Police ‘diced with justice and Mauritius’

Police investigating the murder of Michaela McAreavey have diced with justice and risked the reputation of Mauritius by accusing a man who could not have physically committed the crime, his trial was warned.

Rama Valayden, defending Sandip Moneea, claimed evidence would show the accused was on a four- minute phone call to his sister at the time the prosecution contends the Co Tyrone honeymooner was strangled in her hotel room.

In a 90-minute statement to open his case, said he was angry because those really responsible for the “despicable murder” were walking free while an innocent man sat in the dock.