NEWLYWED Michaela Harte cried out in pain and terror as she was being choked to death, it was claimed yesterday.
The Mauritius prosecution painted a picture of the Co Tyrone beauty’s terrifying last moments as they outlined the case against her two alleged murderers.
A packed Supreme Court in the island’s capital Port Louis was told how she let out strangled cries of “agh... agh... agh... ” while grappling with attackers.
And, before defence lawyers made claims of a bungled crime-scene probe, it emerged that one of the accused had confessed to the killing under questioning.
Both sides in the trial set out their arguments amid ramped up security — with the authorities desperate to avoid a repeat of Tuesday’s chaotic opening session in which tragic widower John McAreavey was jostled by crowds.
Prosecuting barrister Mehdi Manrakhan began proceedings by describing the dramatic evidence that is to be given by a member of the Legends Hotel staff.
He said room attendant Raj Theekoy heard a scuffle in Michaela’s honeymoon suite — then saw colleagues Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and Sandip Moneea, 42 leaving the room.
With chilling detail, Manrakhan added: “He heard a female voice crying and then ‘Agh, agh, agh’ as if she was in pain.”
The jury heard that when Theekoy confronted the duo, Treebhoowoon said: “Nothing happened, just keep quiet”, while Moneea warned: “If you open your mouth, I’ll get you involved in the case.”
Michaela’s husband John, 31, later found her lifeless body in the bath of suite 1025 — the 27-year-old’s neck covered with severe bruising and abrasions.
Summarising the tragic chain of events on January 10 last year, Manrakhan said: “The story begins with a wedding in Ireland and a honeymoon on the paradise island of Mauritius — but this was brutally interrupted by the senseless murder of the bride.
“After having had their lunch Michaela ordered tea and went to her room to fetch her biscuits.
“John stayed behind at the restaurant and waited and waited for her to come back.”
“Michaela would never return to John. This was the last time that John saw his beautiful wife Michaela alive.
“As soon as John entered room 1025 his worst nightmare began. In the bathroom John saw Michaela lying senseless in the bathtub.”
“John removed Michaela from the bathtub, laid her on the floor and went to cry for help.
“The bell boy who had accompanied John was still in the vicinity and they both went back to room 1025 where John tried to revive Michaela.
“It was too late. Michaela was already dead.”
“Medical evidence is such that there can be no doubt that Michaela had been brutally killed.”
The trial was told that a post-mortem showed the former Rose of Tralee contestant, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, had died from asphyxiation due to compression of the neck.
Both of the accused men have pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder.
But the prosecution said that Treebhoowoon had confessed his role in the murder to cops, which he said was a robbery gone wrong.
Manrakhan revealed: “He explained in detail how he had been stealing in room 1025 when he was caught red-handed by Michaela.
“In order not to be exposed, since Michaela had clearly identified him, he willingly participated in the killing.”
Co-accused Moneea, a floor supervisor at the five-star hotel, emphatically denied involvement during questioning, saying he was in another part of the hotel.
The prosecuting barrister said that evidence — from other workers and from records of key card use — would show him to be a “blatant liar”.
He added: “This was a dream honeymoon for John and Michaela, which turned into a nightmare.”
Co Down footballing ace John — who is due to give evidence next week — stayed away from court yesterday. Instead, his sister Claire and Michaela’s brother Mark sat through the heartbreaking proceedings.
At one stage they heard a cop recall Treebhoowoon’s allegation that he had only confessed out of fear of police brutality.
When charged, the room attendant had replied: “I’ve got nothing to do with this case. I am totally innocent.
“The Major Crimes Investigation team beat me up and forced me to sign a statement.”
And there was more harrowing evidence when the court was shown graphic images of the murder scene — with Michaela’s body still lying on the floor where John had tried to revive her.
The defence team claimed “catastrophic” errors were made by police in failing “to take photos that may have been significant in this inquiry”.
No pictures were taken of the sand outside the hotel room — where there may have been footprints — and none of the crime scene photographs were colour.
Police photographer Harris Jeewooth admitted in cross examination that it had been the first murder case he had worked on.
He told how Room 1025 was “very disturbed” when he arrived, and said the bath in which Michaela was found was three-quarters full with reddish material on the bottom.
Grief-stricken John, who showed the strain of his paradise island heartache on Tuesday, is staying at a religious retreat for the duration of the trial.
He continues to wear his wedding band on his left hand, while Michaela’s ring — which he put on her hand on December 30, 2010, 12 days before her murder — nestles on a chain close to his heart.
Michaela — daughter of Tyrone GAA legend Mickey Harte — was described as the “love of John’s life” by the prosecution yesterday.
On Tuesday his sister Clair asked people to “pray” for them.
She said: “This is a very distressing time for for both our families and the days ahead will be very difficult for us. We ask for your prayers at this time.”
The trial continues today.
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