Two charged with murder and one with conspiracy to murder holidaying Irish teacher Michaela McAreavey
- guardian.co.uk,
- Article history
Three men appeared in court in Mauritius yesterday over the murder of an Irish woman who had been on her honeymoon at the luxury hotel where they worked.
Police said the case against the men was circumstantial but that DNA taken from the fingernails of the woman, Michaela McAreavey, was being examined.
Two of the men were charged with murder and one with conspiracy to murder the 28-year-old teacher, who was the daughter of the Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte.
It emerged that Ms McAreavey's husband, John, had discovered her body in the bathtub in the couple's room, with the tap still running. He had gone to look for her after she failed to return to an outside cafe where they were having tea.
Police believe she interrupted burglars and that the killer or killers had used an electronic key card to gain access to the room at the Legends hotel.
The three hotel workers who appeared in court were Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, Sandip Moneea, 41, and Raj Theekoy, 33.
Mauritius's police commissioner, Dhun Rampersad, said: "From the collections we have obtained from her nails, it looks like there may have been some struggle." He said the three men charged had not confessed but "we have circumstantial sort of evidence but we are trying to find some other evidence to link them to the charge".
Rampersad said the use of the key card to open the couple's bedroom door was critical to the case. "Not all people have access to these cards," he said. It is hoped a trial will take place within six months.
In court, Treebhoowoon said he was questioned by detectives yesterdayevening and "hit in the face by investigators", adding "they humiliated me further at the police headquarters".
The presiding magistrate instructed the prosecution to launch an investigation into the allegation.
Treebhoowoon and Moneea were charged with murder. Theekoy was accused of conspiracy to murder.
The three were remanded in police custody for a week and will return to court next Wednesday, when they are expected to be formally charged or released.
Mrs McAreavey's brother, Mark Harte, along with her husband's brother and parents, have arrived in Mauritius to help with arrangements to take her body back for a funeral at St Malachy's church, close to the family home outside Ballygawley, where she married on 30 December.
Her father is expected to travel to Mauritius tomorrow. Mickey Harte has spoken of his devastation over the death of his "beautiful daughter", saying his family had been left shattered.
The Irish ambassador in South Africa, Brendan McMahon, has arrived on the island to assist the relatives.
The Irish Ambassador in South Africa, Brendan McMahon, is there also to lend his support to the Harte and McAreavey families.The hotel where the murder was committed is in the centre of the fishing village of Grand Gaube, not far from Grand Bay in the north-eastern corner of the island of Mauritius.
Mauritians have been leaving messages on social network sites conveying their shock and disgust over the murder.
Jean-Paul Henrisson, a 27 year old web-designer expressed his horror over what had happened to Michaela McAreavey.
"I am totally gutted by what happened. This is bound to have repercussions as to the perception of the island elsewhere. We have been through very tough times during the world economic crisis, and this happens at a time where the economy, especially tourism, has started to pick up again nicely.
"I also feel sad for all the people who work in the tourism industry.
There are plenty of genuine, charming people out there, and their reputation, and that of our island, will be tarnished," he said.
Michaela and John McAreavey were married less than two weeks ago near to the Harte family home on the outskirts of Ballygawley, Co Tyrone.
The couple's wedding ceremony was held at St.Malachy's church in Ballymacilroy. It is expected that Michaela McAreavey's funeral mass will be held in the same Co.Tyrone church.
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