Scarlett's organs 'were removed'

Scarlett Keeling was on holiday with her family on India

Some organs were removed from the body of murdered British teenager Scarlett Keeling, her mother's lawyer has said.

Vikram Varma, lawyer for Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown, said the discovery was made during a third post-mortem examination in Devon.

He said her uterus, kidneys and stomach were missing.

The semi-naked body of Scarlett, 15, from Devon, was found on Anjuna beach in Goa in India on 19 February after she had been raped and murdered.

'Nightmare'

Mr Varma said: "I have spoken to Fiona who has told me the uterus, kidneys and stomach are missing.

"I am waiting for an e-mail from the coroner confirming in writing what is missing so I can then take it up with the Ministry of Health.

"There is no reason to take these organs, a doctor only takes a sample of an organ for tests.

"To remove the whole organ without written consent is not permissible."

Ms MacKeown told BBC News it was "just one nightmare on top of another".

She said: "I am going to go back to India and ask for an investigation as to why her uterus was missing and why I haven't been consulted about repatriating the parts back to her body and why so much was taken."

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said the third post-mortem examination - carried out by a UK forensic pathologist, following two post-mortems in India - had now been completed.

He said: "Samples have now been sent away for toxicology analysis.

"The results of this examination will be divulged at the inquest into Scarlett's death, the date of which is yet to be set."

Cover-up claim

Ms MacKeown has previously criticised the Goa police's handling of the case.

India's top federal detective agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, has been asked to take over the investigation to prove the Goa police have nothing to hide.

Ms MacKeown has alleged police officials have covered up evidence over her daughter's death to protect the tourism trade and drug dealers.

Scarlett had been staying at the resort with a friend while the rest of her family travelled further afield.

Initially, police said she had accidentally drowned but later opened a murder investigation under pressure from Ms MacKeown.

Police have arrested two men, Samson D'Souza, 28, who has been remanded in custody on suspicion of rape, and Placido Carvalho, who has appeared in court on suspicion of drugging Scarlett and assisting in the murder.