The appeal of a man convicted of murdering a former Liverpool John Moores University student in India is no longer listed by the country’s High Court. Vikat Bhagat, 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2025 for the rape and murder of Danielle McLaughlin, from Buncrana in Co Donegal, whose body was found in a secluded spot in Canacona, Goa, in March 2017.
Appeal case status
Bhagat appeared before a High Court in India on July 2 to appeal his “rigorous life sentence,” but proceedings were adjourned. At the end of July, the High Court of Bombay at Goa set a new date of Thursday, September 10 for the appeal to be heard, which was expected to last for several full days, according to the Irish Mirror.
The High Court of Bombay website now lists the case as “Admitted (Unready),” meaning the appeal has been admitted but is not currently ready to proceed to a hearing. The investigating officer has informed Danielle’s family that the appeal will not be heard on September 10, but could not provide further details about the delay or when the case might next be listed. No new hearing date has been set.
Family’s ongoing ordeal
Danielle’s family, who continue to await the conclusion of the lengthy legal process, have been told that more information on the appeal may become available in the coming days. Her mother Andrea expressed her frustration, telling the Irish Mirror: “I am disappointed that there is more delays as I cannot get Danielle's belongings returned to me until the appeal is finished.”
Earlier, Andrea Brannigan had told the Irish Mirror: “I am hopeful he won’t win the appeal which will take a few full days to cover.” In June, she said: “I am numb regarding it all. I am trying not to think about it. I hope he doesn’t win [when his appeal is heard], but it is always a worry. It’s more worry and all so scary.”
Conviction and evidence
Bhagat was convicted by Judge Kshama Joshi at the District and Sessions Court in south Goa, following one of the longest-running murder trials involving a foreign tourist in India, which took nearly seven and a half years to complete. Court documents released after sentencing showed Danielle had “showing resistance” on the night she was raped and murdered, and that Bhagat was the last person seen in her company.
Evidence included a bag identified as Danielle’s that Bhagat had dumped, containing a broken pair of glasses and torn clothes, along with forensic evidence and eyewitness testimonies. Bhagat pleaded not guilty and claimed he was in a relationship with Danielle and had no reason to murder her.
