An Irish woman whose body was found in India’s western beach resort state of Goa had been raped and strangled, police officials probing the case said Friday.
The body of the Danielle McLaughlin, 28, was found near the beach resorts of Canacona on Tuesday. She had travelled to India last month.
“The medical reports confirm she was raped before the murder,” senior police officer Sammy Tavares said.
“The autopsy found the cause of death was compression of neck and cerebral damage after she was hit on the head by a beer bottle”.
CHARGED: Vikas Bhagat
The suspect, identified as Vikas Bhagat, a local with a criminal background, has been arrested, and will face rape as well as murder charges, Tavares said.
Police said Bhagat had confessed to raping the victim and later killing her to conceal the crime. He appeared before a local court on Thursday.