UK NEWS

MY LIFE IS IN DANGER SAYS SCARLETT MOTHER

FRIGHTENED: Fiona MacKeown

Monday March 24,2008

By David Jarvis

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THE frightened mother of murdered teenager Scarlett Keeling was in hiding last night.

Fiona MacKeown went to ground after locals in Goa warned her that her life was in danger.

They said she was at risk after accusing police of a cover-up over 15-year-old Scarlett’s killing and being involved with drug dealers.

She fled to her hideaway as a pathologist’s report confirmed that Scarlett had been murdered, as her mother has always maintained.

Miss MacKeown, 43, also revealed yesterday that she had sent her other children back to Britain for their own safety.

She said: “We’ve been warned to watch out for our safety. We don’t have any police or government support at the moment.”

Speaking from a secret location, believed to be in southern Goa, she added: “There is no point in continuing the fight if the police are not interested in co-operating. The men in uniform are busy levelling allegations against me rather than probing what I say.”

The pathologist’s report concluded that Scarlett died of “homicidal drowning” after being held under water for up to 10 minutes and not from a drugs or alcohol overdose.

The family’s lawyer, Vikram Varma, said: “This is what we’ve been saying all along and what the police have been trying to cover up.”

Meanwhile, Scarlett’s Indian boyfriend, Julio Lobo, 25, claimed her mother could have done more to protect her.

The tour guide said that Miss MacKeown knew her daughter was a heavy drinker but still left her with him for three weeks without money while she went on holiday with her boyfriend and other children.

Scarlett, who was on holiday in Goa from her home near Bideford in north Devon, was found semi-naked on a beach on February 19. Mr Lobo said: “I feel I am being blamed by Scarlett’s family for not looking after her but Miss MacKeown should have done more to look after Scarlett.

“She had a drinking habit. She used to drink vodka, beer and tequila, sometimes in large amounts, and her mother knew this. When her family was away she’d be so drunk she was falling over.”

Two men are in custody on suspicion of drugging and raping Scarlett.

MISTAKES

24.03.08, 10:46pm

i dont think that all brits are stupid, some of us have got a brain!!
you know we cannot discuss the maddie case,
on this forum,
her mother looks like a new age hippy!!
we all make mistakes, and cannot blame anyone or their country

• Posted by: supernova • Report Comment

THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF STUPID BRITS

24.03.08, 11:39am

Going abroad and totally neglecting the cultural differences of the host country.

Before they go why dont they find out a little to help them make decisions of how to conduct themselves.

Her poor daughter died becuase of ignorance and neglect on behalf of her mother.
As have other British children.

We all know the Madeline case....Did the parents never ask WHY the Portugese never leave their children alone at night ?

Did the thought ever cross Scarletts mums mind that it might just be a teeny weeny bit silly to leave her pretty 15 year old daughter in a strange place with strange people, especially as Scarlett was known to take drugs etc.....hoiw totally crazy !

The syndrome, though, is the same.
On holiday some parents throw all normal and sensible practices to the wind and are totally in denial about the absolute lunacy of their behaviour.

• Posted by: abuela • Report Comment