Madeleine McCann: Robert Murat And More Questions
MADELEINE McCann is missing. Still missing.
But today there is news. The daily front-page shots of Madeleine’s traumatised parents are moved further within the papers to make space for the head of Robert Murat.
“MADELEINE BRITISH MAN IS QUIZZED!” says the Mirror’s front-page headline.
Robert Murat
After the speculation the paper delivers a welter of facts. Robert Murat lives with his mum. Robert Murat is in his 30s. Robert Murat lives with his mother in a villa 150 yards from the apartment where Madeleine McCann was snatched.
The Sun (“MADDIE: BRIT QUIZZED”) says Murat lives 100 yards from that McCann apartment. Like the Mirror, the Sun produces a front-page picture of “one-eyed Murat”. The Mail hears that Murat lost his eye in a BMX accident when he was a boy. The Mail says Murat lives 80 yards from Madeleine’s holiday apartment.
Murat is “stocky”. He offered to help the police hunt as a “translator”. He lives in Casa Liliana, with his mum Jenny.
The Suspect
The Sun’s Julie Moult considers the evidence. And delivers a piece entitled “stories of a fantasist”. “He always seemed so eager to get involved in the police investigation,” says the Sun’s woman–on-the-scene. “Robert claimed he had a daughter just like Madeleine and said he felt compelled to do anything he could. But to me he seemed like classic fantasist.”
The Sun introduces Martin Brunt, the crime news correspondent from its sister organ, TV’s Sky news.
He says Murat told him he’d been taken inside the McCanns’ apartment by police.
Sky news correspondent Ian Woods says he asked Murat to help him speak with locals.
“I met him and had a conversation with him. I tried to find out as much as I could about him,” says Woods, who checked out Murat’s details. “They did check out, and I left it at that for the time.”
The Mail’s Neil Sears also spots Murat. In “My encounters with a man ‘who just wanted to help’”, Sears tells Mail readers, “There was something more to the friendly expat who called himself ‘Rob’ than met the eye.”
Murat made Sears “feel slightly uncomfortable”.
But it was the Sunday Mirror’s Lori Cambell who alerted police to Murat’s behaviour, she saw as “creepy”.
Writing Wrongs
So much for investigative journalism. Questions were asked but nothing more was done. Murat is with police because he made a show of himself, because he acted as if working in an official capacity. Even though the Times says Murat was acting as “an official translator”.
So now the man in the chinos, with the glass eye, who lives with him mum and whose estranged wife, from Hockering, near Norwich, tells a neighbour “How could someone do something so terrible to little girl like that?’ is all over the papers.
Is Murat guilty? The papers produce nothing to indicate that he is. But if Murat is involved, look out for the stories of how British journalism cracked the case.
And look out for Madeleine McCann. Still missing…
Posted: 15th, May 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,194) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
September 25th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Alice. why is it cruel and hurtful to call in a psychic?. Cruel and hurtful to who? the so called parents? I myself couldn’t care about their feelings they were the ones responsible for this whole mess arnt they?
I know a lot of psychics are charlatans. But this one is widely respected in the USA and has even worked with the police I believe. and well the investigation has all but come to a dead end hasn’t it?And if she could provide even a slight hint about it well let her. . And I didn’t know that catholics are against psychics- whys that.? Any catholics out there I’d like to know if this is a religious or McCan thing, or are they afraid what one might say?. Anyone as desperate to find their child as they say are would try any thing no mater how extreme to find that child.
September 25th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Cut out the psychic crap = it is cruel and just not called for = If the parents wanted this they would have called for it themselves. Anyone who projects this type of suggestion is being very, very hurtful, particularly as the parents are so against it through their religion
September 25th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Just a thought I have read about a psychic Sylvia Browne who has helped the police trace and find missing children and is regulary on montel williams programme, surley its worth a try. Address is Sylvia Browne 35 Dillon Ave, Campbell, CA 95008-3001 phone number is (408) 379-7070 website http://www.sylvia.org Hope this may speed up the safe return of this inocent child.
kind regards
moira
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
With all that money they couldn’t afford a person to take care of their children? There’s so much cover up for their mistakes and actions it’s amazing. ‘I closed the door thinking Maddie had gone to take a drink of water or go to the loo.’ Gerry says, ‘I felt as if there was someone in the room but decided not to investigate.’ HELLO? This just justifies that they’re hiding something. If you ever thought there was someone in the room with your children, would you go and investigate? Or, how they didn’t want to call the babysitter because of money. Yeah, they certainly don’t have enough money, that’s why Maddie’s face is plastered all over the world, they even made wristbands with a ‘Look for Maddie’ logo on it! How low can you go? And the fact that they left their children alone is preposterous! Where I live children under age 12 can’t be left alone, I’m sure this law will go up by numbers after this case! Even if the parents hadn’t killed Maddie, they are still guilty of breaking numerous laws. It’s just stupid. They’re getting themselves in more trouble with each new lie. What’s next? They wont know how Maddie suddenly appears dead in their closet? I swear, this is getting more ironic and funny by the minute. All I hope for is that Maddie is alive, and safe, wherever she is. Maddie, my prayers have always been and are now, with you.
