Pathologist is suspended over Scarlett post-mortem

The pathologist who first reported that the British teenager Scarlett Keeling died in a swimming accident has been suspended by the authorities in Goa.

Dr Silvano Sapeco's post-mortem examination of the 15-year-old ruled out the possibility of foul play, suggesting instead that she drowned after consuming too much alcohol.

But in a fresh report submitted to Indian police on Saturday he said she had been raped and forcibly drowned. His report said the bruises on her body suggested a struggle. It was only after Scarlett's mother, Fiona MacKeown, fought for a second investigation that the amended findings were published.

The Goan parliament is now considering an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the conduct of the police.

A third man has been arrested by officers investigating the case. The man, who owns a beach shack, is being held on suspicion of supplying Scarlett with drugs. The two men previously arrested are Placido Carvalho, who has appeared in court on suspicion of drugging the girl and assisting in the murder, and Samson D'Souza who was was remanded in custody on suspicion of rape.

Ms MacKeown, 43, said she was pleased that action had been taken to investigate the circumstances of the first post-mortem examination by Dr Sapeco. She said: "There was something definitely dodgy going on, I took one look at her body and realised something was wrong."

Ms MacKeown, from Bideford, Devon, says she has been offered police protection over safety fears. She has been moved to an undisclosed location.

The partially clothed body of Scarlett was found on the beach in the resort of Anjuna on 18 February.