Accused’s phonecall to sister under the spotlight

A hotel worker who claims he was phoning his sister when Michaela McAreavey was killed actually called her to ask advice after committing the murder, a prosecutor has alleged.

Sandip Mooneea has insisted he was chatting to his older sibling for almost five minutes about everyday things at about the time police believe the honeymooner was strangled in her luxury hotel in Mauritius.

After Mr Mooneea testified in his own defence at the Supreme Court in Port Louis, his sister followed him into the witness box to corroborate his story.