n Nude, blood-soaked body found in field rnn Sexual assault not ruled out; 5 arrested
CANACONA
A 28-year-old Irish woman was found murdered in an abandoned field across the Canacona-Agonda road at Dumane early Tuesday morning. Police is ascertaining if the deceased was sexually assaulted before being done to death.
Canacona Police have identified the deceased as Danielle McLaughlin from Ireland. The body was found nude and soaked in blood.
DySP & Quepem SDPO Sammy Tavares, Canacona PI Philomeno Costa and Sanguem PI Uttam Raut Dessai visited the site and conducted the panchanama, before sending the body for post-mortem and preservation to GMC Hospital in Bambolim.
The police have rounded up five persons so far and are investigating their roles. All the five are locals with some past anti-social activities.
Addressing media persons, DySP Tavares informed that the deceased was done to death at the same spot where her nude body was found.
While not ruling out sexual assault, Tavares informed that this angle would be known after an autopsy on the body.
“Given the leads found at the site, the victim was done to death at the spot with a blunt object, which we are not in a position to name now,” he said.
According to police sources, a broken beer bottle, an empty water bottle and some incriminating evidence was collected from the crime site. There was also some evidence of a struggle by the deceased before she was battered to death.
The police had initially suspected that the deceased woman was sexually assaulted and was then murdered, but later preferred to confirm this only after a forensic report. Police have registered a case of murder under section 302 IPC.
A dog squad was pressed into service, but it could not be of much help. Fingerprint experts collected material and a forensic report was awaited.
Stating that police are making every effort to trace to the accused, DySP Tavares said: “We have rounded up 5-6 persons so far, all locals, and are deeply engaged in investigation. Press will be briefed as and when the culprit is identified,” he said.
