Michaela accused called for medical help after her body was discovered in hotel room

Husband John McAreavey in court as statements read out

The Michaela Harte murder trial has heard how one of the accused phoned for a doctor after her body was discovered in her room at a Mauritius hotel.

Sandip Moneea, a worker at the Legends hotel, is one of two men currently on trial for the honeymoon murder of Michaela, daughter of Tyrone GAA team boss Mickey Harte.

She was found dead in the bath by her new husband John McAreavey after returning to the room on her own to get some biscuits.

The court in Mauritius has heard how Moneea called for a doctor when the honeymooner’s body was discovered.

Moneea told police that he phoned the reception at the hotel when the teacher was found strangled and asked for medical assistance.

He denies any involvement in murdering the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte in the luxury beachside complex last January.

Statements made to detectives by the 42-year-old in the aftermath of the murder were read to the court by senior investigating officer Ranjit Jokhoo on Monday.

In the statements, Moneea said: “I don’t know anything in that murder case. I heard that the woman got killed but I don’t know who killed her.”

Co-accused hotel employee Avinash Treebhoowoon and Moneea have denied the murder at their trial in the Supreme Court in Port Louis.

Moneea had told police that he was working in other rooms at the hotel when Michaela was strangled in room 1025.

He claimed he only became aware of the incident when the hotel manager sprinted past him in the direction of the room and he followed.

He said he ‘stood outside the room and watched’ manager Brice Lunot perform CPR on Mrs McAreavey but insisted he did not enter inside the door or touch her.

“Then I went to another room to call the operator to call a doctor,” added Moneea.

Michaela’s widower John was in the public gallery as Moneea was ordered by judge ustice Prithviraj Fecknah to stand up as his statements were read to the jury by officer Jokhoo.

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Nster.com