FINAL arguments in the long-running trial in India of a man charged with raping and murdering a Donegal woman will be heard today.
The body of Danielle McLaughlin was found by a farmer in March 2017 in a field in a remote area of Goa.
The 28-year-old had been raped and murdered.
A local man, Vikat Bhagat (24) was arrested shortly afterwards.
He was charged with sexual assault and murder.
He denies the charges.
The criminal proceedings against him have been beset with constant delays over an almost eight-year period.
Final arguments in the trial are to be heard today but there are concerns that the conclusion of the trial could be further delayed.
There is much uncertainty as the judge overseeing the case for the last two years has been transferred to another court.
A court document released to Ms McLaughlin’s mother, Andrea Brannigan, states the court pledge to have a verdict returned by February 17, the Sunday Independent reported yesterday.
Ms Brannigan is calling on Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris to intervene in the case with the Indian authorities.
“I am beginning to lose all hope that this trial will ever come to an end,” Ms Brannigan told the Sunday Independent.
“It is beyond a joke. Danielle’s birthday is on Tuesday, February 4, she would be 36. We expected to be in India for her birthday and the verdict, but again we are hit with another delay. It is getting unbelievably difficult. We cannot grieve properly for Danielle until the trial is over.”
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