Published Sunday, 20 May 2012
Michaela McAreavey and her father Mickey Harte pictured at her graduation. (© Pacemaker)
Michaela McAreavey was found strangled in her luxury hotel room on the island in January last year, two weeks after marrying her sweetheart John.
The 27-year-old teacher from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, was staying at the five-star Legends Hotel complex on the north-east coast of the island when she was killed.
Hotel room attendant Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, and floor supervisor Sandip Moneea, 42, will stand trial in the Mauritius Supreme Court in the capital city Port Louis on Tuesday.
Treebhoowoon, from Plaine des Roches, and Moneea, from Petit Raffray, deny premeditated murder.
Mr McAreavey, who is from Co Down, has travelled back to the island with members of his and the Harte family for the trial.
The widower is due to give evidence as a prosecution witness.
Mickey Harte is not attending.
Judge Mr Justice Prithviraj Fecknah will preside over the trial, which will be heard before a jury of nine and is expected to last two weeks.
Thirty witnesses are listed to give evidence.
Ms McAreavey taught religious education and the Irish language at St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.
Her funeral was held close to her family home at St Malachy's chapel in Ballymacilroy - the same church she had married in a fortnight before she was killed.
Then-Irish president Mary McAleese was among dignitaries at a funeral attended by more than 3,000 people.
Meanwhile, The Legends Hotel where she died has since been renamed the Lux Hotel.