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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 09:16:26
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This 15 year old girl was found dead on a beach on Goa 3 weeks ago. The Indian Authorites insisted she had gone swimming while drunk and drowned. Her mother disagreed with this verdict and has since been battling to have a second post mortem carried out. Mother believes the matter is being hushed up to protect the tourist industry on Goa.
Three days ago I watched the mother being interviewed on Sky news and she said that she had informed the British Embassy as soon as she became suspicious but as yet had not heard from them. There was also an article on Sky news online 7th March in which it states " Scarletts family have criticised the Foreign Office for doing little to help them"
This mornings news reveals that the mother was successful in getting a second post mortem carried out and now the vedict is that Scarlett was indeed murdered.
Yet again we have an unconventional family left to battle injustice alone. Has anybody seen any British official standing beside Scarletts mother when she has been interviewed ???
I really am utterly disgusted by the double standards of the British Government, especially when that govt. is led by a man brought up in a manse and taught Christian beliefs. Beliefs and qualities which he has stood up and talked about publicly when he was gunning for the leadership of the party.
It has always been denied that the McCanns received special assistance when Madeleine disappeared, and the help given was no different to that of any other British family who found themselves in a similar situation while abroad. In the light of what has happened on Goa, IMO this is untrue. 
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mog
Seasoned Reporter
United Kingdom
232 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 11:10:48
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justagranny, looks like the police have now changed their tune. Hope that justice is finally served for Scarlett.
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Indian police to probe Scarlett Keeling murder
By Pamela Timms in Goa
Last Updated: 11:54pm GMT 08/03/2008
Indian police have been told to carry out a murder investigation into the death of Scarlett Keeling, 15, who was found dead on an Indian beach last month.
The request has come from doctors who carried out a second post-mortem examination on the teenager, which indicated that she had been brutally assaulted. Police in Goa, where she had been on holiday with her family, had earlier said they thought she had drowned.
Her mother, Fiona MacKeown, who has spent recent weeks campaigning for the death to be re-investigated, told The Sunday Telegraph last night: "I'm just relieved that we've achieved this first objective.
"It's a strange feeling now, though, to come to terms with the fact that Scarlett was actually murdered. I know there's a huge procedure ahead of us to get the case solved.
"The hardest thing for me now is to try and put faith in the police officers who looked me in the eye and lied about my daughter's death.
"I'm now hoping to take Scarlett home and bury her on our land with a beautiful ceremony."
Scarlett, who lived her with her mother and siblings in a smallholding in Devon, arrived in Goa back in November, embracing the island's party lifestyle. She was last seen alive at a bar called Lui's on Feb 18, where she was said to be in the company of several men.
Her corpse was found on the beach only yards away, her shorts and underwear having been removed and her bra-top pushed up around her neck.
The first post-mortem examination recorded only five bruises on her body. The second found 50, and injuries to her genital regions.
"They [the police] have caused us a huge traumatic experience," said Mrs MacKeown. "They have behaved like criminals."
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oxymoran
Managing Editor
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 12:21:39
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Thanks for bringing this inequity to my attention, JaGN.
Theres a big difference between 5 bruises and 50 bruises. Sounds like yet another case suffered greatly in her final hours. |
http://OxyMoran.blogspot.com |
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mog
Seasoned Reporter
United Kingdom
232 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 12:30:37
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From The TimesMarch 8, 2008
Scarlett Keeling witness says that he is too scared to give evidence to the police
A British man who says that he witnessed a sexual assault on a 15-year-old British girl on the same morning she was found dead in Goa has contacted British authorities to ask for their help and protection, The Times has learnt.
British officials have told him that they cannot intervene in the investigation into the death of Scarlett Keeling, whose half-naked body was found on Anjuna beach on February 18.
They have advised him to return to the southern Indian state to give a statement to the local police, who have been accused by the girl’s mother of covering up her rape and murder.
But the man, who fled Goa last month, fears that if he returns, his life will be in danger, and he will not be protected by the local police.
“He’s terrified,” a relative of the man told The Times. “He wants to come forward and help, but he does not trust the police.” Fiona MacKeown, Scarlett’s mother, appealed this week for the witness to come forward as she pressed local authorities to perform a second autopsy on her daughter’s body.
Her body was covered in bruises, her shorts and underwear had been removed and her bra-top pushed up around her neck.
The first autopsy concluded that she drowned, but Mrs MacKeown accused local police of covering up her daughter’s rape and murder after seeing the bruises and finding her underwear, shorts and sandals in the bushes near the beach.
The first autopsy also showed that Scarlett had no water in her lungs, although her windpipe did contain sand and salt water.
Goan authorities bowed to mounting political pressure yesterday by beginning the process of performing a second autopsy, which is now under the auspices of a local magistrate rather than the police.
