TWO MEN accused of murdering Michaela Harte (27) appeared in court in Mauritius yesterday for pre-trial hearings.
Avinash Treebhoowoon (30) and Sandip Mooneea (41) are accused of murdering the daughter of Tyrone senior county football manager Mickey Harte in the Legends Hotel last January 10th. Both claim to be innocent.
The former Rose of Tralee contestant from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was just three days into her honeymoon with her husband John McAreavey (31) when she was found dead in her hotel room.
The preliminary court proceedings started in the Mapou district court and are expected to last three days. The proceedings will decide which witnesses will be called in any trial.
The men face up to 60 years in prison if convicted of the offence in a trial that may take place later in the summer. If the trial goes ahead Michaela’s husband may have to attend the court to give evidence.
A lawyer representing one of the men yesterday asked for the magistrate in the case to stand down. A decision is expected to be given on this today.
In March a room cleaner at the hotel, suspected of being involved in the killing, became the key witness in the state’s case against the two accused.
Raj Theekoy (31) left Mapou district court a free man on March 29th after prosecutors told the magistrate they had withdrawn charges against him after he agreed to give evidence against Mr Treebhoowoon and Mr Mooneea.
Mr Theekoy was charged with conspiracy to commit murder during the early part of the investigation.
The charge was linked to his initial reluctance to divulge to police that he saw the two main suspects, colleagues of his at the exclusive hotel, leaving Ms Harte’s room at about the time she died.