Men accused of killing honeymoon bride acquitted

Two men accused of killing honeymoon bride Michaela McAreavey in Mauritian paradise are found not guilty

The devastated widower of murdered honeymoon bride Michaela McAreavey stormed out of court yesterday after the men he believed killed her were found not guilty.

John McAreavey had been married to his wife for just 12 days when she was murdered in January 2011.

Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea were hotel workers at the Mauritius beachside complex where Michaela was found strangled in her bathtub.

It was believed they were responsible for the murder, killing Michaela when she caught them stealing from her hotel room.

But the jury rejected this version of events.

The verdict brought to an end a terrible ordeal for the widower who was accused by the defence of playing sex games with his new bride.

John McAreavey, a 28-year-old accountant, spoke of the couple's love for each other while giving evidence as a prosecution witness, saying that his own life had effectively ended when his 'wonderful' wife was killed.

However it took the jury two hours to make a unanimous verdict that the two hotel workers were not guilty.

As they walked out of the court, throngs of people cheered 'justice, justice' in Creole.

The scenes of joy were in contrast to Mrs McAreavey's family, who looked distraught and will undoubtedly be searching for answers over who killed her

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