Mrs MacKeown identified Scarlett’s body again yesterday morning in the presence of five witnesses, including the magistrate, and watched them count 50 bruises and abrasions on her body – as opposed to the five recorded in the first autopsy.
Doctors are now expected to perform a second post mortem examination of the body this morning, according Edmund Rodriguez, the lead pathologist on the case. If they find evidence of physical assault, then the police can open a murder case, according to Bosco George, the Superintendent of Police for North Goa.
Mrs MacKeown said that she was relieved that the Goan authorities had agreed to the second autopsy, but vowed to continue to fight for justice for her daughter. “I knew I was right all along.”
“I don’t know why, what their reasons are, but there’s been a cover-up by the police.”
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 14:26:46
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Thanks for those 2 articles mog. It's really helpful for the likes of me who only has access to the online media.
This witness, as I understand it, is not asking the British officials to intervene in the investigation. He is asking for help and protection so that he can give a statement without fear of harm to himself.
Am I being thick or what? Surely if the British officials do not assist a witness to tell what they saw, they ARE intervening in an investigation by blocking potential evidence.
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oxymoran
Managing Editor
USA
427 Posts |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2008 : 17:05:50
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| Thanks Oxy. Some good news for this family. The mother said when interviewed that nothing would bring Scarlett back, but she wanted the perpetrators to be punished. Hopefully she will get what she has battled for so courageously. IMO she deserves it. |
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oxymoran
Managing Editor
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 01:36:53
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Sunday, March 9, 2008
Police Make First Arrest in Scarlett Keeling Murder
MAN IS HELD OVER KILLING OF SCARLETT
A BARMAN was arrested yesterday over the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling in India.
Witnesses claimed they saw Samson D’Souza, 28, raping Scarlett on Anjuna beach in Goa on February 18 close to where her body was later found.
Her mother Fiona MacKeown, who had refused to accept initial police reports that 15-year-old Scarlett had drowned, welcomed the move.
“I knew in my heart she had been murdered,” she said yesterday. “It was our main objective to get the police or somebody to admit it.”
She added: “This is the first step. We’ve got to keep the pressure on because they’ll find a way of wriggling out of things. I still think they are trying to cover up what happened.”
Police in Goa are now working on a murder investigation.
Inspector Kishan Kumar said yesterday: “This man was seen with the girl near to where her dead body was found. It was evidently clear he was raping her.”
Ms MacKeown added: “Our only hope is this witness who has seen what happened. Scarlett was a lovely girl who was happy all the time. She used to sing at the top of her voice.
“Her sisters miss her terribly and have been writing her letters they want to put in her coffin.
“I now plan to fly home to bury her and then I’ll come back to India to keep the pressure on and make sure we get justice.”
She also spoke of her fears that her eight other children could be targeted by criminals if she stays in Goa. She said: “There’s a cover up and it’s organised by the local mafia which has interests in drug running.”
After the first post-mortem examination the extent of Scarlett’s injuries was hidden from her family. Ms MacKeown’s campaigning led to a second post-mortem that showed the girl suffered 50 wounds – 22 of them before her death.
Results also found there was not enough water in her lungs for her to have drowned.
Ms MacKeown has written to the Goan police chief accusing the force of corruption and manipulation in an attempt to cover up the circumstances of Scarlett’s death.
The investigating officer who dismissed Scarlett’s death as drowning has been taken off the case. Four years ago the same officer, Nerlon Alburquerque, was suspended for dereliction of duty over his handling of another similar case where a murder was dismissed as a natural death.
Officials in Goa have pledged to conduct an internal inquiry into the police investigation.
Yesterday’s arrest comes after police questioned three men who were at a bar with Scarlett on the night she died.
They were interviewed but have not been arrested or charged. Scarlett’s Indian boyfriend Julio Lobo, 25, was also questioned. |
http://OxyMoran.blogspot.com |
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 10:43:38
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| It is awful this case. But what i dont understand is why this 15yr. was allowed to have a boyfriend of 25 whether it was here in the U.K. or abroad. |
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petefergie
Senior Correspondent
United Kingdom
585 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2008 : 19:53:47
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quote:
why this 15yr. was allowed to have a boyfriend of 25
I agree... but then when you go into any city centre on a friday/saturday night and see what the kids there are up to I suppose it's par for the course. But in my house 15 and 25? NO WAY! |
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2008 : 20:27:53
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| I have just seen the mother talking on the news and this woman is totally UNBELIEVABLE.The Newscaster asked if she were naive and she replied yes. Surely she must take some responsibility after all she is the adult and not the child. |
Edited by - lincs on Mar 11 2008 20:29:17 |
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petefergie
Senior Correspondent
United Kingdom
585 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2008 : 23:28:18
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quote:
The Newscaster asked if she were naive and she replied yes
To be fair she may have heard the McCanns talking about being naive, that word must rate as the best get-out of all time |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2008 : 09:27:38
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Sky news this morning. Indian police are considering charging the mother with neglect for leaving Scarlett alone. How does this relate to the McCanns insistence that leaving three children under 4 on their own is not neglect?
