A MAN who was convicted of the brutal rape and murder of a Donegal woman in India is set to appeal his life sentence next month.
Vikat Bhagat (31) was handed a life sentence in February 2025 for killing 28-year-old Danielle McLaughlin from Buncrana in March 2017.
Ms McLaughlin had been backpacking across India when she was killed in Goa, having only been in the country for a fortnight.
Her body was found in a field by a farmer in Canacona.
Mr Bhagat received two life sentences for murder and rape and was handed an additional sentence for the destruction of evidence.
Ms McLaughlin’s family fought for justice for Danielle for seven years.
Now, Ms McLaughlin’s mother Andrea Brannigan has been informed that the appeal is going before the court in India on July 1.
Speaking to Highland Radio, Ms Brannigan said: “He applied to appeal a couple of weeks after he was sentenced, but the hearing for the appeal is now on the 1st of July. And we aren’t sure of how it’s going to work, if it’s going to be over a few days and or if it’s going to be over and done in one day.”
Ms Brannigan said it was a “shock” to be informed that the hearing will take place so soon.
“I’m very lucky that the police in India have informed the embassy so that they’re aware of it, which is all very good,” she said.
“The UK embassy then informed the Irish embassy yesterday as well, who are now also on the ball about it which is all good, like it’s all a help, but it’s nerve-wracking because I hope that he won’t get out. I don’t think he will.
“It’s hard but we were kind of made aware that he was going to appeal, which was a help, but I thought it would be another year or two for hearing. For it to come this quick, I’m kind of shocked and it’s still nerve-wracking because you don’t know how it’s going to go.”