Indian man sentenced to life for rape and murder of Irish tourist

MUMBAI: A court in India's western resort state of Goa sentenced a 31-year-old man to life in prison on Monday for raping and murdering an Irish tourist eight years ago.

The body of 28-year-old Danielle McLaughlin was discovered naked in a field near a beach in the south of the picturesque state in 2017.

Police charged local resident Vikat Bhagat with the murder of McLaughlin, who was from Buncrana in Ireland.

Bhagat was pronounced guilty of the crime on Friday and on Monday the court sentenced him for life.

"He has been convicted for life and it´s rigorous imprisonment," prosecutor Vikram Varma told reporters.

"As per my understanding, the (victim's) family is relieved that there is closure."

McLaughlin had been celebrating the Indian spring festival of Holi at Goa's popular Palolem beach when she was attacked, according to police.

Her badly bruised body was found a few kilometres away in Canacona by a farmer.

"We, as Danielle's family and friends, are so thankful to everyone involved in our fight for justice," a family statement said, according to local media reports.

"They have treated her like their daughter and have tirelessly fought for her."

Goa, a former Portuguese colony, lures millions of tourists every year with its nightlife, sandy beaches and laid-back coastal atmosphere.

But its reputation as a tropical paradise has been marred by high-profile crimes involving foreigners.

In 2008, British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, 15, was drugged, raped and murdered in Goa in a case that made global headlines.

Chronic backlogs in India's criminal justice system mean some cases take years to be resolved.

More than 43 million cases were pending before courts across the country in 2022, according to government figures.