The mom of homicide sufferer Danielle McLaughlin is making ready to journey to India after it was revealed that the trial of the person accused of her homicide is to face trial on August seventh.
The trial of Vikat Bhagat is to be expedited and her mom Andrea is now making ready to journey to India for the proceedings.
Final week, the Excessive Court docket in Goa, India, denied Bhagat bail and pledged the case could be concluded inside a yr.
Danielle (28), from Buncrana, was murdered in March 2017. Her physique was present in a subject between the Agonda and Canacona seashores in south Goa. Vikat Bhagat was charged together with her rape and homicide. He denies the cost.
On Friday, the legal case was earlier than the Indian courts and heard from a number of witnesses. The case, which has been beset with delays, will proceed on August 7.
Danielle’s mom, Andrea Brannigan, advised the Sunday Unbiased she is relieved the prosecution is lastly “gathering tempo”. She intends to journey to India for its conclusion, as quickly as she has extra info.
“I’ll go over for the tip of the trial. I would definitely prefer to be there for the decision. Lastly, on Friday, the case made some progress and the trial appears to be correctly beneath approach, after so many delays. I’m very relieved that he didn’t get bail,” she stated.
In June 2022, diplomats from Eire and England travelled to Goa and met the chief minister there to debate Danielle’s homicide and the delays. Vikat Bhagat’s trial started in July 2017. The court docket has sat for about half an hour, as soon as a month, for a few years.
Ms Brannigan, who met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over her daughter’s case in 2018, has repeatedly known as on the Authorities to intervene within the case.
For Ms Brannigan and Danielle’s 4 sisters, life is on maintain till there’s a conclusion to the trial, she stated.
“We haven’t been capable of come to phrases with our loss correctly. How can we? I’m hopeful that lastly now, issues are transferring in the precise route with the trial,” she added.
Bhagat’s trial has been delayed for varied causes, together with his authorized problem to sporting handcuffs, which started in January 2019. Earlier than this, he was engaged in a prolonged authorized battle to be launched on bail due to delays attributable to Covid-19, which finally failed.
Ms Brannigan has stored the final textual content she acquired from her daughter. Dated March 13, 2017, it reads: “I’m secure. I’m with my pal Vikat and others.”
Bhagat has been described by police in India as a gang member and has convictions for theft. Danielle knew nothing of his legal previous. She had met him the yr earlier than when visiting India and had struck up a friendship.
Aid as man accused of Danielle’s homicide to face trial in August was final modified: July twenty third, 2023 by
