Panaji: British national Michael Mannion would be the last witness to be examined in the alleged rape and death case of fellow country teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling and efforts are on to make him depose through video conferencing next month, a senior CBI prosecutor said Tuesday.
"The process is on to get Mannion examined through video conferencing from UK on August 11, when the Goa Children`s Court has fixed the next date to hear the case," CBI`s senior special public prosecutor Ejaz Khan told PTI.
Mannion will be the "last witness to be examined in this case," Khan said.
After his deposition, the court will examine Investigating Officers and also record the statement of the accused, he said.
The prosecution is, however, skeptical whether they would be able to get Mannion to depose before the court on August 11.
"Though the process has started, it is doubtful whether we will be able to examine Mannion in the court on that date as lengthy procedures are involved in it," Khan admitted.
The CBI headquarters has to inform the Interpol, which will communicate with the External Affairs Ministry to get the permission from Home department of UK and after that the statement can be recorded through video conferencing by calling Mannion at the Embassy, Khan said.
British teenager Scarlett Eden Keeling (15) was found dead at Goa`s Anjuna shore on February 18, 2008.
The charge sheet filed by CBI against two accused ? Samson D`Souza and Placido Carvalho - charged them with drugging, raping and leaving her to die on the beach.
As per the investigations, Mannion was present in the shack where Scarlett was seen and had even tried stopping one of the accused from sexually abusing her.
Mannion, who was holidaying in Goa, had soon after the incident deposed before Goa Police, which was then investigating the case.
Khan said Mannion has agreed to get examined on camera, but refused to come to Goa because of security concerns.
