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Treebhoowoon to give evidence in Michaela trial

One of the men accused of murdering honeymooner Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius is due to testify in his own defence today.

Avinash Treebhoowoon to set to give evidence at the Supreme Court in Port Louis as the first defence witness called at the trial.

Treebhoowoon, 31, and Sandip Moneea, 42, deny murdering Mickey Harte's daughter in the luxury Legends Hotel on the island last January.

The defendants worked at the exclusive beachside resort at the time. The prosecution claims they attacked the 27-year-old teacher when she caught them stealing in her room.

Treebhoowoon is expected to give evidence in his native tongue of French Creole.

Yesterday his lawyer Sanjeev Teeluckdharry delivered a 70-minute opening statement in which he insisted a confession statement signed by his client was extracted by police brutality.

Mrs McAreavey’s widower John reacted to the barrister’s claims from the public gallery, calling out “Lies” at one point.

Treebhoowoon, from Plaine des Roches, was a room attendant in Legends while Moneea, from Petit Raffray, was his floor supervisor.