Last McAreavey Witness Gives Evidence

The last of nearly 50 witnesses has given evidence to the Mauritius murder trial of a Northern Irish honeymooner.

The final testimony ended the trial of two men accused of the murder of Michaela McAreavey, who was found strangled in her hotel room on the island in January 2011.

A representative of a mobile phone company told the Supreme Court in Port Louis that co-accused Sandip Moneea, 42, made a four-minute 18-second call from his mobile phone at just after 2.45pm on the day Mrs McAreavey was killed.

This corroborates the defendant's evidence that he could not have killed her because he was on the phone to his sister, Malah Gajudhur, at the time police decided the 27-year-old died.

But prosecution lawyers claimed the former hotel worker was phoning to ask for advice on covering up the murder.

Dhanraj Lillah from Mauritius Telecom said the time was synchronised by satellite and was "accurate".

The case is expected to be adjourned before prosecution and defence closing statements.

Then the jury will make their decision, after a case that was originally listed to take two weeks, but has lasted seven weeks already.

It is thought the judge will give his summing up on July 12.

Moneea and his former workmate Avinash Treebhoowoon (32) deny murder.

(NE)