Menu
28/05/2012
No DNA Evidence, Mauritius Court Hears
A trial into the death of a County Tyrone newly-wed has heard there were no DNA traces from the men accused of her murder found on her body or at the crime scene.
A forensic scientist told the court in Mauritius that the DNA of defendants Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea was absent from swabs taken from Michaela McAreavey's body and from the honeymoon suite where she was found dead.
Susan Woodroffe from Cellmark Forensic Services found no matches for either defendant or for one original suspect, Raj Theekoy.
But she did find DNA from another former suspect, Dassen Naraynen, on a key card for the room Mrs McAreavey (27) was sharing with John, her new husband.
Naraynen, like the two accused and suspect-turned-witness Theekoy, was working at Legends Hotel at the time.
Ms Woodroffe said there was "no specific indication" that any of the four men had "contributed to the results".
Genetic material from a fifth person was found on another sample, which could lead to all four men being ruled out as suspects.
Earlier, the police investigation came into question again as a police officer could not account for two and a half hours that lapsed between police arriving at Legends Hotel and Treebhoowoon making a statement in a local station.
A defence barrister said the journey should only have taken half an hour.
The officer under questioning fell silent, but later said he was questioning the accused during the lost two hours.
Treebhoowoon has claimed he was beaten up by police.
Treebhoowoon (30) and Moneea (42) deny murder.
The trial continues.
(NE/GK)
A forensic scientist told the court in Mauritius that the DNA of defendants Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea was absent from swabs taken from Michaela McAreavey's body and from the honeymoon suite where she was found dead.
Susan Woodroffe from Cellmark Forensic Services found no matches for either defendant or for one original suspect, Raj Theekoy.
But she did find DNA from another former suspect, Dassen Naraynen, on a key card for the room Mrs McAreavey (27) was sharing with John, her new husband.
Naraynen, like the two accused and suspect-turned-witness Theekoy, was working at Legends Hotel at the time.
Ms Woodroffe said there was "no specific indication" that any of the four men had "contributed to the results".
Genetic material from a fifth person was found on another sample, which could lead to all four men being ruled out as suspects.
Earlier, the police investigation came into question again as a police officer could not account for two and a half hours that lapsed between police arriving at Legends Hotel and Treebhoowoon making a statement in a local station.
A defence barrister said the journey should only have taken half an hour.
The officer under questioning fell silent, but later said he was questioning the accused during the lost two hours.
Treebhoowoon has claimed he was beaten up by police.
Treebhoowoon (30) and Moneea (42) deny murder.
The trial continues.
(NE/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
06 June 2012
Mauritius Murder Trial Hears Widower's Evidence
Police told the widower of a honeymoon strangling victim he would "get another wife," a court heard today. John McAreavey, whose wife Michaela was killed in their luxury hotel in Mauritius last January, told the island's Supreme Court about how the police treated him.
Mauritius Murder Trial Hears Widower's Evidence
Police told the widower of a honeymoon strangling victim he would "get another wife," a court heard today. John McAreavey, whose wife Michaela was killed in their luxury hotel in Mauritius last January, told the island's Supreme Court about how the police treated him.
14 May 2012
Seven Police Officers Disciplined Over Pensioner's Death
Seven police officers have been disciplined over an investigation into the death of Lisburn man Jim Heasley in October 2010. The 70-year-old was assaulted as he walked home from Lagan Valley Pigeon Club. An investigation by the Police Ombudsman found a series of failings in the initial police response.
Seven Police Officers Disciplined Over Pensioner's Death
Seven police officers have been disciplined over an investigation into the death of Lisburn man Jim Heasley in October 2010. The 70-year-old was assaulted as he walked home from Lagan Valley Pigeon Club. An investigation by the Police Ombudsman found a series of failings in the initial police response.
01 June 2012
More Court Questions Over Mauritius Police Investigation
Police interrogated a suspect without a lawyer present and failed to take statements from people who were potential witnesses of a honeymoon murder. A court in Mauritius heard both claims today at the trial of two men accused of the murder of Michaela McAreavey.
More Court Questions Over Mauritius Police Investigation
Police interrogated a suspect without a lawyer present and failed to take statements from people who were potential witnesses of a honeymoon murder. A court in Mauritius heard both claims today at the trial of two men accused of the murder of Michaela McAreavey.
24 May 2012
Concerns Raised In Court Over Mauritius Murder Investigation
The police investigation into the murder of a Northern Irish honeymooner in Mauritius has been under the spotlight in court. Defence lawyers for Avinash Treebhoowoon, one of two accused, have cast doubts over his confession, saying he was "subjected to police brutality".
Concerns Raised In Court Over Mauritius Murder Investigation
The police investigation into the murder of a Northern Irish honeymooner in Mauritius has been under the spotlight in court. Defence lawyers for Avinash Treebhoowoon, one of two accused, have cast doubts over his confession, saying he was "subjected to police brutality".
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Apart from a little patchy drizzle it will be a dry evening and night with variable amounts of cloud. A few mist and fog patches forming. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
