Police inspector never suspected John McAreavey in Michaela’s death

POLICE inspector Ranjit Jokhoo never suspected John McAreavey after the death of his wife Michaela during their honeymoon in Mauritius in January, it emerged yesterday.

“For me when I entered the scene of crime, he was not a suspect,” he said at the district court of Mapou under questioning from Navin Bhoyrul, representing murder co-accused Sandip Mooneea.

“I do not know for other officers. I did not record any statement from Mr McAreavey. The police inquiry continued and eventually my belief was confirmed by the investigation. For me it was on the very night after having interrogated various employees of the hotel and examined several (pieces of) information.”

Counsel Sanjeev Teeluckdharry, representing the other accused Avinash Treebhoowon, contested a diary entry made at the MCIT office on January 13 where it was recorded that Treebhoowon told his father “forget your son now. I have made a mistake.”

The statement was inserted in the diary by Sergeant Rashid Bhagaloo.

Mr Teeluckdharry told magistrate Sheila Bonomally his client gave a different statement that was not recorded properly.

He said it was: “Do not forget your son. I have made a mistake. I have left home. I ask you to forgive me. I want to come back home”.

Mr Jokhoo said the statement made by the defence was wrong and the diary note was “faithfully” inserted.

Mr Bhoyrul also pressed for the telephone number of Mr McAreavey. The latter’s mobile phone was secured on January 10 but was later returned to him.

Prosecuting counsel Mehdi Choony argued that the prosecution could not be compelled to give the private phone number of Mr McAreavey as he is “neither a suspect nor an accused party in the case”.

Ms Bonomally ruled that “should the number be required by the defence, they should go through the proper channel”.

She added that divulging personal phone number of Mr McAreavey in the district court would amount to a violation of Mr McAreavey’s fundamental rights.