Fourth man charged in Mauritius investigation

FOUR hotel workers have appeared in court in Mauritius in connection with the murder of Michaela Harte who was strangled on her honeymoon.

Separately, a fifth man has been arrested. The 39-year-old is also a member of security staff at the hotel.

According to police on the island the man is accused of allowing electronic hotel keys be copied for criminal purposes.

He is due in court on Friday.

All of the men who were charged are staff at the luxury complex on the island where the victim, 27, was staying.

Room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 41, have been charged with murder and room attendant Raj Theekoy, 33, with conspiracy to murder.

They were remanded in police custody and will reappear before a court in a week’s time.

The fourth man, security worker at the four-star Legends Hotel, Narayanen Dassen, 26, was arrested in connection with the murder after the other three and charged with conspiring in the murder, police said.

Dassen was also remanded in police custody at yesterday’s hearing in Mapou, in the north of the island.

On Monday, around 3,000 people attended the funeral of the Irish language teacher, who was the daughter of Tyrone GAA football team manager Mickey Harte.

The newlywed, from near Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, is thought to have been killed as she disturbed a burglary in her hotel room.

She was buried in her wedding dress at St Malachy’s church outside the village.

When detectives have completed their inquiry, they will hand over any evidence to the director of public prosecutions, who will decide which charges the suspects should stand trial for and then refer the case to a magistrate before it proceeds to a higher court, police said.

This process is likely to take some time.