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I honestly can’t believe the press! Yes, let’s start blaming people because we have nothing to do. Maddie is cute, pretty, sweet and yet…children like her get kidnapped, rapped, killed every single day. The thing is we’re not looking at the big picture. What is happening with the world??? So many murders, accidents, catastrophes. It’s very sad and unstoppable. But unless you haven’t looked at the newspaper, here’s a clue. The McCans are guilty! Well, in my opinion they are! This story is more than strange, closing doors while not investigating on the inside, blood in rental car, blaming innocent people. My theory is that the McCans gave a sleeping pill to Maddie, the pill might have made her nauseous and she began to choke. While trying to save Maddie they accidentally killed her. The bullshit the press writes is absolutely revolting! And poor Maddie, dead or alive is suffering (or has suffered) in degrees while the press is ’suspecting’ just for something to do. I sympathize Maddie and think the McCans are behind all this. From the begging I’ve felt as if they were cold, unfeeling about their daughter’s death. Maybe it’s just me but it’s as if they’re fearing to be found out. Whatever happens, I wish Maddie to be alright wherever she is.
September 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Julie
Thank goodness, someone who talks sense at last!!! These people are pretty sick aren’t they. I agree with every word you say. The tabloids are full of rubbish but unfortunately some people actually believe what they read. Amazing but true. Looks like the Mccanns will not be questioned further because the evidence is so weak. At least thats one less thing for them to worry about, as if they haven’t got enough on their plates. Lets hope the police start doing their job properly now. I still feel there is hope that she will be found. Well said you! x
September 21st, 2007 at 12:38 am
what punishment do the parents get for leaving the 3 small kids alone? OH thats right I forgot they are GOOD Parents and we all must remember that!!!!!!forget about the kids, thats what everyone is doing !!! lets all feel sorry for the GOOD PARENTS!!!!! Hell I would have paid for their baby sitter!!! Maddie is dead mom and dad both know it, accident??? then give the other 2 sleeping pill so they don’t wonder off, come home and say “THEY TOOK HER” think about it people don’t close your eyes and be an IDIOT
September 21st, 2007 at 12:22 am
Julie94 - You seem to know that she was stolen from her bed - and the only one who knows that for certain would be the one who actually stole her - Rash statement that Julie!!
September 21st, 2007 at 12:20 am
maybe someone should check out the “dump” where the rotting meat and dirty nappies were taken to? - I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Nobody staying in a holiday complex needs to “drive miles” to a dump to take their rubbish - there is ALWAYS adequate skips and bins in these holiday apartment complexes - Maybe this comment - if it was actuallly made by a friend of the McCanns was said without realising how stupid an action it was - if it did actually happen
September 20th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
All of you, apart from Kim, appear to be believing everything you read. You don’t actually know anything. This child was stolen from her bed. The police couldn’t solve the case so they went for the next best thing - the parents. The parents, who misguidedly did something they thought was safe (because everyone else was doing it and when you go abroad, you think you’re in a far child-friendlier environment than the UK) now have to battle with not only the loss of a child but also the easy suspicion of all those with an opinion. Clarence Mitchell was clear about who is paying him. It’s Richard Branson and other financial backers. Read less tabloids and watch more news. Less exciting, but a bit more realistic.
By the way - well said Kim!
September 20th, 2007 at 9:33 am
I can accept that there maybe dirty nappies in the boot if they had to change the babies nappies near a beach with no bin nearby and so if they aren’t litter bugs I can see how they might want to wait til they got to a bin. But they should’ve been kept in sealed plastic or somesuch so still odd I spose. the whole thing is odd. They and their friends have certainly withheld evidence and certainly have twisted the actual truth and have probably made up a few things to cover their arses so it makes evrything seem dodgy. Whether they are whoilly or partly responsible they have made a straightforward case seem incredibly wonky. That’s why I cannot now swallow their position of late; negligence, lies and witholding evidence to cover themselves. All wrong and none of it is going to help get to the truth any quicker or at all.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:18 am
This is what i mean about the Mccanns making themselves look quilty…
The development came as it was revealed that Mr and Mrs McCann fear their every move is being watched and their mobile phones bugged.
