CANACONA
Friends took part in a prayer service to mark the second death anniversary of Irish national Danielle McLaughlin (28), who was murdered after being sexually assaulted behind a rock in the abandoned paddy fields of Devabag near Palolem beach.
The body of McLaughlin was found on March 14, 2017, and she was believed to have been sexually assaulted and murdered the previous night.
The prime accused, Viket Bhagat, an acquaintance of McLaughlin, is in custody and sources said court hearings in the matter are being conducted regularly.
Friends of Danielle on Wednesday afternoon assembled at the site where her body was found two years ago and held silent prayers, singing devotional hymns, lit candles and offered floral tributes to mark her second death anniversary. According to reports, the memorial service for the soul of Danielle was held exactly at 2 pm on Wednesday, to coincide with the timing of her second death anniversary memorial mass scheduled in her native country’s village chapel at 7.30 am.
According to sources, a number of Danielle’s close friends were staying in nearby places to make arrangements for the memorial service at the site, where her body was found.
Canacona police had filed a 543-page chargesheet against the lone accused, Viket Bhagat, who was known to have developed contact with the victim during her previous visits to the State.
