By . Julian Gavaghan . PUBLISHED: . 04:36 EST, 18 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:16 EST, 18 April 2012 . The body of a British schoolgirl raped and murdered in Goa can finally be buried four years after her death - following claims of a communication blunder by Indian authorities and the Foreign Office. Scarlett Keeling, 15, was sexually assaulted and left for dead on a beach in the Indian holiday state in February 2008 after taking a cocktail of drugs. Months later, following two post-mortem tests in Goa, her body was brought back to Britain but has lain in a mortuary at an Exeter hospital amid the ongoing trial of two men charged over her death. Long wait: The body of Scarlett Keeling, left, who was raped and murdered in 2008, will be buried on June 17 - which would have been her 20th birthday. Her mother, Fiona MacKeown, right, said she was relieved but angry . A third pathology examination was carried out three years ago following a request by Greater Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland. But the Foreign Office have only now informed the coroner that Goan authorities have given the green light for the body to be released. It is not known when Goa granted permission. But Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown believes a lack of communication between the two governments led to a delay. The schoolgirl, who had been left with a 25-year-old Indian boyfriend while her mother travelled with her six other children, will be buried near the family’s rural home in Brandiworthy. Home: The site in Brandiworthy, Devon where Scarlett once lived and will soon be buried near . Anjuna Beach: The idyllic spot where Scarlett was raped and murdered in February 2008 . A funeral will be held on June 17th - which would have been Scarlett’s 20th birthday. Mrs . MacKeown, who claims Goan authorities engaged in a cover-up to prevent . the beach paradise’s ‘seedy underbelly’ from being exposed, today said . she was relieved that she can finally lay her daughter to rest - but angry about the delay. She said: ‘It’s a relief to bring her home where she belongs back with us. I have been expecting it for four years but it could have been another four years.’ But she said she was ‘disgusted’ with the lack of communication between the Indian authorities and Foreign Office which meant Scarlett’s body could have been released to the family three years ago. Mrs MacKeown, 48, said the family has been through ‘a living hell’. Wayward: Scarlett pictured rolling what appears to be a cannabis joint. It was claimed that her mother allowed her to use drugs . Adventure: Scarlett, seen riding an elephant in Goa during the trip she took with her mother and six siblings . Mourning: Scarlett's family, including her former stepfather Rob Clarke, days after her death in February 2008 . The mother-of-nine, who was 100 miles . away when Scarlett died, faced allegations of neglect in Goa amid claims . that she allowed her daughter to use drugs. Scarlett, . who had been dating Indian tour guide Julio Lobo at the time of her . death, had been photographed rolling what appeared to be cannabis joint. Mrs MacKeown refused to attend the court in Goa over the claims in October 2008. But two years ago, she was hauled before Exeter Crown Court and convicted of benefits fraud and narrowly avoided jail by being handed an eight-month suspended sentence. On trial: Placido Carvalho, left, and Samson D'Souza have been charged with Scarlett's rape and murder . She had dishonestly obtained £19,500 . in child benefit payments from the taxpayer - even though her former . partner Richard Keeling was paying voluntary maintenance for three of . the children, including Scarlett. Julio Lobo: The now 29-year-old tour guide had been Scarlett's boyfriend and had been left alone with her while her mother went travelling . Scarlett . suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack in February 2008 but all . but five of those were missed at the original post mortem, which found . she drowned accidentally. Police chief Nerlon Albuquerque insisted it had been caused by Scarlett hitting her head and body on the seabed as she drowned, it was said. But a second post-mortem examination.  showed she had been raped and murdered. The Goan government’s chief pathologist said she had been held under water for five to ten minutes. Tests showed she had taken ecstasy, cocaine and LSD before her death on Anjuna beach in February 2008. Two men went on trial in Goa over Scarlett’s death. Samson D’Souza, 30, and Placido Carvalho, 42, are on trial for culpable homicide, sexual assault, outraing modesty and destrying evidence. The long running trial has still not reached a conclusion. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We have provided consular assistance to the family since the start of this tragic case and we continue to do so. 'The decision to release Scarlett rests with the UK Coroner.  While we cannot interfere in the Coroner’s inquest, we will continue to do all we rightly can to assist the Coroner and the family.'
Body of Scarlett Keeling, 15, left in mortuary in Exeter since 2008 .
Mother claims lack of communication between Goan authorities and Foreign Office caused delay in Coroner releasing corpse .
Scarlett raped and murdered in 2008 while mother went travelling with six other children and left daughter with 25-year-old boyfriend .
Fiona MacKeown claims Goan authorities conducted cover-up to prevent 'seedy underbelly' of idyllic Indian state being exposed .
