Scarlett's mother delays visit to India

Fiona MacKeown, mother of slain British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling, has decided to hold back her visit to India awaiting the lower court's observation in a petition filed against her by an NGO.

Fiona was supposed to arrive in India this week to depose before the Central Bureau of Investigation in Scarlett's death case.

Goa-based NGO Utt Goenkara filed a petition in Goa Children's Court asking that Fiona be charged for neglecting her child.

"I have spoken

to Fiona at length. She has full faith in the judiciary of this country and is waiting for the Court's observations on this petition before making her decision to return India for assisting the CBI on the matter," said Vikram Varma, legal counsel for Fiona.

He has termed the NGO's statements against Fiona as "irresponsible".

Scarlett's bruised body was found at Anjuna beach on February 18 following which two locals were arrested by the police for drugging, raping and leaving her to die on the beach. Fiona was holidaying in neighbouring Karnataka when the incident happened.

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