Couple on CCTV 'not McAreaveys'

A couple captured on CCTV apparently arguing in the hotel where Michaela McAreavey was murdered are not her and her husband, a police chief has told a court in Mauritius.

Assistant commissioner Yoosoof Soopun said the man and woman on screen had been identified as holidaying German couple Harald Hoyer and Savarese Graziella.

The couple at the reception of the Legends Hotel were seen on a security camera the day the Co Tyrone teacher was strangled in her room in the luxury complex.

The footage was filmed just after 3pm on January 10 last year, around 15 mins after the prosecution claim the daughter of Tyrone GAA boss Mickey Harte died at the hands of two hotel employees.

Former room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 31, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 42, deny her murder.

The pictures were shown at their trial in a packed Supreme Court in Port Louis. Around 200 people were inside to see the footage played. The honeymooner’s widower John watched from the front row of a crammed public gallery.

After the clip was played Mr Soopun said he was positive it was not the McAreaveys.

“I am 100% sure that the couple found at the reception at 15.02 is not the McAreavey couple and I am able to confirm it,” he said.

He produced documentation to the court relating to the German couple, including passport copies. He said staff working at reception also believe it was the Germans in the pictures.

Judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah adjourned court for the day after the defence asked for further CCTV footage from the hotel to be produced.

The judge said while the police witness insisted the couple were not the McAreaveys, defence lawyers contend they were.

He added: “It hasn’t been proved and established beyond reasonable doubt this is the German couple.”