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Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin was hit with a beer bottle before being brutally raped and murdered in India, a court heard today.

The 28-year-old woman from Buncrana, Co Donegal was found dead lying in pool of blood on an isolated stretch between Agonda and Canacona beaches in South Goa in March 2017.

The Sessions Court of South Goa presided by Sessions court judge Sayonara Telles heard the case.

Local man Vikat Bhagat, 23, who is known to the victim, appeared in court in India yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The trial heard evidence from Prashant Komarpant, a local farmer who came across the body of Danielle McLaughlin in a field.

He told the court that he made the discovery at about 7am on the morning of 13 March 2017, and that he told another man, who contacted the police.

He said: “On the morning of March 14, I had started my day early as always, and was headed towards my field — a small plot of farming land in Devabagh.

“About 150 metres in, I spotted the naked, sprawling body of a young white woman lying in a pool of blood.

“Her face was smashed beyond recognition. Nervous and scared, I approached my friend Amar Komarpanth, who then called the police.”

The Goa police arrived at the spot in the next 20 minutes, and recorded Prashant’s statement. The body was taken to the police station around 2pm the same afternoon, the court heard.

According to the charge sheet, Bhagat tried to force himself on the woman at an isolated place between the Canacona and Agonda beaches.

(Image: Arvind Tengse / Barcroft Images)

When she resisted, he hit her on the head with a beer bottle, raped and then strangulated her, the charge sheet states.

It added that the accused then smashed the victim’s face with a stone to destroy evidence.

During the investigations, the cops got hold of a CCTV footage in which Danielle was allegedly seen with Bhagat, who she knew from previous visits to India.

Bhagat had reportedly confessed the murder to police initially but he pleaded not guilty before the court.

Bhagat was arrested and charged for the crime under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder, rape, theft and destruction of evidence.

Danielle was backpacking through India. She had come to Goa to celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colours.

The trial has now been adjourned until 13 April, when cross-examination of Mr Komarpant’s evidence will continue.

Ms McLaughlin’s family has a legal representative present in the court to observe proceedings on their behalf.

It is expected that the family may attend the trial at some stage of its hearings.