Mother of girl killed in India admits fraud

Fiona MacKeown, 44, yesterday pleaded guilty to falsely claiming 19,000 income support between February 2005 and March 2008.

The case was adjourned to a date to be fixed for sentencing at Exeter Crown Court.

MacKeown, of West Lodge, near Meddon, Devon, was consequently unable to get to Goa for the trial of the two men charged with killing her 15-year-old daughter.

Scarlett was found dead on a beach in Goa in February 2008. She had been drugged, raped and killed while on holiday.

Samson D'Souza, 30, and Placido Carvalho, 42, were in court in Panaji to face charges of culpable homicide, sexual assault, outraging modesty and destroying evidence. Both are on bail.

But the trial was adjourned to April 5 when examination of witnesses will begin.

MacKeown, who fought a long campaign for a full investigation into her daughter's death, is expected to give evidence.

But before yesterday's hearing in Exeter, MacKeown labelled the hearing in India a show trial.

She said: "It's all for show. It's to show they're doing something about it. I don't think they'll ever convict the two of them."

Exeter Crown Court heard that MacKeown was originally accused of falsely claiming more than 50,000 income support.

But she pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining money transfers by deception on the basis that she falsely claimed 19,000 worth of income support.