New Delhi – A court in West Goa, India on Monday put a 31-year-old man in prison for raping and murdering an Irish woman at a popular tourist resort nearly eight years ago.
The body of 28-year-old Daniel McLaughlin was discovered by a farmer in March 2017 on a beach popular with holiday makers in Gore.
Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of the crime on Friday. In a statement, McLaughlin’s family said they and her friends were “thank you to the prosecutors and investigators.”
Usually, rape victims cannot be named in accordance with Indian law. In this case, the victim’s family spoke to the media and raised awareness of her case.
The crime highlighted persistent violence against Indian women despite stricter laws against sexual assault following the death of a young woman gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi in 2012.
Goa is a popular backpacking destination in India. Millions of tourists visit numerous beach resorts each year.
