The Michaela McAreavey Murder Scene became a poignant symbol of grief, reaching people far beyond the boundaries of Mauritius.
In a BBC documentary, Sandip Moneea, one of the individuals who was cleared of the killing of Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius back in 2011, shared his viewpoint on the case.
The three-part documentary series thoroughly delves into the 2012 trial and associated developments, including the passing of Raj Theekoy, a crucial witness.
The filmmakers also obtained interviews with the attorneys who represented the accused individuals during the trial and were granted access to original case files and crime scene reconstruction photos.
The documentary, titled “Murder in Paradise,” premiered on BBC One NI on Monday, April 10 at 10:30 BST.
Furthermore, an eight-part podcast series titled “Assume Nothing: Murder in Paradise” will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds beginning on Saturday, April 29.
Employed at the opulent hotel where Michaela tragically lost her life during her honeymoon, Mr. Moneea denied any implication in her murder.
Nevertheless, he divulged that some police officers still view him as a suspect, which deeply distresses him.
The inquiry into the death of Michaela Mcareavey
Somebody strangled Michaela in a bathtub.
She was the 27-year-old daughter of Mickey Harte, a former Tyrone GAA manager.
The tragedy transpired 12 days after she married John McAreavey.
Following a protracted seven-week trial in 2012, Sandip Moneea and Avinash Treebhoowoon, employees at the hotel, were cleared of the murder charges.
Mr. Moneea vehemently asserted his innocence when questioned directly about any involvement in the crime, stating, ‘No, no. Honestly speaking, I was not involved. He conveyed his regret at the young man’s passing and its tragic impact on the newlyweds when they were visiting his home nation.’
At that time, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, the prime minister of Mauritius, disclaimed allegations of exerting undue pressure on the police to secure a conviction and safeguard the island’s tourism sector.
He brushed aside such claims as unfounded, asserting that he had merely emphasized the importance of solving the case and bringing the guilty party to justice.
One of the accused individuals, Avinash Treebhoowoon, initially confessed while in custody but later retracted his statement.
He alleged that his statement was a result of police brutality.
However, Heman Jangi, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police, vehemently refuted any police misconduct, assuring the public that no brutality had occurred during the investigation.
The Attorney General of Mauritius, Maneesh Gobin, reassured the public that the authorities had not abandoned the case.
Despite the challenges posed by the passage of time, Mr. Gobin underscored the importance of upholding justice and fostering public trust in the legal system.
The McAreavey family is still pursuing the case.
Michaela’s brother, Mark Harte, has pledged to never give up on his quest for his sister’s justice.
Furthermore, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, recently met with Mark, John McAreavey, and lawyer Claire McAreavey to address their continued fight for justice.
The family visited Mauritius in 2017, where they announced a 2 million Mauritian rupee (£44,000) prize for any information related to the case.
