masala Mike, was staying in Goa with D’Souza and his wife at the time of Scarlett’s death.
He has spoken to the media dozens of times about his horror at witnessing the attack.
However when The Sun tracked down Mannion as the case resumed in Goa, he reacted angrily.
Speaking outside his home in Brighton, East Sussex, he said: “Eight years I’ve been involved in this. Who was there for me when I needed help?” He refused to discuss the case further.
But a source close to Mannion said he had suffered a nervous breakdown over the killing and was not capable of being a witness due to his distress.
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The source added that Mannion was medically exempt from giving evidence — a claim that authorities in both Britain and India refused to confirm or deny.
Goa’s children’s court heard final arguments from the prosecution and defence on Friday.
Scarlett’s alleged killers say they are being accused because they are easy targets.
They claim that she accidentally drowned while high on drugs.
Scarlett’s mum Fiona MacKeown, 53, told The Sun last night: “The Foreign Office say a guilty verdict for D’Souza and Carvalho will be hard to get without Michael Mannion’s evidence. It’s been a long, hard eight years since my little girl was taken from me.
“We were close to putting it to bed once and for all but my heart has been broken again because Mannion cannot testify.”
The trial verdict will be given on September 23.
A Foreign Office spokesman said last night: “We have been providing assistance to Scarlett Keeling’s family since her tragic death in February 2008.
“Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time and we will continue to support them as the case progresses.”