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A British mother, in pursuit of justice in India for her slain teenaged daughter for the last nine years, has now resorted to crowdfunding to track down key witnesses, and offer a reward for information that could help nail the attackers.
"We're raising 20,000 pounds to offer as reward for information and/or evidence that leads to the conviction of Scarlett's murderers. Keep fighting for justice," she says on the crowdfunding website www.justgiving.com, which has raised 285 pounds over the last couple of days.
The CBI was later appointed to probe the case by the state government, but in September last year, a trial court acquitted the two accused due to lack of evidence.
"Out of all of the people involved in Scarlett's murder and the cover-up, only two were brought to court, and unsurprisingly, they were acquitted. The CBI has announced they are going to appeal the acquittal in the high court in Mumbai. I think this is my last chance to find witnesses that saw Scarlett on the night she died; there are too many gaps," she said in her appeal on the crowdfunding site.
"I will also need to return to Goa for the end of the appeal, as being in Goa brings a different energy to the case. I am not prepared to give up on Scarlett, she was a good girl who enjoyed and was looking forward to her life," she added.
In response to Fiona's appeal, donor Sheila Grant, a distant relative, has given 10 pounds, with a comment offering hope.
"I think of you and Scarlett often Fiona, and I hope you can find justice. I hope that you and all your children will eventually be at peace some day. I am Geoffrey's sister. Love from Sheila," she wrote.
Fiona also hopes that her quest for justice for her slain daughter will also serve as an example for those who are fighting for justice for their kin found dead in mysterious circumstances in Goa.
"If we succeed in getting justice for Scarlett, we will be the first. This will open the gateway for others who I am in contact with, and who have also had loved ones murdered in Goa and have been treated appallingly by the authorities. I just want the truth," Fiona said.
(Mayabhushan Nagvenkar can be contacted at mayabhushan.n@ians.in.)
(The article has been published in an arrangement with IANS)
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