One of three men accused of the murder of Northern Ireland celebrity Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius has made a statement to police, his lawyer said.
Raj Theekoy, who is accused of conspiracy to murder, is said to have implicated two other men who are charged with murder.
Michaela, 27, the daughter of Tyrone Gaelic football boss Mickey Harte, was found dead in her hotel room on Monday.
Until Theekoy’s statement, police had focused on CCTV and hotel room key cards.
The Belfast Telegraph reported that police believe she came face-to-face with at least one attacker who used a dummy swipe card to gain access to the room just two minutes before she arrived to fetch some biscuits while she had tea with her new husband, John McAreavey, in the hotel restaurant.
Investigating officers believe that once the 27-year-old was wrestled to the ground, she was dragged into the bath tub and strangled before the water was turned on. The water was left running, perhaps in a ham-fisted attempt to make her death look like a suicide.
The two men accused of murder are Avinash Treebhoowoon, 29, Sandip Moneea, 41.
All three men have been remanded in police custody for a week and will return to court next Wednesday, when they are expected either to be formally charged or released.
Meanwhile, Michaela’s heartbroken husband last night spoke of his “total devastation”.
John McAreavey said Michaela was his “best friend” and his “rock”.
“She is a gift from God and I now have an angel,” McAreavey said. “I love my wife, very, very much and my world revolved around her.
“Our hopes, our dreams and our future together are gone.”
