Michaela suspects deny murder

Michaela and John McAreavey on their wedding dayMichaela McAreavey was murdered in Mauritius on her honeymoon last year

The trial of two men charged with the murder of Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius last year is expected to begin on Tuesday.

The daughter of Tyrone gaelic football manager Mickey Harte was found dead at the luxury Legends Hotel during her honeymoon on 10 January 2011.

Police believe the 27-year-old was strangled after she interrupted a burglary.

Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and Sandip Moneea, 42, have denied murder.

However, lawyers for Mr Moneea, a former floor supervisor at the Legend's Hotel, will ask the judge not to allow the trial to go ahead.

He wants to be tried separately from his 30-year-old co-accused, Mr Treebhoowoon, a room attendant at the complex.

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John McAreavey faced chaotic scenes as he arrived at the island's Supreme Court.

He had to battle his way through a crowd of interested local people and press, both Mauritian and international, who had gathered at a small courtyard outside the building.

He was jostled but was assisted by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland who cleared a path for him.

Accompanying Mr McAreavey are his father, his sister and Mark Harte, Michaela's brother.

The family are sitting in court just metres from the accused.

If the trial does go ahead, Mrs McAreavey's husband, John, is among 35 witnesses who are expected to give evidence at the island's Supreme Court in the capital city of Port Louis.

He is being called by the prosecution team.

The process to select a nine-person jury panel for the trial has begun, but fewer than half of the 100 people due to come to the court showed up.

A spokesman for the Harte and McAreavey families has confirmed that Mickey Harte will not be attending the trial.

A room cleaner at the hotel, Raj Theekoy, has also been named as one of those giving evidence. He is the key witness in the case against the two accused.

The police said he was just outside the room and has crucial evidence about the moments after the killing.

Other staff working at the Legends Hotel - now called the Lux Grande Gaube - are due to take to the witness stand.

These include a bell boy, the chief security officer and resort director.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah, is expected to swear in the nine-person jury on Tuesday. It is thought the trial will last for about two weeks.

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