By . Julian Gavaghan . PUBLISHED: . 04:36 EST, 18 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:16 EST, 18 April 2012 . The body of a British schoolgirl raped and murdered in Goa can finally be buried four years after her death - following claims of a communication blunder by Indian authorities and the Foreign Office. Scarlett Keeling, 15, was sexually assaulted and left for dead on a beach in the Indian holiday state in February 2008 after taking a cocktail of drugs. Months later, following two post-mortem tests in Goa, her body was brought back to Britain but has lain in a mortuary at an Exeter hospital amid the ongoing trial of two men charged over her death. Long wait: The body of Scarlett Keeling, left, who was raped and murdered in 2008, will be buried on June 17 - which would have been her 20th birthday. Her mother, Fiona MacKeown, right, said she was relieved but angry . A third pathology examination was carried out three years ago following a request by Greater Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland. But the Foreign Office have only now informed the coroner that Goan authorities have given the green light for the body to be released. It is not known when Goa granted permission. But Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown believes a lack of communication between the two governments led to a delay. The schoolgirl, who had been left with a 25-year-old Indian boyfriend while her mother travelled with her six other children, will be buried near the family’s rural home in Brandiworthy. Home: The site in Brandiworthy, Devon where Scarlett once lived and will soon be buried near . Anjuna Beach: The idyllic spot where Scarlett was raped and murdered in February 2008 . A funeral will be held on June 17th - which would have been Scarlett’s 20th birthday. Mrs . MacKeown, who claims Goan authorities engaged in a cover-up to prevent . the beach paradise’s ‘seedy underbelly’ from being exposed, today said . she was relieved that she can finally lay her daughter to rest - but angry about the delay. She said: ‘It’s a relief to bring her home where she belongs back with us. I have been expecting it for four years but it could have been another four years.’ But she said she was ‘disgusted’ with the lack of communication between the Indian authorities and Foreign Office which meant Scarlett’s body could have been released to the family three years ago. Mrs MacKeown, 48, said the family has been through ‘a living hell’. Wayward: Scarlett pictured rolling what appears to be a cannabis joint. It was claimed that her mother allowed her to use drugs . Adventure: Scarlett, seen riding an elephant in Goa during the trip she took with her mother and six siblings . Mourning: Scarlett's family, including her former stepfather Rob Clarke, days after her death in February 2008 . The mother-of-nine, who was 100 miles . away when Scarlett died, faced allegations of neglect in Goa amid claims . that she allowed her daughter to use drugs. Scarlett, . who had been dating Indian tour guide Julio Lobo at the time of her . death, had been photographed rolling what appeared to be cannabis joint. Mrs MacKeown refused to attend the court in Goa over the claims in October 2008. But two years ago, she was hauled before Exeter Crown Court and convicted of benefits fraud and narrowly avoided jail by being handed an eight-month suspended sentence. On trial: Placido Carvalho, left, and Samson D'Souza have been charged with Scarlett's rape and murder . She had dishonestly obtained £19,500 . in child benefit payments from the taxpayer - even though her former . partner Richard Keeling was paying voluntary maintenance for three of . the children, including Scarlett. Julio Lobo: The now 29-year-old tour guide had been Scarlett's boyfriend and had been left alone with her while her mother went travelling . Scarlett . suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack in February 2008 but all . but five of those were missed at the original post mortem, which found . she drowned accidentally. Police chief Nerlon Albuquerque insisted it had been caused by Scarlett hitting her head and body on the seabed as she drowned, it was said. But a second post-mortem examination.  showed she had been raped and murdered. The Goan government’s chief pathologist said she had been held under water for five to ten minutes. Tests showed she had taken ecstasy, cocaine and LSD before her death on Anjuna beach in February 2008. Two men went on trial in Goa over Scarlett’s death. Samson D’Souza, 30, and Placido Carvalho, 42, are on trial for culpable homicide, sexual assault, outraing modesty and destrying evidence. The long running trial has still not reached a conclusion. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We have provided consular assistance to the family since the start of this tragic case and we continue to do so. 'The decision to release Scarlett rests with the UK Coroner.  While we cannot interfere in the Coroner’s inquest, we will continue to do all we rightly can to assist the Coroner and the family.'
the Foreign Office. Scarlett Keeling, 15, was raped and murdered in 2008, will be buried on MacKeown believes a lack of communication between Indian boyfriend while her mother travelled with her six other children, will be buried near the claims Goan authorities engaged in a cover-up to prevent . the beach paradise’s ‘seedy underbelly’ communication between the Indian authorities and her mother went travelling . Scarlett . suffered