Goa: A Goa court on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old local resident to a rigorous life imprisonment for rape and murder with Irish-British citizen Danielie McLogin in 2017. At the same time, the convict has also been fined for eradicating evidence. The court on Friday convicted accused Wikt Bhagat on Friday for raping and then murdered with a 28 -year -old foreign tourist, whose body was found on 14 March 2017 in a wild area of Canakona village in South Goa.
Along with jail, fine also imposed
District and Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi on Monday sentenced Vikat Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment. Also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for rape and murder and Rs 10,000 for destroying evidence. Vikram Verma, a lawyer of the victim’s mother Andrea Branigan, said that the convict would also be sentenced to 2 years for destroying the evidence, as well as the court said in its decision that both punishment will run together.
Following the decision to convict Bhagat on Friday last week, the family members of the victim also issued a statement in the media. The statement issued by the family said, “As Danielie’s family and friends, we are very grateful to all those involved in the fight for justice, he considered him like his daughter and tirelessly struggled for him.
What did the family say on the decision
The family said that they are grateful that their hard work paid off and Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of snatching Danielie from them. Police Inspector Philomena Costa, who investigated the case, said that the convict has been punished only due to careful investigation. He said that he is very happy with the decision. According to the charge sheet filed by Goa Police, Danielie, a resident of Dongal, Northwest Ireland, visited Goa in March 2017, when Bhagat befriended him. He brutally murdered him after spending an evening with him. According to the charge sheet, Danieli was attacked with stone, causing him to die. His body was found lying in a wild area with blood -soaked, without clothes, heads and faces.
