ONE OF the two men accused of murdering Irishwoman Michaela Harte while she was on honeymoon in Mauritius in January gave a statement to police two days after the killing saying he had been “beaten and forced to sign” a false confession, a court on the island heard yesterday.
Avinash Treebhoowon (30) told police of the killing, which took place at a resort hotel: “I am completely innocent in this case. I have no knowledge whatsoever in this crime.
“I was beaten and forced to sign a statement at the major crime investigation team office. I am innocent. MCIT threatened both myself and my lawyer.”
The statement, recorded on January 12th last at Beau Bassin central prison, was read in Mapou district court yesterday by assistant superintendent of police Ahmad Delawaraly at a pre-trial hearing in the case.
Mr Treebhoowon and Sandip Mooneea (41) are both charged with the murder of Ms Harte, daughter of Tyrone GAA football manager Mickey Harte, at Legends Hotel while she was on honeymoon with her husband, John McAreavey, on January 10th last. Both deny the charges.
Chief justice Bernard Sik Yuen yesterday instructed the pre-trial to continue pending a supreme court decision on a motion by the defence for a judicial review and a stay of proceedings. The chief justice said a decision on the motion would be delivered in coming days.
Assist Supt Delawaraly was the first of four prosecution witnesses who appeared yesterday before district magistrate Sheila Bonomally.
Mr Treebhoowon’s lawyers Sanjeev Teeluckdharry and Ravi Rutnah entered a motion for a judicial review at the supreme court last week contesting a ruling by Ms Bonomally on June 22nd, when she declined to step down from the preliminary inquiry.
Counsels for both accused emphasised that their respective clients told investigators at the beginning of the police investigation that they had nothing to do with the murder of Ms Harte.
Assist Supt Goinda Murdaymootoo told the court he recorded a statement from Mr Mooneea on May 11th at the Grande Riviere North West when charges of murder were pressed against him.
Mr Mooneea, assisted by counsel Navin Bhoyrul on that day, told police he had nothing to do with the death of the Irishwoman.
Also appearing for the prosecution yesterday were constable Satish Jeewood and constable Rajen Hurgobin, both officers of the scene of crime office. They gave a brief explanation of the details of room 1025, where the couple were staying, and the various “walking distances” between the room and other hotel areas.
During cross-examination, constable Jeewood, a police photographer, said the beachfront of room 1025 was not fenced and anyone could access the hotel grounds by walking in from the beach.
The court was told room 1025 had a wooden door at the back which could be opened with an electronic key-card.
Under cross-examination by Mr Rutnah, constable Hurgobin, a police draftsman, said that only “a wall separated room 1025 to 1023”.
Mr Bhoyrul asked the witness to explain the distance between the reception and room 1025, and the distance between room 1025 and the main gate. The witness said he was not in possession of this information and a full witness statement would be provided today.
The prosecution’s key witness, Raj Theekoy, will be called before the court today. He was initially charged with conspiracy to commit murder but was later released after Ms Bonomally struck out the charges against him.
Mr Bhoyrul yesterday withdrew his request for Mr McAreavey to attend the preliminary inquiry.