Police chief’s scathing attack on murder hotel

A defence barrister made the request for adjournment and Judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah told the court: “If what’s being done is in the interests of justice I think we can have one day to sort things out.”

Members of John McAreavey and his widow Michaela’s family were present in court as the adjournment was announced.

On Tuesday a scathing attack was made by a police detective against management at the Legends Hotel where the newlyweds had been staying.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Yoosoof Soopun told the Supreme Court in Port Louis that hotel management had failed to cooperate during the initial investigations by withholding important information.

He further alleged they had now provided information to the defence team that was never given to police.

The officer said the management had played a “dirty game”, insisting they were trying to protect staff from the beginning, rather than finding Michaela’s murderer.

Former Legends employees Avinash Treebhoowoon (31) and Sandip Moneea (42) are accused of the murder - both men deny the charge.

It is thought Michaela was attacked when she interrupted thieves in her room to which she returned to get biscuits to go with her tea. The 27-year-old schoolteacher’s husband John was at the restaurant by the pool awaiting his wife’s return when she was murdered.

Mr Soopun told the judge: “Here I want to state my lord that the hotel management, as I said from the very beginning there was much concern to protect the reputation of the hotel rather than to discover who has killed the deceased.

“This is why my lord several important things have never been disclosed to the police.”

Accused Treebhoowoon however claimed Mr Soopun threatened him with a revolver and told him he would die if he did not confess.

The court also heard that another employee initially arrested in relation to the murder but later released is now suing police and the state regarding his treatment.

Mr Soopun added that an example of the hotel’s uncooperative nature was when they failed to give police room key entries for 1025 where Michaela was found dead in the bath.