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Michaela McAreavey's widower John gives evidence in Mauritius | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The widower of Michaela McAreavey has told the trial of two men accused of murdering her that on the day she was killed, his "life ended as well". | The widower of Michaela McAreavey has told the trial of two men accused of murdering her that on the day she was killed, his "life ended as well". |
Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and Sandip Moneea, 42, both deny murdering Mrs McAreavey in her honeymoon suite in Mauritius in January 2011. | Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and Sandip Moneea, 42, both deny murdering Mrs McAreavey in her honeymoon suite in Mauritius in January 2011. |
John McAreavey said she was "a very special human being". | John McAreavey said she was "a very special human being". |
He recalled finding the hotel room door open then seeing her in the bath with the water still running. | He recalled finding the hotel room door open then seeing her in the bath with the water still running. |
Mr McAreavey, who is appearing as a prosecution witness, said his wife had returned to the room to get biscuits. He said he had offered to go, but she had insisted that she would. | |
"Obviously I wish I had gone," he told the court. | "Obviously I wish I had gone," he told the court. |
Rushing water | Rushing water |
Asked what was going through his mind when he heard the rushing water, he said his first thought was that Michaela had just decided at the last minute to have a bath. | Asked what was going through his mind when he heard the rushing water, he said his first thought was that Michaela had just decided at the last minute to have a bath. |
In emotional scenes at the Supreme Court in Mauritius, he said: "I ran to the bathroom, dropped my bag and grabbed Michaela." | In emotional scenes at the Supreme Court in Mauritius, he said: "I ran to the bathroom, dropped my bag and grabbed Michaela." |
He said he did not know what was going on, but she was cold and he noticed marks on her neck. | He said he did not know what was going on, but she was cold and he noticed marks on her neck. |
He said he pulled Mrs McAreavey from the bathtub, and although he did not know CPR he attempted to resuscitate her. | He said he pulled Mrs McAreavey from the bathtub, and although he did not know CPR he attempted to resuscitate her. |
"I was holding her in my arms, telling her to wake up - Michaela, Michaela, come on, wake up," he told the jury. | "I was holding her in my arms, telling her to wake up - Michaela, Michaela, come on, wake up," he told the jury. |
Mr McAreavey said he then screamed for help. | Mr McAreavey said he then screamed for help. |
He began his evidence on Wednesday by setting the scene and talking about their relationship. | He began his evidence on Wednesday by setting the scene and talking about their relationship. |
'Wonderful person' | 'Wonderful person' |
He said his wife was a "wonderful person", and showed the court photographs taken on their wedding day and during their honeymoon. | He said his wife was a "wonderful person", and showed the court photographs taken on their wedding day and during their honeymoon. |
He said that when they first met at a student night out in Belfast in 2005, "it was love at first sight". | He said that when they first met at a student night out in Belfast in 2005, "it was love at first sight". |
He said they got engaged in 2008, and during their five years together, they only spent three "very painful" days apart. | He said they got engaged in 2008, and during their five years together, they only spent three "very painful" days apart. |
After their engagement, he said they spent the next two years planning their family home and their wedding, which he described as a "magical affair". | After their engagement, he said they spent the next two years planning their family home and their wedding, which he described as a "magical affair". |
Mr McAreavey said it had been Michaela's idea to have their honeymoon in Mauritius, after reading favourable reviews from other Irish couples on the internet. | Mr McAreavey said it had been Michaela's idea to have their honeymoon in Mauritius, after reading favourable reviews from other Irish couples on the internet. |
During his evidence, he also spoke about how he was treated by police following his wife's death. | |
Mr McAreavey said four officers had brought him from the hotel to a "derelict-looking building", where he was put in a room. | |
Officers took off his shirt and examined him for marks, he told the court. | |
"I could see what was going through their minds," he said. | |
Handcuffs | |
"They put handcuffs on me and I was sat down on a bench." | |
Mr McAreavey said he was then left alone in the room. | |
"It was for at least five hours, I'm sure, more - actually it was late into the night." | |
He said that after making a statement, he was eventually released and brought back to the hotel where a nurse cared for him through the night. | |
Mrs McAreavey, 27, a teacher from County Tyrone, was found dead at the Legends Hotel. | Mrs McAreavey, 27, a teacher from County Tyrone, was found dead at the Legends Hotel. |
She was the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte. | She was the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football manager Mickey Harte. |
Mr McAreavey is being accompanied in court by his sister Claire, his father Brendan and his brother-in-law Mark Harte, as well as an Irish Embassy official and two PSNI detectives. | Mr McAreavey is being accompanied in court by his sister Claire, his father Brendan and his brother-in-law Mark Harte, as well as an Irish Embassy official and two PSNI detectives. |