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Trial of Michaela McAreavey adjourned following heated exchanges | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius has been adjourned until Monday following heated exchanges between the prosecution and defence teams. | |
The 27-year-old County Tyrone teacher was found dead at the Legends Hotel on 10 January 2011. | |
Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and Sandip Moneea, 42, deny murder. | |
The exchanges erupted over CCTV from the hotel on the day of the murder. | |
Assistant Commissioner Yoosoof Soopun told the court he had not watched any footage from 9 January, the day before the murder, and had only viewed half hour of footage from 10 January. | |
However, he said when he viewed the CCTV pictures he had not actually seen any photos of Michaela McAreavey. | However, he said when he viewed the CCTV pictures he had not actually seen any photos of Michaela McAreavey. |
Mr Soopun later admitted that a couple captured on CCTV apparently arguing in the Legends hotel the day of the murder was not the McAreaveys. | |
He said the man and woman on screen had been identified as a holidaying German couple. | |
Mr Soopun said: "I am 100% sure that the couple found at the reception at 15.02 is not the McAreavey couple and I am able to confirm it." | |
He produced documentation to the court relating to the German couple, including passport copies. It emerged that the police only secured these documents on Friday morning. | |
He also said staff working at reception also believe it was the Germans in the pictures. | |
The families of Michaela and John McAreavey have issued a statement saying that it was not them in the footage. | |
Judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah adjourned court for the day after the defence asked for further CCTV footage from the hotel to be produced. | |
'Difficult days' | |
The judge said while the police witness insisted the couple were not the McAreaveys, defence lawyers contended they were. | |
He said the exchanges between the defence and prosecution were getting out of hand and called an adjournment to allow "time to calm down". | |
Earlier, the court saw footage of John McAreavey at the reception of the hotel, wearing shorts and carrying a beach bag at about 15:15 BST on the day of the murder. | |
The court heard that he looked agitated and was waiting for a key to get into his room. | |
Police believe Mrs McAreavey was murdered at about 14:45 BST that day. | |
The court also saw footage of the couple pictured together the day before the murder. Mr McAreavey started to cry and left the courtroom at this point. | |
BBC Newsline reporter Natasha Sayee, who is in Mauritius, said: "Media interest here is huge, the public interest is huge and that's all because of what we're seeing here today. | BBC Newsline reporter Natasha Sayee, who is in Mauritius, said: "Media interest here is huge, the public interest is huge and that's all because of what we're seeing here today. |
"It is not easy viewing for Mr McAreavey today, (it's) probably one of the most difficult days he's had to face in his case so far." | "It is not easy viewing for Mr McAreavey today, (it's) probably one of the most difficult days he's had to face in his case so far." |
It is understood the defence case is due to begin on Monday. Four witnesses will be called to give evidence. | It is understood the defence case is due to begin on Monday. Four witnesses will be called to give evidence. |