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Home Page > News > Accused in Michaela McAreavey murder case acquitted by Mauritius court

Accused in Michaela McAreavey murder case acquitted by Mauritius court

Jurors deliver not guilty verdict after two hours of deliberation

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, July 12, 2012, 1:26 PM

Updated Thursday, July 12, 2012, 1:35 PM

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Michaela Harte and John McAreavey on their wedding day

Photo by � PA

The two men accused of murdering newlywed Michaela McAreavey (nee Harte) have been acquitted by a Mauritius court.

Avinash Treebhoowoon (32) and Sandip Moneea (43), former employees of the Legends Resort, were found not guilty of the murder of Michaela McAreavey, the daughter of Tyrone GAA coach Mickey Harte.

The unanimous verdict was delivered after two hours of deliberation following a trial that lasted almost two months.

The 27-year-old school teacher was found strangled in her hotel room at the luxury Legends resort in January 2011.

Members of the McAreavey and Harte family walked straight out of the court in silence following the verdict. They later expressed their disappointment in the courts decision in a joint statement.

"After waiting 18 months in search of justice for Michaela and following the endurance of seven harrowing weeks of this trial, there are no words which can describe the sense of devastation and desolation now felt by both families," the statement said.

The murder trial at the Supreme Court in Mauritius was one of the longest trials in Mauritian legal history. It was originally expected to last 14 days.

The Guardian reports both of the accused broke down in tears at the verdict while their relatives cheered in the dock.

Prosecutors said the Tyrone woman had been murdered by the two hotel workers after she disturbed a burglary in her hotel suite.

Outside the court Treebhoowoon told reporters he was overjoyed while expressing sympathy for Michaela’s family.

"I'm so sad about this lady," he said. "But I did not kill this lady."

Moneea said "I am so happy to be back with my family.”

"These past 18 months have been so hard."

In the days following the murder the two men confessed to the killing. However they pled not guilty during the trial and claimed they were coerced into confessing after being tortured by police.

Nster.com

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merefalow | Jul 15, 2012, 04:04 AM EDT

i said from day one i did not like the way this case was developing,its going to be another one of those unsolved murders,how sickening for the people involved.A diplomatic initiative should be launched,by the Irish government and a complete boycott of their holiday industry launched, until they find out who did murder this lovely young woman on her honeymoon.

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WoundedKnee | Jul 14, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT

SAIrish, another visa category you might want to think of----what kind of visa do you need to go to Ireland to work as a street sign holder. You know, the guys who stand on a street all day with a wooden sign that says Eat at Joes or something similar. There's a lot of these in Ireland, almost all Bangla Desh or Mauritius.

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WoundedKnee | Jul 14, 2012, 02:55 AM EDT

paolipete ` no idea what employment the Mauritians hold down in Ireland.' Well~if you had read my post with a little bit of care you'd know. I just told you what jobs many Mauritians get, go back and read my post. SAIrish, your question as to why Ireland imports bartenders from 5000 miles away in the Indian Ocean is well asked. There is of course no logical answer from the Mass Immigration fanatics.

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Kevin Longan | Jul 14, 2012, 02:10 AM EDT

Tragic situation.. So who DID perpetrate this crime, any ideas? I hope they find the sick S.O.B.(s) who did it so they can be punished and not commit yet another heinous murder. Prayers go out to the poor lady's family.

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paolipete | Jul 13, 2012, 02:52 PM EDT

According to Govt figures there are 5,000 Mautitian immigrants registered in Ireland. Have no idea what employment they hold down since I never encountered one on my regular visits to Ireland. Must say that the numbers surprised me !!

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dingle999 | Jul 13, 2012, 08:32 AM EDT

Wounded Knee's comments surprised me, how can unqualified immigrants working as barmen get working visas to live in Ireland? is this true? -------- Of course not...

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SAirish | Jul 13, 2012, 06:16 AM EDT

Mauritius, is generally considered to be a safe country to visit. Although lying off the coast of Africa, the people are either of Indian origin or white. Many tourists from South Africa visit the island and experience no trouble there at all. I was very surprised when I read of the murder, it is very unusual. Wounded Knee's comments surprised me, how can unqualified immigrants working as barmen get working visas to live in Ireland? is this true?

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Scotchtommy | Jul 13, 2012, 02:33 AM EDT

A shocking case.Our hearts go out to that poor lady's family.It has to be said that tourists who visit such lawless countries are risking their lives.I hope that Mauritius is hit where it hurts.NO MORE TOURISTS

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dermotfastnet | Jul 12, 2012, 02:21 PM EDT

I am very sorry the authorities let down the family.It's time to boycott the island and at home the irish bars staffed by useless migrant workers

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WoundedKnee | Jul 12, 2012, 01:43 PM EDT

I didn't follow this case, so I can't comment on it. But I can point to a curious fact. There are thousands of Mauritian migrant workers in Ireland right now. A lot of them work as barmen. Now why is Ireland in such decline that it can no longer find Irish guys to pull a pint, toss a shot of whiskey onto the bar counter, and listen to a drunk recount his tales of woe? What's wrong with Ireland that it "needs" to import bar workers from 5000 miles away in the Indian ocean? Ciaradexy may offer an explanation for this, but it'll be nonsense.

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