Witness called wife minutes after scream
After giving his testimony to the prosecution, Mr Theekoy faced a series of questions from Rama Valayden, a lawyer for Moneea.
There were audible gasps from sections of the public gallery when the barrister produced phone records that showed he had called his wife at 2.47pm on the day of the murder, a time when, according to his statement, he was hiding near room 1021 waiting to see who would emerge from 1025.
The witness did not reveal what he was talking to his wife about, but he was challenged by Mr Valayden to explain why the phone call was not in his police statement. Mr Theekoy said neither detectives nor lawyers had asked him about calls he made when the statement was made.
He was then questioned why he had not contacted reception or management when he heard the cries.
The witness said he thought it was a dispute between guests and he did not need to report it.
Mr Valayden questioned him about room 1021 and the fact that hotel key card records showed the guests staying there had entered it around 2.45pm.
“I didn’t see,” Mr Theekoy replied.
He was then asked to explain how in his statement he had claimed he had seen John McAreavey beside the bathtub in room 1025. Mr Valayden said the tub was not visible if you were looking in from outside the room door.
“No, I didn’t say that,” said Mr Theekoy, claiming it was possible police had made an error recording his account.
Mr Theekoy was also asked why key cards showed he had entered other rooms in the morning only to return to them in the afternoon.
He said he did not recall that and he denied he had given his access card to anyone else on the day.
