COURT-SCARLETT 2 LAST

D’Souza said the "death of the girl (Scarlett) was D’Souza said the "death of the girl (Scarlett) wasaccidental. There was interference in the investigation in thecase so as to target Samson and second accused Placido". "In (Scarlett’s) autopsy, morphine was found along withcocaine in her body, which indicates that she was alreadyintoxicated when she arrived at the shack where Samson wasworking and Placido was sitting," he said. He said the investigating agencies (Goa Police and CBI)were "purposely blind to the fact that she was already druggedand they failed to probe who had administered her thenarcotics". D’Souza said the detailed forensic examination by expertsfrom Delhi-based AIIMS proved that there was no abnormality inScarlett’s brain, skull, vagina and heart, "which proves therewas no scuffle by her". "Medical examination of her body conclusively proves thatthere was no abnormality in her body, which means that it wasan accidental death," he argued. He said Scarlett’s lifestyle was not like that of a normalchild in India. However, the judge interjected, saying this aspect (aboutlifestyle) has nothing to do with the current case. The defence has claimed that Scarlett’s death was causedby "external forces". Placido’s advocate Pravin Naik said there was no witnesson record to state that his client had administered drugs toScarlett in the shack where she was last seen before herdeath. "There is nothing on record to prove that Carvalhoprovoked her to take drugs," he told the court. The case had grabbed international attention as Britishersused to be the largest number of tourists visiting Goa. Scarlett’s mother had said on Tuesday, "I do hope thatjustice would be done." She had said she wanted the two accused to be charged withmurder "because I believe she was murdered, but the charge isof culpable homicide, which still is a good enough". Accusing the erstwhile Congress government of supportingthe police in hushing up the case, she blamed the prosecutionfor its "failure" to ensure deposition of a crucial eyewitnessMichael Mannion, a British national, before the court. PTI RPSNSKSC