A JURY has been sworn in at the trial in Mauritius of two hotel workers accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey, the daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte.
With the first witnesses not expected before the criminal court until this morning, the jury of six men and three women was sent to a hotel last night and told by Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah to cut off all contact with the outside world.
Ms McAreavey, a 27-year-old teacher from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was killed while on honeymoon on the Indian Ocean island in January last year.
She had left her new husband, Down footballer John McAreavey, beside the pool at the Legends Hotel to fetch biscuits for a cup of tea.
Her body was discovered a short time later in the bath.
The two hotel workers – room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon (30), from Plaine des Roches, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea (42), from Petit Raffray – deny the charges.
The killing of Ms McAreavey has generated huge interest in Ireland and Mauritius, and there were chaotic scenes outside courtroom number five yesterday as crowds pressed to gain access to the building.
John McAreavey, accompanied by members of his and Ms McAreavey’s family, attended the opening day of the trial. He is listed among 30 prosecution witnesses due to give evidence.
Before he sequestered the jury to a hotel for the evening, Judge Fecknah advised members not to watch television or read the newspapers.
“You will free yourself from all outward sources of information,” he said.
The matter was the only one heard before the jury on the first day, with the afternoon devoted to legal argument between the two teams of lawyers.
Outside court, John McAreavey’s sister Claire appealed for the family’s privacy to be respected during the trial.
“This is a very distressing time for both our families and the days ahead will be very difficult for us,” she said.
“Thank you for your support and we ask for your prayers at this time.”
The accused face up to 60 years in prison if found guilty.
