Michaela was killed for purse

AS her family prepare to receive her body in Belfast this afternoon, police investigating the murder of Michaela Harte in Mauritius have revealed she was strangled over a purse containing a small amount of cash.

Officers said one of the three men being held over the killing of the 27-year-old teacher in her honeymoon suite in the Legends Hotel had confessed that they had been interrupted by her as they were looking for the purse.

Room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, admitted the crime to officers after one of his co-accused and fellow room attendant Raj Theekoy, 33, made a statement implicating him and the third accused, floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 41. Treebhoowoon and Moneea, who are alleged to have carried out the killing, face murder charges.