Honeymoon Murder: Accused 'Beaten By Police'

A court in Mauritius has been told one of the men accused of killing a woman on her honeymoon claims he was subjected to police brutality after his arrest.

Michaela McAreavey from Northern Ireland was murdered at a luxury resort in the north of the island last year.

She was having afternoon tea with her new husband, John McAreavey, when she momentarily left him to get some biscuits from their room.

It is claimed she disturbed a burglary and was strangled.

Two hotel workers, 30-year-old Abinash Treebhowoon and 42-year-old Sandeep Monea, are accused of murdering the newlywed.

The defence counsel for Treebhowoon told the court in Port Louis that the defendant has made a statement outlining allegations of police brutality.

The 30-year-old was arrested shortly after Mrs McAreavey was murdered at the Legends Hotel on January 10, 2011.

The court heard he was then taken to a police station and given two slaps to his left cheek and ear.

Later he was undressed and positioned lying down on the floor, where he was held by officers and "assaulted at his heels".

It was also claimed he was "made to suffocate in a towel" and "assaulted again at a table in a police van".

On Thursday, the prosecution counsel told the jury Treebhowoon had made a full confession , admitting to conspiracy to burglary and the murder of Mrs McAreavey, three days after her death.

The jury also heard that star witness Raj Theekoy had been provisionally charged with criminal and wilfully conspirarcy to do an act that is unlawful, along with with Treebhowoon and Monea.

The court earlier heard that Mr Theekoy had heard a "female voice crying in pain inside room 1025" at around the time the prosecution alleges the murder took place.

When he takes the witness stand, Mr Theekoy is expected to testify that he saw the two accused men leave hotel room 1025 shortly after.

Treebhowoon and Monea have both pleaded not guilty to murder.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.