The family of murdered Danielle McLaughlin feel they can’t move forward - six years after her murder - due to the slow pace the trial is moving at.
Today marks six years since Danielle, 28, from Buncrana in Donegal, was found dead in a secluded spot in India’s Canacona, an area of Goa popular with holidaymakers, on March 14, 2017.
She had travelled to India where she planned to train as a yoga teacher. The night before she was found dead, Danielle had attended a Holi party near Canacona beach.
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A local man, Vikat Bhagat, has been charged with the rape and murder of Danielle and the murder trial opened in 2018.
The 24-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, murder, violent robbery and destruction of evidence.
The trial initially opened at Court Margao in India's South Goa on April 6, 2018, but has only continued intermittently since then taking place twice a month.
So far the trial is only a third of the way through the witnesses since it opened five years ago, leaving Danielle’s heartbroken mum Andrea and family frustrated at the slow pace.
“And until the trial is over, we as a family feel we can’t move forward," a distraught Andrea told Irish Mirror.
“I am constantly looking for justice, fighting for information and fighting to get heard,” she said..
Andrea also said that sometimes it’s easier to believe Danielle is off on another adventure - and that they will never get over her death.
“Six years but it only feels like yesterday,” said Andrea, adding “We will never get over Danielle’s death but hopefully one day we will be able to make sure her death wasn’t in vain and that she can rest easy knowing her truth was told.”
In an earlier interview with this paper, Andrea said the last time she spoke with Danielle was via text message on March 13, 2017 at 11.30am when Danielle told her she was “with my friend Vikat” and other pals.
“It’s holi and a crazy day in India. It’s safe though. I am nowhere near the crowds,” Danielle’s message continued.
Andrea replied: “Please be careful x.”
Within hours of sending that text message, Danielle was raped and murdered and the following day her body was found on an isolated stretch of open field between Agonda and Canacona beaches in south Goa, India.
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