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27/06/2012
McAreavey Accused Cries In Court
One of the men accused of murdering a Co Tyrone newlywed has told a Mauritius court that he had no choice but to sign a confession.
Avinash Treebhoowoon broke down in tears in court today, repeating claims that he was tortured before signing the documents.
He said police threatened to lock up his parents, send his wife to Ireland as a replacement for murdered Michaela McAreavey, and torture him with heated handcuffs and electrocution.
At one point the judge adjourned court for 10 minutes to let the witness get a glass of water and stop crying.
Treebhoowoon, 31, has formerly said that police investigators on the Indian Ocean island tortured him with beatings on the face and heels, by suffocation and by putting his head in a bucket of water until he vomited blood.
Giving evidence in his own defence today, the former hotel worker said officers had told him they could do what they liked to his loved ones because they ran the government.
Treebhoowoon told the court police threatened to send his wife Reshma to Ireland to live with Mrs McAreavey's widower John, claiming an officer said: "that man's wife is dead, he needs a woman to live with".
He said he was thinking of his family when he signed a full confession statement three days after the murder.
Treebhoowoon and co-accused Sandip Moneea, who worked together in the Legends Hotel at the time of Mrs McAreacvey’s murder last January, deny murder.
The trial continues.
(NE)
Avinash Treebhoowoon broke down in tears in court today, repeating claims that he was tortured before signing the documents.
He said police threatened to lock up his parents, send his wife to Ireland as a replacement for murdered Michaela McAreavey, and torture him with heated handcuffs and electrocution.
At one point the judge adjourned court for 10 minutes to let the witness get a glass of water and stop crying.
Treebhoowoon, 31, has formerly said that police investigators on the Indian Ocean island tortured him with beatings on the face and heels, by suffocation and by putting his head in a bucket of water until he vomited blood.
Giving evidence in his own defence today, the former hotel worker said officers had told him they could do what they liked to his loved ones because they ran the government.
Treebhoowoon told the court police threatened to send his wife Reshma to Ireland to live with Mrs McAreavey's widower John, claiming an officer said: "that man's wife is dead, he needs a woman to live with".
He said he was thinking of his family when he signed a full confession statement three days after the murder.
Treebhoowoon and co-accused Sandip Moneea, who worked together in the Legends Hotel at the time of Mrs McAreacvey’s murder last January, deny murder.
The trial continues.
(NE)
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08 June 2012
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One of the men accused of murdering a newlywed on her honeymoon told his father to "forget him", Mauritius court has claimed. A police sergeant told the murder trial a record had been kept of Avinash Treebhoowoon's visit from his father while in custody. He claimed Treebhoowoon said: "I have made a mistake, forget your son.
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.
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19 September 2019
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31 March 2004
British and Irish Sign Languages now official
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