The couple, who flew back to Britain 10 days ago, believed they were under surveillance while in the Algarve and are worried that this may still be continuing.
Some questions put to them in police interviews about their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance could, they claim, only have come from overhearing private conversations.
Family members have agreed to be careful what they say over the telephone as it is thought all conversations could be recorded as potential evidence.
***IF they are not guilty of anything, then they would not be worried about being watched or bugged.
The McCanns have become virtual prisoners in their home since returning to Rothley, Leics, because of the media and police presence.
**They didnt seem to be prisoners when in Portugal….they seemed to get around ok, per Gerry’s blog.
A friend dismissed reports of scientific findings that could have aroused suspicion, saying traces of Madeleine’s DNA allegedly found in the back of the car they hired 25 days after she disappeared could be explained easily.
He also sought to explain yesterday why sniffer dogs — trained to detect the “smell of death” — allegedly became so excited when shown the boot of the car.
“Kate and Gerry had to transport all their rubbish to a communal rubbish dump half a mile away,” the friend said.
“There was a regular run with the boot of the car being full of rubbish including bags of rotting fruit, rotting meat and soiled nappies belonging to the twins.”
The friend said the dogs would have been confused by the mix of smells.
*Dont they spend lots of $$$ to train these dogs? Pretty said if they cant tell the difference between a dead body and a dirty diaper. Why were Gerry and Kate driving around with rotting meat in the trunk? How often did they eat in the apartment? They say they were out for dinner all week? If you do have trash, isnt it tossed out daily? Why would you keep it long enough to rot?
Seems the Mccanns friends have an answer for everything?
September 19th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
oh boy…my keybard is not spelling well today..
**placed in the spare tire compartment in the trunk**
September 19th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
This man quit his job to stand beside the Mccanns? How is he gonna make a living now? Who is gonna pay his bills? Why would someone give up their career for someone that dont know that well? Does he have a wife, a family? Who will pay their bills?
The DNA came off the sandles? The family says it was sweat on her sandles that were place in the spare tire compartment in the truck? The sweat in the sandles would of been dry now so how did it drip off? First it’s the diapers? Who carries around dirty diapers? Everything in the trunk would of smelled bad.
I can see a hair or two from anyone in the family. But i think this is far fetched.
The said the dog got a hit and went crazy by the car? What over diapers?
September 19th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
No. The reason he is their spokesperson is because he has spent so much time with them and knows them fairly well by now I should imagine and they need someone reliable and who they can trust. Nothing else to it!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:34 am
brilliant. This has gone off the rails. It’s like a soap-opera. could he have been blackmailed - was he caught with his pants down by the McGanns and now he is indebted to them? Could he commit perjury if asked to bear witness in court as a character reference??? It’s all relevant of course to the case but where’s Maddie? Will he help Maddie be found?? Doubt it.
September 18th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Dont you also think it odd that the ONE and probably ONLY person who by his own admission was with them constantly - visiting Fatima - 14 hours a day with them etc. etc. in, I might add, a Government capacity is now EMPLOYED by them!!! That alone stinks in my opinion. Who is gonna grass on someone who is paying you a huge salary not to? Especially if you have burned your career bridges. When asked on the TV today how he got the job he said the McCanns approached him - There has to be some legal questions surely as this key witness to the movements of the McCanns at the crucial times - ie visiting Fatima and other trips out in the “car”, is now “in their pockets” as it were
September 18th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Indeed. They should’ve come clean about every little thing from the off. All the details about madelaine’s hyperactivity, anything at all that would look like a cover-up if it emerged at a later stage. This would’ve saved time and money and efforts. Most people don’t care who did or who didn’t ‘do’ it at the end of the day, most people want maddie to be found now dead or alive and most people, on a straw vote, now see that the McGanns made mistakes before during and after their stay in portugal. And it ought to be a lesson to all with regards to looking after kids and especially if they go missing what info you need to tell police. You tell them everything and don;t try to save your self, you focus on trying to save the kid.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:41 am
If I were in the McCanns shoes, I would welcome the police questioning me and also welcome the chance to go to court, prove my innocence and then the police could get on with the real job in hand to find Madeleine. If the McCanns embark on this huge self protection protest and do eventually raise enough of a stink to bring the police to withdraw from taking them to court - even it is just to clear them, they are signing the closure on the search by police for their daughter and they will forever be thought of as the guilty couple who used ever which way to cover themselves and to hell with the real truth about their daughter. I really honestly cant understand their thinking if they are as the so protest completely innocent..the sooner it was proved by law would in my opinion be the best route. I certainly would not try all ways possible to stop a court deciding - that is of course, if they are innocent. Either way this behaviour is doing absolutely nothing to find their daughter and the 80,000 pounds spent on the publicity campaign is looking very like an expensive red herring.
