Scarlette case: Key witness feeling 'stuck' in Goa

Two months after Scarlette Eden Keeling's bruised corpse was found at Anjuna beach, a British eye witness, who saw an alleged accused lying on the deceased, is struggling to get himself out from this place.

Michael Mannion, 35, a British national, who became a crucial eye witness to Scarlette's death is feeling 'stuck' in Goa after the state police refused to lift is look out notice.

"I am not far away from being broke (financially). There is always a possibility of me taking money from my family but that does not look nice," Mannion, who had come to Goa at the invitation of Samson D'Souza, main accused in Scarlette's murder, stated.

Scarlette was found dead on Goa's beach on February 18 and thereafter Mannion went into hiding only to return following look out notice issued against him.

"I had planned Goa visit from the savings which are getting exhausted. Back home my father is sick and I have to look after him. Things are getting worst," Mannion, who is a carpenter by profession, said.

Mannion's statement, which was recorded before the judicial authorities in Goa, attains significance as he is crucial eye witness who saw Samson lying on Scarlette. Also, he saw another accused Placido Carvalho sniffing cocaine alongwith Scarlette in the shack hours before her body was found on Anjuna shore.

The Briton who is on his seventh tour to India says that he has gone to all the possible authorities to get his look out notice lifted, but in vain. "I am just a pawn in the power game," he said.

"I don't repent for being witness in the case. It's not only me, any decent person would have done the right thing to come back to Goa and tell what he saw that night," Mannion said.

On asked whether he feels that police are harassing him, Mannion said, "I am not being treated fairly and if that means harassment then yes its harassment."

Goa Chief Secretary J P Singh earlier had clarified that Mannion is held back as the case is being shifted to Central Bureau of Investigation.

Mannion, who has found himself under immense media criticism with some local papers calling him as an expert in drug cocktails, rubbished the allegations.

"I am known as 'Mike Masala' because I eat lot of spicy food. I like chilly," he said.

The witness also doesn't expect any help from British high commission as they have refused to intervene in the matter.