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Vikat Bhagat, a 32-year-old local man, has been convicted of the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in Goa, India, nearly eight years after the crime. McLaughlin, 28, was found dead in a Canacona field in March 2017, having traveled to the area with a friend to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi. Following an extensive trial, which spanned over 250 hearings, Bhagat was found guilty by a district court in South Goa on February 14, 2025.
McLaughlin’s family expressed relief at the verdict, stating they have endured years of emotional turmoil during the lengthy legal process. According to their solicitor, they acknowledged Bhagat as the sole perpetrator of the crime, which included evidence of strangulation and brain damage from a postmortem examination.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris praised the family's resilience, hoping the verdict brings them some closure. McLaughlin's family stated, “We hope not only that Danielle can rest in peace but also that we, as a family, can find comfort knowing the individual responsible for this tragedy has been convicted.”