Harte murder case police officer has not seen forensic report

ONE OF the main police officers involved in the Michaela Harte murder investigation yesterday told a preliminary inquiry he had not seen the contents of a key forensic report even though state prosecutors received it on March 15th last.

Sanjeen Teeluckdharry, counsel for murder accused Avinash Treebhoowoon, asked chief inspector Luciano Gerard, of the major crime investigation team, whether he had tried to review the Harte murder inquiry in light of the evidence that came to light in the recently released forensic report.

The report reveals there was “no specific indication” that DNA from the two accused was found at the murder scene in Legends Hotel, where Ms Harte and her husband John McAreavey were honeymooning last January when the tragedy occurred.

Mr Gerard replied: “I’ve not seen the report and I am not aware of its contents.”

Mr Treebhoowoon and co-accused Sandip Moneea, both former employees at the hotel, have been charged with murdering Ms Harte in her hotel room on January 10th last after she allegedly found them trying to steal money from her room.

Mr Teeluckdharry said the court had to sift through the evidence, whether it was favourable or unfavourable towards the accused.

He added he wanted to introduce the forensic report via a cross-examination of Mr Gerard, a state witness.

Prosecutor Medhi Choony has yet to show the court the contents of the report.

However, Mr Choony again objected to his witness being questioned about a report he has not seen.

He added: “If counsel for accused number one believes he has favourable evidence that would tend to prove the innocence of his client, he is allowed to put evidence before your honour by calling his own witnesses.”

At this stage, the magistrate adjourned the inquiry to consider the arguments of both the prosecution and the defence.

The inquiry will reconvene next Wednesday. It is designed to see whether the police have gathered enough evidence against the two accused to send them forward for trial.