Police chief admits to having only ‘circumstantial evidence’
Police Commissioner Dhun Rampersad said the three had been identified as murder suspects on the basis that they had access to Ms Harte’s room. But he added someone else could have had the electronic card to open the room and said police were keeping a “very open mind” that another person could have murdered the 27-year-old bride.
The daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte was on honeymoon in the Legends Resort hotel with her husband of just 12 days John McAreavey.
As reported in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, Mr Rampersad confirmed that evidence — thought to be skin or blood — had been collected from Ms Harte’s nails. He said they suspected she struggled with her attacker, during which she may have scrapped skin from him with her nails.
There were local reports yesterday that these samples had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory and that they may have a report by tomorrow.
Mr Rampersad said two men — cleaner Avinash Treebhoowoon and floor manager Sandip Moneea — had been “probationally” charged with murder and that a third — cleaner Raj Theekoy — had been charged with conspiring to murder. “He’s unwilling to talk, but we know he has something to do with that,” said Mr Rampersad.
He said the other two men had not confessed, but added: “We have circumstantial sort of evidence, but we are trying to find other evidence to link them to the charge.”
Asked on RTÉ’s News at One was he confident the provisional charge will be confirmed as an official charge he said: “I think the evidence we have collected so far is good but we are looking forward to strengthening our case.”
Mr Rampersad said the electronic room card was crucial as the two people charged with murder had access to it. He said the three suspects were identified based on this.
“They are the guys who have access to the place, I mean on the floor, in fact it is a ground floor, so these are the people who had direct access, and in terms of the timing, when the particular room was opened. So there can’t be any other person than the one who holds the key, the electronic card, there can’t be other people or maybe somebody who might have possession, anyone who is in possession of that card.”
He added: “We have a very open mind. There may be some other guy who done the job, we have a very open mind.”
He said Ms Harte entered the room two minutes after her killers did. Hotel computer systems show a card was swiped on the room at 3.42pm on Monday and again at 3.44pm, when Ms Harte entered.
Mr Rampersad said he suspected the killer was in the room trying to rob things when Ms Harte caught him, resulting in the murder.
“I suspect the guy was in trying to rob and the lady caught him red-handed. I’m just guessing,” the commissioner told RTÉ Radio.
“I’m saying we have a very open mind. There may have been some other guy who did the job,” he said.
He said he hoped the trial would take place within six months, adding “it would be better” if Mr McAreavey could stay until early next week to help police with their inquiries.
He said they would assist the family in repatriating Ms Harte’s body.
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