RAJ THEEKOYE, A key witness for the prosecution has described what he heard and saw on the day that Michaela McAreavey was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius last year.
The former attendant of the Legends Hotel testified against his two former colleagues, Avinash Treebhoowon, 30, and Sandeep Moonea, 42, who are accused of killing the 27-year-old Tyrone teacher on 10 January 2011. Both deny the charges.
The accused men looked worried when emerging from room 1025 on the day of the murder, Theekoye told the court this morning. He gave his statement in creole after an exception was granted by the court, where English is the normal speaking language.
Examined by lead counsel Mehdi Manrakhan, Theekhoye said he had finished cleaning on the fateful day and went towards room 1025 where his colleague Avinash Treebhoowon was working. The door was locked and the accused’s cart was outside. He then moved away when he heard a lady’s voice screaming ‘aaaahh’ three times.
He recalled:
I heard a woman screaming. Distress calls.
Intrigued by these cries, he went to room 1021 where he waited to “see who are the ones that come out of the room 2025″. He said that within five minutes, his two colleagues – accused number one and accused number two – exited the room.
“They looked worried,” he added.
According to his testimony, they did not notice him and he then made his way to room 1011 where he was joined by Treebhoowon after another 10 minutes had passed.
“I asked him what happened. Nothing, he said,” the witness told the court today. Treebhoowon then said he had to pump up the wheel of his cart and left the room, moving towards the boat house.
Following that, the second man, Moneea, entered the same room but was not asked about the incident. Treebhoowon then returned to the room and both of the accused men had a conversation that Theekoye said he could not hear.
While he was still with his two colleagues, Theekoye said he saw the hotel’s assistant manager Bruce Lino rush to room 1025. Moonea said that there may have been a problem and they should go to see so all three followed.
“We followed him. On site, we saw the body of a woman,” explained Theekoye. None of them entered the room but they saw Lino and Michaela’s husband John. “He was weeping and said, please save my wife.”
“I then reminded Avinash Treebhoowon what he had said earlier, that is to say that nothing had happened in that room.” It was Moneea, however, who responded:
If you open your mouth, we will involve you in this matter.
Theekoye attested that because of this threat, he said nothing of what he saw for two days despite being interviewed by officers of the Major Crime Investigating Unit. He claims his wife persuaded him to tell the truth when he was arrested and brought to court on the 13 January.
The 34-year-old remained in jail for 77 days before he was granted immunity by the Director of Public Prosecution on the 24 March 2011.
After his initial testimony, he was cross-examined by Rama Valayden, a lawyer for Moneea. He was unable to explain his comings and going in different guestrooms at a time when he was supposed to have finished cleaning on the day of the murder.
The cross examination was interrupted because Counsel for the accused had to leave for another case. The trial resumes tomorrow.
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