Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THERE WAS SHOUTING, crying, and scenes of joy in the courtroom in Mauritius today as the jury gave its verdict at 6.20pm local time, 51 days after the trial of the two men accused of killing Michaela McAreavey began.
Avinash Treebhoowon and Sandip Moneea were both acquitted in a unanimous verdict by the jury.
However if the verdict relieved the families of the accused men, it left the family of the 27-year-old teacher without an answer as to who committed the crime. John Mc Areavey, Michaela’s husband, and members of his family immediately left the courtroom after the verdict.
Outside the courtroom Sandeep Moonea praised his lawyer Rama Valayden.
“The truth has triumphed. I thank my lawyer Rama Valayden. Lord Rama (Hindu god) has come to save me in the form of my counsel”, were the first words from the former floor supervisor.
Avinash Treebhoowon was also emotional outside the courtroom.
“I thank my parents, my wife and lawyers. I suffered a lot. I was brutalised by police. I was beaten so much. Police abused me. But God is great”, he said, almost in tears.
His wife Reshma was equally shaken. She had been sitting silently all through the trial, often trying to exchange a glance with her husband. Now she could not contain her emotions.
“I’m so happy, my husband is free. Divine truth has triumph. I wish to thank our counsels, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry and Ravi Rutnah. I hope that now the police will do their work correctly,” she said.
The mother of Avinash Treebhoowon criticised the police and blamed the officers for having used violence against her son.
“The real culprit is still at large”
Defence lawyer Sanjeev Teeluckharry expressed his relief and faith in justice. “I’m happy but yet I once again cannot help myself to feel grief for the Mc Areavey family. As I’ve said before, due the incompetence of the police, the real culprit is still at large”.
Counsel for Sandeep Moonea was critical of the lack of professionalism of police officers from the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) who were involved in the case, saying:
The biggest miscarriage of justice would have happened in Mauritius if these two persons would have been found guilty
He added: “It is high time the MCIT is dismantled. We cannot carry on with this amateur approach”.
This view was vehemently contested by Ranjeet Jokhoo, the second in command of the MCIT.
“We respect the verdict,” he said. “We have to learn from this judgment as from others. We feel we have done the job as we should have. We leave it to the court, the judge and the jury to appreciate our work”.
Asked to react to counsel Valayden’s remarks that the police has failed and that the case was marked by police blunders, Jokhoo said that he “did not find this in the court’s judgment”.
“Our investigation is same as in other countries. As for methods, this is another issue,” he said.
“We need to do everything for justice and for the McAreavey family”
The Director of Public Prosecution, Satyajit Boolell, said he did not believe it was the time to “point fingers at whoever”. ”We need to do everything for justice and for the McAreavey family. I respect the verdict of the jury,” he said. “We will have to explore more to find justice”.
Asked if he will appeal the verdict, Boolell said he don’t think that will happen. “We could have challenged the sentence but in this case the verdict is without appeal”.
The DPP did say however that both the prosecution and the police must use “more scientific methods”:
We live with modern technology and cannot rely on confession. We must reinforce independent proofs and scientific help to our work. We must also film confessions so that alleged police brutality is not an excuse for accused parties to get through.
Avinash Treebhoowon and Sandip Moneea were released after the verdict. Treebhoowon went to the office of his lawyer, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry after his release, while Moneea headed to the office of his lawyer, Rama Valayden.
For the first time since the 11 January 2011, they will spend the night among their relatives. Avinash Treebhoowon was married for just three months when he was arrested and Sandip Moneea had gotten engaged 35 days before.
Both men had proclaimed their innocence in the murder of Michaela McAreavey, who was found dead in her hotel room on 10 January 2011. An autopsy revealed that she had been strangled.
Treebhoowon had reportedly confessed to the murder two days afterwards. However during his testimony in court he said that he had been the victim of police brutality and that his confession had been extracted through beatings.
The trial, presided by Judge Fekna Prithviraj, opened on May 22 and ran for almost two months.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The greatest inadvertant mistake the founders of the USA made. They put that in to defend themselves in shakier times but it has been so badly baztardized that gobsheens like Trump and NRA lobbyists hold huge sway now with no end in sight either.
