Two of the three Mauritian men charged in connection with the murder of Michaela Harte, the daughter of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, have admitted participating in the events that surrounded her death, local police have said.
At a morning press briefing held at police headquarters in Port Louis, police commissioner Dhun Iswar Rampersad recounted what floor manager Sandip Mooneea (41) and cleaner Raj Theekoy (33) said during their confessions to the police.
The third and main accused, Avinash Treebhoowoon (29) has not yet confessed to any involvement in the murder of Ms Harte.
“It looks like he [Treebhoowoon] went in the room a couple of minutes before the victim arrived. The accused was there to commit larceny.
“From what I understand the couple left a purse with money and jewellery on a table for a couple of days. It seems that this attracted some staff working there,” he said.
Mr Rampersad went on to say that Theekoy explained that he saw Treebhoowoon coming out of the Ms Harte’s room in an unusual state: that he was sweating and agitated.
“Treebhoowoon told him not to saying anything about it. Now the investigators are trying to match what he is saying with the timing of the events,” he said.
Mr Rampersad added that both Treebhoowoon and Mooneea were the two people who were in possession of the electronic keys.
“We now have sufficient evidence against the accused to bring a case of murder against them,” the commissioner said.
Initially six people were questioned over her killing, which took place while she was on honeymoon with her husband John McAreavey, the former Down footballer.
This afternoon police carried out a crime scene reconstruction this afternoon and brought two of the three suspects to the hotel.
Ms Harte is being flown home from Mauritius tonight Her body was due to be flown out at 10.20pm local time (6.20pm Irish time), along with her husband and other family members. Relatives hope her remains will arrive in London sometime early tomorrow and then be flown on to Belfast.
It is expected her funeral will take place close to her Co Tyrone home early next week - in the same church where she wed only weeks ago.
Irish Ambassador in South Africa Brendan McMahon, who is on the island, said his immediate aim was to get Ms Harte's remains and family members home as soon as possible. Her brother and her husband's brother are also in Mauritius.
“We are certainly very hopeful this will happen this evening. We hope and pray there will not be any last minute hitches,” he said.
Mr McMahon said people on the island were shocked by the murder. "This is not a violent society. Staff at the hotel are stunned and are attending a memorial service for Michaela this afternoon," he said on RTÉ.
He said a number of Irish people were currently staying at the hotel. Mr McMahon made no comment on the investigation or the speed with which it is progressing.