Michaela 'found thieves in bedroom'

Michaela McAreavey’s life was brutally ended by two thieves she caught red-handed in her bedroom, a court in Mauritius has heard.

The daughter of Tyrone GAA boss Mickey Harte screamed as she was murdered in the room in the island’s luxury Legends Hotel by two staff members, a chief prosecutor told jurors.

Opening the case against the two accused, Mehdi Manrakhan claimed a third employee heard her cries from outside the door, but instead of helping her, ran away and hid.

The lawyer said Mrs McAreavey, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, and her new husband John had flown to Mauritius to spend “what was meant to be the best days of their married life”.

“Regrettably, members of the jury, that honeymoon was brutally interrupted by the senseless murder of the bride,” he said.

Defendants Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea deny the charge of premeditated murder. The court heard Treebhoowoon confessed to police in the days after the death but later claimed the statement had been beaten out of him.

Principal state counsel Mr Manrakhan described Mrs McAreavey as a beautiful bride who was the love of her husband’s life.

John McAreavey was not in the Supreme Court in Port Louis, because he is due to be a witness later in the trial, but his sister Claire and Michaela’s brother Mark Harte listened intently as the prosecutor outlined the facts of the case.

“Members of the jury, right at the end of December 2010, Mr John McAreavey, a young professional accountant of 26 years old, married the love of his life Ms Michaela Mary Harte, a young and beautiful lady of 27 years old who was a teacher,” he said.

“Both were Irish Nationals and their fairytale wedding took place in the North of Ireland where they both came from.”

Mr Manrakhan claimed two days after the couple’s arrival at Legends, hotel employee Raj Theekoy had been cleaning room 1012 when Moneea and Treebhoowoon walked in.

The lawyer said Treebhoowoon told Moneea that a ’Do Not Disturb’ sign was still hanging outside the McAreaveys’ room – 1025.

Moneea allegedly then called the room to see if there was an answer.

With no one picking up, the prosecutor claimed floor supervisor Moneea dispatched attendant Treebhoowoon to clean the room.

Around 50 minutes later, Theekoy claimed he left room 1012 and went to see Treebhoowoon.

“At around 2.40pm Raj Theekoy left room 1012 and went to meet Accused No.1 (Treebhoowoon) at room 1025,” said Mr Manrakhan.

“When he reached near room 1025 at around 2.45pm he saw the trolley of Accused No.1 outside room 1025 but the door of the room was closed shut.

“When he got closer to the door of room 1025 he heard a female crying ”Ah Ah Ah“ as if she was in pain.

“Raj Theekoy, members of the jury, got scared when he heard that female voice crying and he went to hide near room 1021 which is close to room 1025 and also to see who would come out of room 1025.

“Members of the jury, Raj Theekoy would see both accused coming out of room 1025. In fact, Accused No.1’s face appeared wet and he was wiping his face with his hand.”

Mr Manrakhan said Mr Theekoy confronted the pair about what happened but was allegedly warned by Moneea:

“If you open your mouth I’ll get you involved in the case.”

The prosecutor revealed that Treebhoowoon confessed to police after his arrest

“Accused No. 1, Mr Treebhoowoon, has, in a statement given to the police three days after the killing, fully confessed to having participated in the killing of Michaela,” he said.

“He explained in detail how he had been stealing in room 1025 when he was caught red-handed by Michaela. In order not to be exposed, since Michaela had clearly identified him, he willingly participated in her killing.”

Mr Manrakhan said Moneea has maintained his innocence throughout, claiming he was in another part of the hotel at the time of the murder.

But the lawyer said evidence from other hotel workers and from records of key card use would show the accused to be a “blatant liar”.

He explained to the jurors that the evidence linking him to the murder was circumstantial.

Mrs McAreavey had returned to the room to fetch biscuits for her tea while her husband sat at the pool, he added. She was found dead in the bath.

The court also heard that both accused had key cards to access rooms as part of their job and that Treebhoowoon was scheduled to clean room 1025 on the day of the murder.

Mr Manrakhan said medical examinations showed Mrs McAreavey died from asphyxiation due to compression of the neck.

“Medical evidence is such that there can be no doubt that Michaela had been brutally killed,” he said.

After the prosecution’s opening statement, defence counsel Sanjeev Teeluckdharry briefly rose to his feet to respond, emphasising to the jury that they had to be certain beyond reasonable doubt of the two men’s guilt.

Later two police officers who formally charged the suspects with murder revealed to the court how the accused had responded.

Officer Ahmad Reshad Delawarally charged Treebhoowoon.

He said the defendant replied, in French Creole, that he had nothing to do with the case, adding:

“The MCIT (Major Crime Investigation Team) beat me up and forced me to sign that statement.”

The officer said the accused also claimed the MCIT had threatened him and his lawyer.

Goinda Murdaymootoo charged Moneea.

In response, the officer said the accused declared, also in Creole: “I know nothing in the case, I am totally innocent.”

The second day of the trial also heard defence counsel challenge scenes of crime photographer Harris Jeewooth.

They claimed “catastrophic” errors were made not taking certain shots of the hotel room.

Mr Jeewooth insisted he had only taken the pictures he was directed to by senior officers, but he did reveal it was the first murder investigation he had worked on.

The case against hotel room attendant Treebhoowoon, 30, from Plaine des Roches, and floor supervisor Moneea, 42, from Petit Raffray, is expected to last two to three weeks.

Extra security measures were implemented on the second day of the case.

The trial witnessed chaotic scenes as it began yesterday with John McAreavey mobbed by crowds outside.

The two accused were also buffeted as they were led through throngs of people.

In apparent response in the unruly scenes, security barriers were in place today as handcuffed Treebhoowoon and Moneea were escorted into court five.

Earlier, a lone police truck transported the defendants from the high-security La Bastille prison in the nearby town of Phoenix – a more low key entrance than yesterday’s speeding convoy of vehicles.

The trial in the old French colonial court building is one the most high-profile criminal cases ever held on the island.

A jury of nine – six men and three women – is hearing the case and judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah is presiding.

Almost 50 witnesses are listed to give evidence.

Though most Mauritians speak French Creole as their first tongue, court proceedings are being heard in English.

Mrs McAreavey, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was the only daughter of Harte, the GAA boss who has steered his native county to three All Ireland championships.

The Legends Hotel, which has since been renamed the Lux Hotel, is in the fishing village of Grand Gaube, close to Mauritius’s Grand Bay.

Mrs McAreavey taught religious education and the Irish language at St Patrick’s Academy in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Her Requiem Mass was held close to her family home at St Malachy’s chapel in Ballymacilroy – the same church in which she had married a fortnight before she was killed.

Then-Irish president Mary McAleese was among dignitaries at a funeral attended by more than 3,000 people, as the newlywed was buried in her wedding dress.