September 18th, 2007 at 12:45 am
Kim
On one hand we’ve got parents beating their children and bringing them up like thugs. On the other hand parents neglecting their kids so they could go out party with friends. We’ve one lot of parents screaming and swearing at their children and one lot who’s abandoned child has been abducted. Pity Maddie didnt belong to the first lot of parents isn’t it? Then she would be a smacked about thug whose parents scream and swear at her, but at least she wouldn’t be dead-or a 4 yr old being sexually abused by a pedophile . And I beg to differ, I’ve never spewed out anything revolting. I happen to hold the opinion that they are neglectful parents that’s all. Everyone is entitled to an op-ion. yes there are sickos who would hurt children, the McCanns are intelligent people In their job they see the worse side of people. And they’ve taken the children overseas before Have they always left them alone at night?. If they have well it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
i have the greatest sympathy for any parent who has lost a child. But this one wasn’t lost was she ? She had a sign hung around her neck saying ‘come and get me’ and someone did.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Kim I’ve been reading back over your last couple of posts. And I really must admire your loyalty. But to say they had nothing to do with their child’s death and then say you think shes been taken by a pervert. your contradicting yourself aren’t you.? And oh course they had something to do with what happened . If they had been there with their children instead of out having a good time, the child wouldn’t be gone would she?. And its not just a few people that are blaming them. A sizable amount of the people that I’ve talked to have had doubts about these parents since the beginning. But 3 months ago you couldn’t say it anything without being cussed, insulted even threatened. Also I read lots of posts where people say ‘the police or someone should be out looking for Maddy’ where do they suggest the police should look? the most recognisable child in the world has never been seen in that world since the day this happened.
And as for the posts that state its because the Mccann’s are doctors that they can suppress their emotions and appear so calm. that their profession allows them to present this detached facade because they are use to telling family members bad news. I am a nurse and i can tell anyone the worse news and not shed a tear .yes it does come with the job. But when something bad happened to my own family I was a quivering wreck and it wasn’t even to my child.. And if they really are able to conceal their feelings when their much wanted child is missing and possibly suffering god knows what ( mind you I think shes dead and has been since day 1) well i believe they could just as coolly conceal a body and go to dinner if they felt the situation warranted it.
And as for Pro-Mccann’s who’s favorite remark is the people like me who criticize these poor suffering, blameless heroes, shouldn’t because I dont know them. Or know what they are like behind closed doors in their own homes ,well you dont either. Have you never heard of children being beaten to death and neighbors are shocked because the parent seemed such a nice person, a devoted parent and the child so happy and well cared for?. A person kills their child doesnt fit a patten or have a big red X on their forehead.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Well obviously if someone stood in front of me and killed a child then the proof would be right in front of me! Thats my point. People are pointing fingers when they know absolutely nothing!!! I am not saying that they were right to leave their children alone. But they felt it was safe at the time and boy are they paying for it now. People do far far worse like beating their children and bringing them up to be thugs. God just look at this country and look at some of the people that call themselves parents.I hear people shouting and swearing at their children, to me THEY are bad parents. The Mccanns obviously adore their children. Everyone in the world makes mistakes. It is not the mccanns fault that there are some sickos in this world that want to hurt children. What I am saying is that the people who love to judge them should put their feelings aside because they really dont matter in all of this. They need to think about how terrible these poor people are feeling and the hell they are going through and try to at least have some sympathy before opening their big mouths and spewing out such revolting things. Anyone who doesnt feel sorry for them is void of any feeling as far as I’m concerned. You should be asking those ignorant idiots what planet THEY come from!!!! They talk about the Mccanns being cold. They should take a long hard look at themselves. None of my friends or nobody i know for that matter judge the way these people do and if they did they wouldn’t be my friends. I know that everyone has an opinion but I think the situation is dreadful enough without hysterical people talking such vicious bullshit! The most important thing is to carry on looking for Madeleine and not waste energy being nasty about these poor grieving people who couldn’t be in a worse situation. They are very brave and deserve lots and lots of support and they are getting it from most people. Whatever you may think, most people don’t agree with all these silly negative views. It seems that what some people are saying on this forum is that they think that because the Mccanns left their children then they deserve what they are going through. Well thats really going to help little Madeleine isn’t it!!! I am so pleased that the twins are not going to be taken away. Never believed they would be . Anyway better go and leave you holyer than thou people to think up some more idiotic things to say!!! Good night!
