Murder in Paradise S01E02 - An Open and Shut Case

Two of Northern Ireland's leading journalists, Darragh MacIntyre and Allison Morris, re-examine some of the key moments of Michaela McAreavey's murder trial in 2012.

Michaela's family were led to believe this would be an open and shut case. The trial was predicted to last two weeks but instead became one of the longest in Mauritian legal history.

Through first-hand testimony, Michaela's family describe the atmosphere they encountered in court and how defence tactics helped fuel a media frenzy.

Darragh and Allison reach out to the defendants, lawyers, police and former prime minister to hear other perspectives.

One of the hotel workers who stood trial, Sandip Moneea, agrees to tell his side of the story. The case drew the attention of some of the top legal minds on the island including a former attorney general who took the case convinced of a prospect of a miscarriage of justice.

Darragh and Allison explore whether this was, as the defence claimed, the botched investigation of an incompetent and corrupt police force.

In the absence of DNA evidence connecting the defendants to the murder, the case hinged on a key piece of evidence – a confession.