'No brutality' against Michaela accused

Published Thursday, 31 May 2012
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A senior police officer giving evidence at the Michaela McAreavey murder trial in Mauritius has strenuously defended his officers against allegations of brutality.

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    'No brutality' against accused
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Chief Inspector Luciano Gerard, who led the investigation into the newly-wed's murder, gave evidence for a second day on Thursday.

He spent around four hours defending his officers against the allegations of police brutality as the lawyer of one of the accused subjected the senior officer to an intensive cross-examination.

Avinash Treebhoowoon and his co-accused Sandip Moneea, 41, deny murdering Mrs McAreavey during her honeymoon with husband John at the Legends resort in 2011

CI Gerard was asked by Treebhoowoon's lawyer Sanjeev Teeluckdharry about an incident at Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) offices at Line Barracks in Port Louis on 11 January last year - the day after the murder.

Treebhoowoon, aged 31, claims that he was instructed to strip, made lie on a table and was subjected to a beating.

CI Gerard replied: "Those are all false allegations."

The court also heard that the accused was beaten on the soles of his feet with a pipe.

The police chief denied this, saying: "Never, my lord, because such a case, this murder case, we know we have to bring the accused suspect on the next day before a court of law so this kind of treatment has never been used at the MCIT."

CI Gerard was asked further questions about Treebhoowoon's alleged beating and denied each question put to him.

He was also questioned about the actions of Superintendent Yoosoof Soopun.

It is alleged that Mr Soopun hit Treebhoowoon three times before threatening the suspect with a revolver which was placed in the sock of the officer's right leg.

The police chief replied: "Never, my lord, I don't see Mr Soopun doing such a thing."

Questioning then shifted to the next day when Treebhoowoon appeared in court on a provisional charge, at which time he also made a complaint of police brutality to the magistrate.

Back at the MCIT offices, he alleges he was subjected to a further assault by officers.

CI Gerrard again denied this, before adding: "I don't see why we should, or a MCIT officer or any police officer, should expose himself by ill-treating or inflicting any bodily harm on Mr Treebhoowoon."

Chief Inspector Gerrard will be back in the witness box on Friday to be cross examined by Sandip Moneea's lawyer.

Earlier on Thursday, it was revealed the former defence counsel Ravi Rutnah will take the stand as a witness.

His dramatic exit on Wednesday resulted in the court being adjourned early.

One of the defence lawyers who had been representing Treebhoowoon, he quit over what he called attacks on his professional integrity.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
1 Comments
anne in toronto wrote (357 days ago):
I trust that I am wrong, but, I smell a mistrial in the wings.....these defence lawyers all have a little bit tooooo much of a smile or smirk on their faces.
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