Two men accused of killing Michaela Harte in Mauritius will go on trial in May, a court was told today.
Avinash Treebhowon (29) and Sandip Mooneea (41) were formally charged with her murder at the country’s Supreme Court this morning. The hearing will start on May 22nd and is scheduled to last two weeks.
Prosecutor Mehdi Choony said the hotel workers were not asked to enter a plea this morning, at the request of their lawyers, but confirmed they would be ordered to do so when next in court.
“The two suspects were in court this morning and had the murder charges read to them," he said.
The court heard both men intended to plead not guilty.
The court hearing comes a year after they were arrested following the death of Ms Harte (27), from Ballygawley Co Tyrone, on January 10th, 2011, at the luxury Legends resort.
The teacher was found strangled in her hotel room on the island where she was on honeymoon with Co Down GAA player John McAreavey.
Detectives claimed Mr Treebhowon had confessed that the two men strangled the former Rose of Tralee contestant by accident after she found them stealing from her purse. He has since claimed the confession was made under torture.
He and Mr Mooneea, a cleaning supervisor at the hotel, have since denied any involvement in the killing.
Three other hotel workers were arrested in connection with the killing. Room cleaner Raj Theekoy (31) is one of the key witnesses for the prosecution.
Security guards Seenarain Mungoo (39) and Dassen Narainen (26) also appeared in court, charged with conspiracy to commit murder, following claims they helped Ms Harte’s killers by supplying a magnetic key card which gave access to guests’ rooms.