Tourist's life term for killing
BBC NEWS
A holidaymaker from south Wales has been jailed for life in India for
stabbing to death his girlfriend with a pair of scissors.
Adrian Duggan, 37, from Blaina, was found guilty on Monday of killing
Catherine Campbell, 43, from Taunton, Somerset, on Christmas Day 2003 in
Goa.
Duggan was sentenced to life on Wednesday at the court in Panaji, Goa.
Prosecutors said Duggan would spend the rest of his life behind bars
although he is expected to appeal.
Ms Campbell was found with neck and chest wounds at the guest house in
which she was staying with Duggan in the resort of Vagator, Goa, early
hours on Christmas Day, 2003.
Duggan is believed to have claimed that they were both assaulted by a late
night intruder in their room.
Guilty verdict
Newspapers in Goa have reported that the court was told that the owner of
the guest house heard screams from their room and ran to it, but found it
was locked from the inside.
Police arrived at the scene to find Duggan badly injured and Ms Campbell
stabbed to death with a pair of scissors.
Duggan was found guilty of first degree murder at the sessions court in
Banaji in Goa.
Prosecutor Sherin Paul confirmed on Wednesday that Duggan had been jailed
for life after a two day sentencing hearing and said that according to
Indian law, he would spend the rest of his life behind bars.
She added: "He was tried before Judge Anuja Prabhudessai on Monday - we do
not have a jury system - and found guilty.
"There were about 13 witnesses for the prosecution. No witnesses appeared
on his behalf."
She said Duggan could appeal against his conviction, but it must be lodged
by the end of the year.
Ms Campbell, who was a grandmother, left two sons and two daughters.
She had been living with Duggan in Blaina for up to five months.
'Justice prevailed'
She was brought up in Taunton in Somerset but had also lived in London.
After Duggan had been found guilty, a family spokeswoman said: "My
sympathies go out to Adrian Duggan's family but I'm glad that justice has
prevailed.
"We have been the victims in this because we have lost a grandmother,
mother, daughter and best friend, so it is hard for all of us."
But campaign group Fair Trials Abroad said it had doubts over the
conviction.
Sabine Zanker, a legal officer for Fair Trials Abroad, said: "The last
time I was in touch with anybody was in July and I spoke to Adrian's
cousin who said Adrian's lawyer was confident of getting a good outcome in
the trial.
"I thought the police had no good explanation for why Adrian would have
been injured so seriously himself".
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