Storms and silence at courtroom

High winds whipping across Port Louis on Sunday night brought a tree crashing down on the grey slate tiles atop the historic court building.

The branches blocking the entrance to criminal court five this morning did little to prevent the now-customary charge up the steps for seat in the cramped public gallery.

The law lecturers in the city must hardly need to come to work of late because every one of their students appears to have made the court a classroom for the duration of the McAreavey case.