September 17th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
hey kim! they could stand in front of you and kill a child and you would still say “THERE GOOD PEOPLE THEY DIDN”T DO IT” so you support people that leave there children alone????? and you say there’s nothing wrong with that !!!! tell what planet do you live on or come from??????
September 17th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Hope all you people who are so against the Mccanns watched ITV tonight. There is NO real evidence against them at all. Take note!
September 17th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
re faith - I would now consider praying to be a waste of time, an exercise in trying to expiate one’s guilt. Praying aint going to bring maddie back. But I wonder if the police in portugal are still exploring the paedophile route? The kidnapper would have to have been v lucky in timing their entrance to snatch little maddie very well wouldn’t they? And how would the kidnapper know the door was open, where the kids were, that they would not be disturbed by a parent or parental friend checking on the kids? Bit of a risk I’d say. And how many times does one hear about a kidnapper snatching from inside a house? All the big media cases in the last 5 years I have checked are all from the street, play areas, outside schools etc. I am not obviously sure about holiday destinations but if the kidnapper was ‘watching’ maddie then surely there would’ve been other opps? Just doesn’t add up. Also, I go back to the initial detail - they left the door open….have all the other friends and guests at the tapas bar been interviewed as potential suspects as well?
September 17th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I see- so the branson fund is for the parents to clear their name? That could be bad for business if they are found guilty. I wonder if Brandson is trying to ‘buy’ the truth? i.e. by giving them such a huge fund to see if they accept it or not, like a test. Otherwise, yes it is a bit like saying, it’s okay to leave your kids alone and be doctors because then you can’t be in neglect. If the parents were poor and ill-educated, they would’ve been lynched by now for gross negligence. if you are doctor, then it was just a mistake, a bit of misjudgment.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Hey Star - when I read about the “death from my job” statment by Kate - thought exactly the same thing - she is (or was) a 2 day a week locum in a GP surgery from what I have read, not based in the intensive care unit of a hospital. I also read (maybe it was media hype) that she said that she had been in contact with 6 bodies just before she left - God almightly I would steer clear of that doctors surgery !! Something else I cant understand - reports yesterday said that the McCanns had been to their local church in their home town for the first time yesterday, since their return -A WEEK AGO - They were hoverring around the church in Portugal morning noon and night according to the press, they even were given their own key to the church to go whenever they wanted to . Why on this earth did it take them so long to go to their own church to proay for their daughter - Woops sorry too busy begging to Branson and lining up their defence!! Silly me!!
September 17th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
First of all I am appauled by the Branson jesture - regardless of the guilty or not guilty of being party to the death of their daughter - they sure as hell are guilty of neglect. If they are so sure of their innocence they should not need to plead to celebs. to get them out of the hole = the hole incidentally that they have dug for themselves from day one. Richard Branson has gone down dramatically in my estimation - the pledge £100,000 would have gone to better use had he donated it to providing a cheche in an inner city location, where the mums would love a break for a few hours but cant afford child care. Hey but now, they can leave their kids unattended and should the worst happed - go cap in hand to Richard - he’ll bail me out. Like hell he would - Branson would not have got the publicity from that one would he? By contributing to legal beavers to fight the case of these two irresponsible people is no more and no less that condoning their actions to leave the children alone. I travel regularly to the US, but in future, my last choice will be Virgin Airlines - I used to think they were decent - but not any more.
September 17th, 2007 at 11:38 am
My eyes are on the fund too. Not literally but in the sense that if Maddy is alive or dead, as parents I would be using that huge resource to establish what happened and where she is, dead or alive. If it is not used then that for me is the final straw. I would like to hear that they are hiring Private eyes, paying for more use of media (something I believe they are doing again) and spending every penny and every spare hour they have on the search. That is what the appeal was for; looking for Maddie. They know they are responsible for their irresponsibility but they should still be using all the money there is available IF they are innocent themselves, irrespective of whether they are partly ‘to blame’ and as such feel slightly unworthy of the funds. Frankly, the whole case stinks to high-heaven. Does anyone else know about the Portuguese police officer and his previous experience with a similar case 3 years ago?
September 17th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Ha Ha! You guys make me laugh!