John McAreavey: Forced Confession Claims 'Lies'

The widower of a murdered Co Tyrone honeymooner has accused a lawyer for one of the men on trial for her murder of lying.

A barrister for Avinash Treebhoowoon opened the case for the defence in the Michaela McAreavey murder trial in Mauritius today.

He was outlining to the jury his client's claims that his confession signature was forced when John McAreavey spoke out from the public gallery, saying "lies".

Mr McAreavey is now able to attend hearings in the trial, as he has already given evidence for the prosecution case and been cross-examined by the defence team.

He sat with his sister Claire, father Brendan and brother-in-law Mark Harte.

Sanjeev Teeluckdharry told the Supreme Court in Port Louis on the Indian Ocean island that Treebhoowoon had been wrongly accused of the crime and subjected to torture in order to extract a confession.

The defendant has previously said he was beaten up by police investigating the case.

Former hotel workers Treebhoowoon, 31, and Sandip Moneea, 42, deny strangling Mrs McAreavy in her honeymoon suite on January 11 last year.

Mr Teeluckdharry did not react to Mr McAreavey's interruption, which came at the close of his address.

The 70-minute speech interrupted by Mr McAreavey included the words: "I have heard his ordeal many times and I must tell you I'm not immune from it. I must tell you it's not for the faint-hearted."

Mr Teeluckdharry also said Mr McAreavey had been "evasive" and "defensive" during cross-examination.

(NE/GK)