How about a debate on how to deal with a teenager who refuses to toe the line? I would agree that Scarletts mother seems to be unusual, what we called hippies, and had no objection to Scarlett going on the pill in the UK so her own lifestyle, standards etc are not the same as most parents. However, how do parents these days control a stroppy, defiant teenager? I read that the mother and Scarlett had had an argument about the trip and Scarlett had refused to accompany the rest of the family so the mother had left her, not only with the boyfriend, but also his family which included women. Had the mother cancelled the trip, the teenager would have been in control of the situation, not the mother, and that can't be good for either of them.
When we were rearing our 2 boys they were financially dependent on us until they left home but these days in the UK, as I understand it, teenagers can leave home and be offered financial assistance with rent and living expenses so how does a parent exert any influence on them? If Scarletts mother had objected to her going on the pill, would the Family Planning Clinic have refused to supply Scarlett? I don't think so, so, if society does not back parents, what are they supposed to do?
I would be interested in seeing what other posters think as it was so different in my day, and if I go back to my own childhood, including my teenage years, well, I got locked in my bedroom until I agreed to conform and as far as I know, there wasn't anybody in authority who would have refused to back my mother in her decision. |
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2008 : 10:52:10
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| It is respect some parents today have no respect so their children dont any know better. When i was growing up i had a very strict upbringing i was not allowed out unless i was driven to and fro to friends. But it has stood me in good stead for my children. I may not of liked it at times but i would not have dared of rebelled and we did not get hit off our parents ,nor threats so it was all down to respect.It never harmed me or my siblings either and im so grateful to my parents with the upbringing i had I know times have changed but with my own children they have respect and dont rebel either i believe in giving them enough rope, having family discussions trust love and mutual respect. I agree the McCanns were neglectful but when the police man came on sky just before the swinging statement. He made another statement saying charges could be brought for leaving them. But they are not going to face any and this was said back in May. It makes me think some one in high places were very quick to smooth this over. |
Edited by - lincs on Mar 12 2008 10:57:33 |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2008 : 11:33:51
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I agree with everything you say Lincs, but what would you do if one of your children did turn out to be a rebel ?
One of my best friends ( we went to school together ), had 3 girls and 2 boys. They were all loved equally yet one of her daughters got in with the wrong crowd at school. The local authority refused to move the girl to another school so my friend placed her in an independent day school but she still associated with her original friends. I know my friend and so I know how hard the parents and grandparents tried to understand the situation. They tried everything but their daughter would neither listen nor co-operate with them. She left school with no qualifications and continued to drift from job to job and man to man. The other children have all done well and all of them tried to help their sister but she was just determined to live her own way. I can assure you she was not treated any differently to her siblings when she was at home, but short of keeping her a prisoner, I cannot think of anything else that family could have done to get their daughter to conform. They always loved her, kept the door open for her but nothing worked. Eventually the daughter went through the prison system and has just disappeared. To this day her parents still go over her childhood and try to find a reason. |
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2008 : 13:36:33
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| Hi i have heard of this before i too went to an independent school and a couple of them got into drugs got expelled but it has taken this school yrs to get it back on track and is even better today. I have spoken to policemen social workers etc. and asked why do children from a loving home with nice education abuse it and want to rebel, they could not answer me. When a parent can put hand on their heart and the police etc. know the parents have almost moved heaven and earth for their children then probably there is nothing else can be done. Your friend deserves a medal, your friends daughter probably will admit she has a loving family and all the support she needs and it is not her parents fault that it lies with her self. Some like a different way of life they seem to get a buzz from it. As your have said justagrannynow the door is left open for her and i hope she realizes what a privileged life she had. I think your friend has done a cracking job and no one else could of done more for her. It is a very sad story and these are the sort of goodparenting i really feel for. |
Edited by - lincs on Mar 12 2008 13:39:49 |
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mog
Seasoned Reporter
United Kingdom
232 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2008 : 20:24:04
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quote:
Originally posted by justagrannynow
If Scarletts mother had objected to her going on the pill, would the Family Planning Clinic have refused to supply Scarlett? I don't think so, so, if society does not back parents, what are they supposed to do?
You are quite right Jagn, saying that family planning would not have refused her the pill. I know of comprehensive schools in our region, that are allowed to give teenage girls the pill without their parents knowledge. On the other hand, pain killers and anticeptic creams cannot be given by the same schools "just in case".
