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Michaela

Fourth Michaela suspect charged with conspiracy

Reports emerge that security officer asked to be relocated to block in hotel where McAreaveys’ room was located shortly before the killing.

THE FOURTH SUSPECT in the Michaela McAreavey murder investigation has been provisionally charged with conspiracy to murder in a Mauritian court.

The other three men charged in relation to the Tyrone woman’s death were also further remanded in custody in today’s hearing, says the Press Association. The four will appear again in court in Mauritius next Wednesday.

Dassan Narayanen, 26, was brought to court for the first time in the case today. He worked in security in the Legends hotel in Grand Gaube where Michaela was killed on January 10 last while on her honeymoon.

He came to the attention of investigating police in Mauritius after they reviewed CCTV from the hotel. According to News Now Mauritius the security officer was “seen at various places in the hotel before and after the murder of Mrs McAreavey… when in fact ‘he should not have been there’.” The newspaper also claims that Narayanen allegedly asked his superior if he could move from his usual posting in another part of the hotel to the block of rooms where the McAreaveys were staying shortly before the tragedy.

Another report coming from the island, from Le Matinal, is that the security worker went on sick leave shortly after Michaela’s death, claiming he had a broken leg.

The other three men charged in relation to Michaela’s murder also worked in Legends hotel. Avinash Treeboohoon, 29, and Sandip Monea, 41, have been charged provisionally with her murder while Raj Theekoy, 33, has been charged with conspiracy to murder.

Under Mauritian law, provisional charges can be brought against suspects while an investigation is ongoing but may change when the police probe is finished and suspects are sent forward for trial.