The jury in the island's Supreme Court was told about the nightmare moment her husband John discovered her lifeless body in room 1025 at the Legends Hotel.
Mr Manrakhan said Michaela was the love of husband John's life and they had decided to spend a dream honeymoon in Mauritius after their wedding.
The prosecutor said Mr McAreavey had returned to their room after his 27-year-old wife, daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, failed to return from fetching biscuits to have with a cup of tea. He had to get a member of the hotel staff to open the door when no one answered.
"As soon as John entered room 1025 his worst nightmare began," said Mr Manrakhan.
"In the bathroom John saw Michaela lying senseless in the bathtub."
"John removed Michaela from the bathtub, laid her on the floor and went to cry for help.
"The bell boy who had accompanied John was still in the vicinity of room 1025 and they both went back to room 1025 where John tried to revive Michaela.
"Members of the jury, it was too late.
"Michaela was already dead."
Mr Manrakhan said medical examinations showed Mrs McAreavey died from asphyxiation due to compression of the neck just two weeks after her wedding.
"Medical evidence is such that there can be no doubt that Michaela had been brutally killed," he said.
The prosecutor said eyewitness Raj Theekoy was outside the room when he heard noises.
"He heard a female voice crying 'Agh, agh, agh' as if she was in pain," he said.
He said the witness then saw the two men accused of the crime leave the room.
Defendants Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea deny the charge of premeditated murder.
While the prosecutor told the court Treebhoowoon had confessed to police about his role in the murder – which he said was a robbery gone wrong – the jury later heard claims that he accused the police of beating the statement out of him.
The prosecutor said Moneea emphatically denied involvement but the evidence would show he was a liar.
Extra security measures were implemented on the second day of the case.
The trial witnessed chaotic scenes as it began yesterday with John McAreavey mobbed by crowds outside.
The two accused were also buffeted as they were led through throngs of people.
In apparent response in the unruly scenes, security barriers were in place today as handcuffed Treebhoowoon and Moneea were escorted into court five.
Teacher Mrs McAreavey had momentarily left her sweetheart at the pool of the five star Legends Hotel to fetch the biscuits.
Treebhoowoon, from Plaine des Roches, and Moneea, from Petit Raffray, have pleaded not guilty.
The trial in the old French colonial court building is one the most high-profile criminal cases ever held on the island.
A jury of nine – six men and three women – is hearing the case.
A lone police truck transported the defendants from the high-security La Bastille prison in the nearby town of Phoenix – a more low key entrance than yesterday's speeding convoy of vehicles.
Though most Mauritians speak a variant of French as their first tongue, court proceedings are being heard in English.
Mrs McAreavey, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was the only daughter of Harte, the GAA boss who has steered his native county to three All Ireland championships.
Mr McAreavey, an accountant and talented Gaelic footballer from Co Down, has returned to Mauritius with members of his and the Harte families. Mickey Harte is not attending.
The trial continues.
Mr Manrakhan said Michaela was the love of husband John's life and they had decided to spend a dream honeymoon in Mauritius after their wedding.
The prosecutor said Mr McAreavey had returned to their room after his 27-year-old wife, daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, failed to return from fetching biscuits to have with a cup of tea. He had to get a member of the hotel staff to open the door when no one answered.
"As soon as John entered room 1025 his worst nightmare began," said Mr Manrakhan.
"In the bathroom John saw Michaela lying senseless in the bathtub."
"John removed Michaela from the bathtub, laid her on the floor and went to cry for help.
"The bell boy who had accompanied John was still in the vicinity of room 1025 and they both went back to room 1025 where John tried to revive Michaela.
"Members of the jury, it was too late.
"Michaela was already dead."
Mr Manrakhan said medical examinations showed Mrs McAreavey died from asphyxiation due to compression of the neck just two weeks after her wedding.
"Medical evidence is such that there can be no doubt that Michaela had been brutally killed," he said.
The prosecutor said eyewitness Raj Theekoy was outside the room when he heard noises.
"He heard a female voice crying 'Agh, agh, agh' as if she was in pain," he said.
He said the witness then saw the two men accused of the crime leave the room.
Defendants Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea deny the charge of premeditated murder.
While the prosecutor told the court Treebhoowoon had confessed to police about his role in the murder – which he said was a robbery gone wrong – the jury later heard claims that he accused the police of beating the statement out of him.
The prosecutor said Moneea emphatically denied involvement but the evidence would show he was a liar.
Extra security measures were implemented on the second day of the case.
The trial witnessed chaotic scenes as it began yesterday with John McAreavey mobbed by crowds outside.
The two accused were also buffeted as they were led through throngs of people.
In apparent response in the unruly scenes, security barriers were in place today as handcuffed Treebhoowoon and Moneea were escorted into court five.
Teacher Mrs McAreavey had momentarily left her sweetheart at the pool of the five star Legends Hotel to fetch the biscuits.
Treebhoowoon, from Plaine des Roches, and Moneea, from Petit Raffray, have pleaded not guilty.
The trial in the old French colonial court building is one the most high-profile criminal cases ever held on the island.
A jury of nine – six men and three women – is hearing the case.
A lone police truck transported the defendants from the high-security La Bastille prison in the nearby town of Phoenix – a more low key entrance than yesterday's speeding convoy of vehicles.
Though most Mauritians speak a variant of French as their first tongue, court proceedings are being heard in English.
Mrs McAreavey, from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was the only daughter of Harte, the GAA boss who has steered his native county to three All Ireland championships.
Mr McAreavey, an accountant and talented Gaelic footballer from Co Down, has returned to Mauritius with members of his and the Harte families. Mickey Harte is not attending.
The trial continues.
(Culled from the Telegraph)
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