As stated elsewhere on here, i would class myself as an "hippy". I have the hair, face fuzz etc, so i suppose i do "stand out from others." But what is a hippy?. The term hippy was just a follow on from the beat poets/beatnix terminology. The hip from Hippy supposedly relates to the individual been "on the knowledge", having your finger on the pulse, and generally knowing whats going on in the world.
I had a firm but fair up bringing. Neither mam and dad are "hippies", but were/are fine tuned to the trials and tribulations of what its like to be in your adolecent years. They knew exactly what the game was, and instilled into us right from wrong, always do what we believed was right, never hurt anyone/thing etc. None of us were ever in any trouble, as my parents said, they would tell the police first if we got up to anything!.
We used to go birdwatching, hiking, go to museums and do lots of other activities together. The outdoor stuff has stuck with me to this day, and i love been outdoors doing whatever i can.
So we were kept quite busy really.
What i was taught by my parents as a youngster is now rubbing off in the way i am bring up my own daughter. My thoughts and beliefs, mixed in a pot with my mam and dads ideals i suppose.
Interesting observations as well, regarding children who "have everything" going off the rails.
Have you ever noticed, when you read stories like that there always seems to be a line thus:"They didnt want for anything. We gave them everthing they wanted."
Well its easy to give children materialistic love. Pouring gifts and money at them perhaps isnt the best way to go about it. These days, everything is there for the taking for young people. Everything they think they want, parents seem happy to oblige. New mobiles, latest gadgets etc. I wonder how many parents think, "wait a minute, do they really need this?, or would they prefer a hug, and me taking more interest in what they do?" I am sure a lot of kids would opt for a hug and loving parents, although most wouldnt admit it!
rambling over
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2008 : 21:37:53
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Great post Mog and a very valid point. My grandchildren have been raised with a bedroom full of gadgets, TV laptop etc. Their friends would come round and it was each to their own room to play these computer games. They thought nothing of having skiing holidays in Colorado, gap years in Australia and one was given a present of a round the world air ticket to go backpacking. Cars were expected as soon as they passed their test and they were just awash with material things. I didn't like it but I was told in no uncertain terms that this was how all their friends lived and it was expected in the circles they lived in.
I have to admit that up to now they all seem to be OK but I wonder how any of them will cope if some day the rug is pulled from underneath them and they have to actually start roughing it, but living in the suburbs of a large city, their parents seem to think that the fact that they have all survived adolescence without getting mixed up in drugs or crime means they have succeeded. I reckon it's a sad reflection on society. There is just one grandson who looks around him and is aware of social injustice. Maybe one day he will decide to do something about it, but the others take their overabundance of material things for granted. I think they miss out on so much real life and think their lives are quite sad and shallow but I am sure that, although they love me to bits, they think I got left behind years ago. |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2008 : 20:24:21
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There was something on BBC News24 about an hour ago. Apparently Scarletts mother has been summoned to appear before a court to answer police allegations that she neglected Scarlett by leaving her without adequate supervision.
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2008 : 20:39:41
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| I heard that on the news also, wonder if Gordon Brown will step in. |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2008 : 20:46:39
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OMG He might send Clarence to help out  |
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2008 : 20:50:08
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| He will make it worse will all his spin. |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2008 : 09:21:57
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On Sky news this morning. Scarletts mother is at a Juvenile Police Unit where she is being questioned. Fiona McKeowan says police are trying to charge her with child neglect. Police say they are questioning her for general information about Scarlett. If this is so, why does mother have to be taken to a special unit? Given the way the police have investigated this case at the beginning, I would tend to believe the mother. IMO the Indian police sound even more incompetent than the derogatory comments made about the PJ !!!
Still no mention of whether or not the British govt. are assisting this family in any way. Shameful double standards.  |
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lincs
Moderator
United Kingdom
625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2008 : 12:20:27
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| As much as i dont agree she should of left her daughter, the British Goverement need to step in after all they did it for the McCanns. |
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justagrannynow
Senior Correspondent
France
304 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2008 : 19:30:18
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On Sky news this morning. Mother is expecting the results of the post mortem today. She has been told that Scarlett died by having her head held underwater for over 10 minutes.
This is so dreadful, and still no UK Govt. support to be seen. Mother is being helped by a yoga teacher and a lawyer who is giving his services for free.  |
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oxymoran
Managing Editor
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2008 : 22:56:55
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| JaGN I very much doubt that was how she died. All the original reports indicated no sign of water in her lungs, although they did say she had swallowed sand. Either way its horrific to contemplate |
http://OxyMoran.blogspot.com |
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Scarlett Keeling