Michaela murder suspects restate their innocence

DEFENCE counsels for two suspects in the Michaela Harte murder trial, Avinash Treebhoowon and Sandip Mooneea, said their clients had told investigators at the start of the police investigation that they had nothing to do with the murder.

Ms Harte was found strangled in her hotel room in Mauritius on January 10, where she had been honeymooning.

In court yesterday, assistant police superintendent Ahmad Delawaraly read an extract from a statement he took from Treebhoowon on January 12 at Central Prison in Beau Bassin. “I am completely innocent in this case,” read the statement. “I have no knowledge whatsoever in this crime.

“I was beaten and forced to sign a statement at the Major Crime Investigation Team [MCIT] office.

“I am innocent. MCIT threatened both myself and my lawyer.”

Assistant police superintendent Goinda Murdaymootoo said Mr Mooneea, who was accompanied by counsel Navin Bhoyrul, told the police officer in his statement he had nothing to do with Ms Harte’s death.

Prosecution witnesses, constables Satish Jeewood and Rajen Hurgobin, gave details of Ms Harte’s hotel room, 1025, and the walking distances between it and other areas of the hotel.

Constable Jeewood, a police photographer, said the beach-front area around the room was not fenced and that anyone could access the area from the beach.

The court was told the room had a wooden door which could be opened with an electronic key-card.

Constable Hurgobin, a police draftsman, told the court only “a wall separated room 1025 to 1023”.

He was then asked to outline the distance between the hotel reception and room 1025, and the distance between room 1025 and the hotel’s main gate.

Constable Hurgobin said he was not in possession of this information, but that a witness statement would be provided today with all the details.

Witness of the prosecution, Raj Theekoy, will also be called today. He was initially charged with conspiracy to commit murder, but he was later released after Magistrate Sheila Bonomally struck out the charges against him.

Chief Justice Bernard Sik Yuen has instructed the preliminary enquiry to continue until a decision is made at the Supreme Court in relation to a defence motion for a judicial review and a stay of proceedings in the preliminary enquiry.

Legal counsels for Mr Treebhoowon last week contested a ruling delivered by Magistrate Bonomally on June 22 in which she declined to step down from the preliminary enquiry.

Navin Bhoyrul, counsel for Mr Mooneea, waived his motion requesting the presence of Ms Harte’s husband, John McAreavey, at the preliminary enquiry.