Four men now charged in connection with Michaela murder

Four hotel workers have now appeared in court in Mauritius, charged in connection with the murder of Michaela McAreavey.

Room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 41, have been charged with murder and room attendant Raj Theekoy, 33, with conspiracy to murder.

They were remanded in police custody and will reappear before a court in a week’s time.

The fourth man, security worker at the four-star Legends Hotel Narayanen Dassen, 26, was arrested in connection with the murder after the other three and charged with conspiring in the murder, police said.

Dassen was also remanded in police custody at today’s brief hearing in Mapou, in the north of the island.

Speaking from Mauritius, Global Radio News reporter Levy Previtt explained who the fourth man was: "He is in charge of all the keys of the hotel…so according to police, he's the one who gave the magnetic key to the three other accused to go and steal in (sic) Michaela Harte's (McAreavey's) room."

When detectives have completed their inquiry, they will hand over any evidence to the director of public prosecutions, who will decide which charges the suspects should stand trial for then refer the case to a magistrate before it proceeds to a higher court, police said.

This process is likely to take some time.

A police spokesman said: “They appeared in court once more. The case will be in court once more in seven days. It is normal procedure that they are in court so we have more information to check.”

He added the fourth suspect had been charged with conspiring in the murder.