One of the men charged with murdering Michaela McAreavey alleges that police tried to suffocate him with a towel and held his head in a bucket of water while he was interrogated, a court in Mauritius heard.
Avinash Treebhoowoon (30), confessed to police about his involvement in strangling the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, but now insists he was forced to sign the statement.
His lawyer Sanjeev Teeluckdharry repeated a complaint his client made to court authorities in the days after the death in January last year.
The accused said he was beaten in the face and on the heels.
Reading his client’s statement, Mr Teeluckdharry said: “I was made to suffocate in a towel.”
He said on one occasion officers filled a bucket of water. “I was on a chair, I was gripped by the neck and placed in that pail of water,” read his lawyer.
Mr Treebhoowoon (30), and co-accused Sandip Moneea (42), deny murdering the 27-year-old teacher at the Legends Hotel, where she was spending her honeymoon with Down footballer John McAreavey.
The court heard Mr Treebhoowoon was not wearing an anti-contamination suit when he was taken to the crime scene for a reconstruction three days after the murder.
Police officers who attended the exercise in room 1025 of the Legends Hotel were also not in protective clothing, a police photographer told the island’s Supreme Court.
Harris Jeewooth, a crime scene photographer, was asked by defence counsel Rama Valayden, representing Mr Moneea, to confirm whether anti-contamination measures were taken.
Mr Valayden said: “All witnesses and police officers who were called during your presence during the reconstruction - did they wear any protective clothes to prevent contamination?”
The officer replied: “No my lord.”
The case against hotel room attendant Mr Treebhoowoon, from Plaine des Roches, and floor supervisor Mr Moneea, from Petit Raffray, is expected to last two to three weeks.
A jury of six men and three women is hearing the case and judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah is presiding.
John McAreavey was not in court yesterday because he is due to be a witness later in the trial, but his sister Claire and Michaela's brother Mark Harte were there, accompanied by a diplomat from the Irish Embassy in South Africa and two PSNI officers.
Some of the opening day's problems – severe overcrowding and poor sound – improved yesterday, but police were forced to turn some people away, and there was still the occasional jarring moment. At one point, a group of law students and barristers laughed loudly as defence counsel put pressure on a police witness. One or two people fell asleep in the public gallery.
Almost 50 witnesses are listed to give evidence. The judge has told the jury to allow two weeks for the trial, but warned them it could take longer.