THE BODY OF Michaela McAreavey will be released to her family for repatriation as soon as possible – but her husband John may have to remain on in Mauritius until next week.
The police chief of Mauritius told RTE News at One’s Sean O’Rourke that his police force would be doing their best to assist the Hartes in repatriating her body as soon as possible and that it “is not a problem”. The post-mortem on her body was carried out yesterday morning and it revealed that she died from asphyxiation of the neck. Commissioner Dhun Rampersad said that potential evidence had been recovered from under Michaela’s fingernails showing that she might have tried to fight off an attacker.
Comm Rampersad also said that “concerning Mr McAreavey, if he remains on the island to help us with our inquiries that would be best”. He said that police could use his help and witness statement in the next couple of days but that he would probably be able to go home and mourn Michaela next week.
Patrick O’Connell, Chief News Reporter with The Irish Daily Star, was in court in Mauritius to see this morning’s hearing of provisional charges made against Abinash Treeboohoon, 29, Sandip Monea, 41, and Raj Theekov, 33, in relation to Michaela’s death.
These are the suspects arriving in court this morning:
Pictures by PA Photos
Treeboohoon and Monea are provisionally charged with her murder, while Theekov has been provisionally charged with conspiracy to murder. Patrick O’Connell said that the court proceedings were held in Creole but that the lawyer for Treeboohoon translated into English some of the testimony being given by his client. O’Connell reported that Treeboohoon had been gesturing to his head, body and feet:
The 29-year-old man was alleging that he had been stripped naked, held down and beaten about the body and feet… to try and force a confession from him.
The magistrate at this morning’s court sitting rose to consider the allegations of police brutality. When she returned she granted a motion for Treebohun to be examined by a police medical examiner.
Family members of the three men were at court this morning. Two of the men were newlyweds themselves. Raj Theekov was just recently married and his brother protested his innocence.
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Source: PA pics/George Michel" title="">
Source: AP Photos/George Michel" title="">
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