McAreavey Defendant Denies Lying

A man accused of murdering a Northern Irish newlywed in Mauritius last year has denied lying.

Avinash Treebhoowoon, 32, is one of two former hotel workers accused of the murder of Michaela McAreavey.

He was giving evidence in his own defence for the third day at the trial.

He faced repeated questions from prosecution lawyers about his schedule on January 10, 2011, who said his claims did not match readings from electronic key cards used in the hotel.

The state prosecutor told him: "You will drown in your own lies," and accused him of trying to cover up for himself and his co-accused Sandip Moneea, 42.

But Treebhoowoon said: "I am not a liar, I am innocent," and repeated his claims that he signed a police confession with the aim of escaping torture and brutality.

A third former colleague, Raj Theekoy, previously said he saw both accused men leaving the McAreaveys' room around the time of her murder and shortly before her new husband John found her dead in the bath.

But Treebhoowoon responded today by calling Mr Theekoy a liar.

Under intense questioning in the witness box, Mr Treebhoowoon also denied seeing a purse belonging to the McAreaveys which the prosecution claims was on a dressing room in the couple's suite.

(NE/GK)