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12.07.12

The jury in the Michaela McAreavey murder trial has found the two men accused of her murder not guilty.

Two Former staff members at the hotel where Michaela was killed, Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandip Moneea, had been accused of the murder.

There were cheers, clapping and uproar in the courtroom as both men were found not guilty of the murder of Michaela McAreavy. It took the nine jurors two hours to deliberate their verdict.

The 27-year-old was found strangled in her room at the luxury Legends hotel last January.

Earlier, the Supreme Court judge, Justice Prithviraj Fecknah had spent four hours summarising the evidence.

He told the jury to ignore any consequences their verdict could have on the reputation of Mauritius.

The case was originally due to last only nine days, but was well into its eighth week when the jury were sent to consider their verdict this afternoon.

The Harte and McAreavey families issued a joint statement this evening.

They said that "after waiting eighteen months in search of justice for Michaela and following the endurance of seven harrowing weeks of this trial, there are no words, which can describe the sense of devastation and desolation now felt by both families.

"The families do not intend making any further comment until they return home to Ireland."

Both of the accused broke down in tears at the verdict, as their relatives cheered. They told journalists they were happy, but felt sad for the McAreaveys.