Actually they got it pretty OK all things considered. The bit the NRA like to leave out is the “organised militia” part. You can expect to pull their heads in though now that videos of the like of The Black Panthers are doing the rounds showing them brandishing long rifles with large capacity clips. That sort of thing scares the bejesus out of your average white republican.
Around 80 Americans die per day from gun violance, I wouldn’t exactly describe thst factt as getting it right. If IS could kill 80 Americans per day they would be pretty happy but when Americans kill 80 Americans daily with guns it’s seen as a constitutional right. Some right.
What a clever country. Do they really think that two groups opposing each other who are legally armed is a good idea. A Mexican stand-off I think it’s called.
Guns and angry people don’t mix…and they don’t even have to hide the fact that they have guns..Clever Country indeed.
Will Trump allow the Mexicans in for the standoff?
i think a mexican standoff is where there are three armed participants, or so i recall from the good the bad and the ugly
Correct, although my point of reference is Reservoir Dogs” (no *actual* Mexicans as far as I’m aware)
Technically a Mexican Stand off is where neither party can walk away without incurring injury. Traditionally it’s three parties but it can be two..
thanks Paddy, that does make sense, ill still picture clint, that rather grubby looking chap and the other one i cant remember though
Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef….
When you preach politics of hate and fear you reap what you sow. Does anyone think this is the way forward?
how could i forget lee van cleef. im hanging my head
Ohios laws state that open carry is OK so why won’t Trump allow Americans their constitional rights in the arena itself. Is this the start of his clampdown on American rights and wouldn’t he be safer if everyone is allowed to be armed inside in case of an attack.
If Democrat protesters behave themselves there’ll be no need for guns.
Otherwise it could end up like the OK Corral….and my money’s on the Trump Gang.
You sir, are a g0bshite!
Aoife, because it is the secret service that made the decision. They are kind of sensitive about firearms around US presidents, elected representatives and presumptive presidential Nominees
@Osine.
And you sir are an annoyance.
A guy in the crowd pulls out a gun, is he a good guy about to stop a bad guy you can’t see, or a bad guy? Do tell.
I don’t believe that. I reckon it’s an attempt by the government to roll back on the 2nd amendment. Really or just shows the hypocritical nature of a Trump campaign, he says that more guns are needed but just not when he’s around.
It has been the case at every party convention since the early 80′s
Wayne doesn’t matter. Trump says he’ll make America great again and I presume that includes allowing open carry and stopping govt interference in citizens affairs. He should allow all the conventions to have guns and if republicans are armed it’ll stop any crazy democratic party people.
Presidential security is the job of the secret service, the president does not get to over ride them. If he did they would not be able to do their job
Open carry doesnt allow people to pull a gun pn someone. Its there to negate violence.
very low on grey matter
Leftists want to stage a peaceful protest? Lol we’ll wait.
lol
These gun totin right wing NRA crazies are the US version of ISIS. The sad part is so many people in the US see no wrong in their almost mediaeval gun laws.
Hilary Clinton is a gun totin political hawk of the highest order yet seemingly Democrats have no problem votin for her.
Go figure.
Actually lots Of Democrats have major problems with Hilary.
Judging by the belligerent behaviour of leftie Democrats at previous rallies the Republicans have every right to arm themselves.
And defend themselves if necessary.
See comment above.
I did.
And I’m not impressed.
Somehow I don’t think the intent of the comment was to impress
Yes, they have the right to prove once and for all that they are the biggest terrorists of all. The biggest killers of Americans in the world.
“Trump dominated a divisive and unruly primary season, infuriating minority groups, antagonising many people within his own party, and drawing violence to his campaign rallies.”
Democrats have consistently behaved like spoiled kids having tantrums and violently attacking Trump supporters.
And yet people consistently blame the victims of this violence, how about snowflakes take responsibility for their own actions? Even an assassination attempt against him doesn’t seem to have raised any eyebrows.
Trump has shown the liberal monkeys up for what they are.
Trump has shown the world how far a fart in a brown paper bag can go
It’s a bad idea when the government have all the arms and citizens have none…eventually that scenario will end badly too.
Yep. Having an armed populace keeps the government in check!
if you live in the 18th century then yes, yes it does
The Tru(m)pPence Conference!!!!… Special Correspondent Mark Tanner!!
Open carrying of guns at a Trump rally….what could possibly go wrong.
Democrats arrive.
Everyone should point their gun at him in the convention and ask him how he feels.
have your say