Madeleine McCann: 29 Hours With Robert Murat
“MADELIENE SUSPECT QUIZZED FOR TEN HOURS,” says the Express on its front page. Readers see Robert Murat going for his “interview” with Portuguese police.
For the tape, Murat is neither handcuffed nor in the company of uniformed persons. He walks in the company of his lawyer Fancisco Pagarete. His head is unbowed. Although this is school holiday time, no mob of mums and kids is there to scream “paedo” and chuck eggs and darts his way.
Murat is innocent? But this is the second time Murat has been questioned in the Madeleine McCann mystery. He denies any involvement in the child’s disappearance. But still the questions come.
The Mirror’s front page says: “Madeleine suspect held over “English girl” email. The Mirror calls this a “suspicious email”. Why this is suspicious we are not told. It was a Mirror journalist who told the police, and then the world, that she found Murat “creepy”.
But the police have found no evidence linking Murat to Madeleine. No link has been established between Madeleine and computer “geek” Sergey Malinka. No link has been established between Madeleine and Murat’s German lover Michaela Walczuch.
Murat was held by the police for 19 hours the first time. He has now been interviewed for ten more hours. His DNA has been taken, but it is not that of the “stranger” found in Madeleine’s bedroom.
A Briton Abroad
Murat is unable to comment on the case, bound by law. But his friend, Tuck Price, tells us: “He told me they are just going through everything again but he sounds well and I’m sure it’s just a routine thing.”
He goes on: “It’s been a very surreal experience for him. He is holding up, but he wants it to be over.” Murat’s estranged wife Dawn says she has never doubted his innocence.
But Murat has received stacks of hate mail, says his aunt, who runs a guest house near Praia da Luz. He has been a “virtual prisoner” in his home. He fears reprisals.
Is Murat another victim? As a Briton abroad should the press be defending him more, standing up for his rights? Or is his sanity and wellbeing a small price to pay in the hunt for Madeleine McCann?
After weeks of investigative work, Murat remains the only suspect.
July 11th, 2007 at 9:45 am
sounds like the portugese police need some help -still.
July 11th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Actually it’s the third time, and apparently he is back in again today for more questions.
July 11th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Britain should, and i hope they will stand up for his rights as a Brit abroad, but only when the Arguido status is removed.
We didn’t all come out in support for Huntley before he had his day in court, so why should we come out in support for Robert Murat.
When he is cleared, the press should be exceptionally nice to him, if only to ease their conscience. Unless of course he is guilty, then they can get their teeth stuck in.
July 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am
No smoke without fire I say, (my opinion) he knows something, hopefully his concience will get the better of him and he will share what he knows and get this little girl back with her folks, for now he knows the missing link
July 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Huntley was different, there was irrefutable evidence that the girls had been in his house, and car.
In Murat’s case there is actually no hard cast iron proof that he is ‘the abductor’ or paedo, or killer.
July 11th, 2007 at 10:48 am
breaking news on Sky, Murat back again for more questioning !!!! mmm
July 11th, 2007 at 10:56 am
I beat sky to it!
July 11th, 2007 at 11:04 am
noddy badge for Joanne !! just joking.
like I say no smoke without fire, He looks like he has lost a lot of weight, could it be stress related, I wish I was a fly on the wall of the Police cell he is being questioned in.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:07 am
we dont know the evidence because they dont disclose it.
i think if they arrested him too early with not enough evidence it could mess things up
July 11th, 2007 at 11:08 am
i noticed that about his appearence.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:26 am
alot of the evidence earlier does lead to his door, especially the cell phone conversation that he never had (yeah right) and then the deleted files on his laptop and of course his dodgy friends, now I here his mother has not been seen in the village for ages, (maybe she is childminding) I dont know something just isnt right with this whole case
July 11th, 2007 at 11:26 am
hear (typo) sorry
July 11th, 2007 at 11:32 am
“He looks like he has lost a lot of weight, could it be stress related”
Wouldn’t you be stressed given the circumstances ? So not sure what relevance that has to his innocence/guilt.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:39 am
ok maybe stress related was meant to read guilt related, he knows what he has done is wrong, or the fact he knows something and is not telling anyone
July 11th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Why is it that when maddy was spotted on several occassions in several locations nobody questiones who she was with or tryed to grab her? I sure as hell would have!
July 11th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Liz,
“now I here his mother has not been seen in the village for ages, (maybe she is childminding)”
Given the amount of press coverage would you be out and about ? Are you trying to imply his mother has Madeleine ? What’s that based on ?
“ok maybe stress related was meant to read guilt related” What evidence do you have to know he’s guilty ? You seem so sure that he’s involved.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
bet the mom is involved-sort of phsyco style.
just kiddin,
i think anything is possible-its got to be complicated or she would have been found by now
July 11th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
“Why is it that when maddy was spotted on several occassions in several locations nobody questiones who she was with or tryed to grab her? I sure as hell would have!”
Probably because it wasn’t her do you really think she’d be out and about in public places given the amount of publicity the case has received. Also eyewitness statements are not always that reliable. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4177082.stm
July 11th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Robert Murat is not the only one being interviewed today
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2059090.ece
July 11th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Anon, do you have to repeat everything that people write, is this method of reading so that it can sink in your thick head, get over it and say something constructive instead of just dissecting what everyone else says, we are all entiltled to our opinion,
and for your information I do not have “inside information” but just use my gut feeling,
and someone has got Madeleine and someone knows where she is, why can that not be Murats mother,
July 11th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Times Online 11/07/07
Three friends who were staying with the parents of Madeleine McCann when their daughter was abducted are being re interviewed by Portuguese police this morning.
Rachael Oldfield, Russell O’Brien and Fiona Payne flew from Britain to give further statements about the night Madeleine disappeared 69 days ago.
****
Russell O’Brien is the partner of Jane Tanner (the woman who went to dinner late and allegedly saw a man carrying a child?). He wasn’t at the meal the night that Madeleine vanished … we are told he was back in England. I am sure that he has sent many emails in regard to Madeleine.
The last time that a British Girl went missing in Portugal it was a friend of the family who had taken and murdered her.
Granted he does not have ‘official suspect’ status - but as we know, Mr Murat could have requested that himself as some level of protection from the press.
Shall we start accusing him as well?
July 11th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Liz,
Why the abuse just questioned where you got your “facts” from. Appears to be your gut not your brain then again your gut is much closer to what you do talk out of.
We are all entiled to are opnion unless you don’t agree with it.
July 11th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Just watch this space
It will all come out in the wash
It is obvious that something is happening due to the police being publicly more active than they have been in the past month or so
Lets just hope that madeleine is found safe and well
I just hope that if she is - The person or people who have taken her will probably be involved in more child abductions so leading to more missing child cases being solved and children found hopefully alive
Just for the record - I too think that Robert Murt is some way connected
I will stand for a barrage of critisism from you all if I am proved to be wrong in the outcome of the case
Also , before anyone starts - I know that I can’t spell
Sending my best hope to Madeleine and all the other missing children in the world
July 11th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
anon, I never once abused you.
just stated what was on my mind, I am a ex UK police woman now living in SA, and I rely a lot on my gut feelings (as we were taught) Robert Murat just seems to be a shifty guy who keeps tripping up over his story, believe me I would love to be in Portugal now as, what I believe, the pot is about to blow!!
July 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
‘Russell O’Brien is the partner of Jane Tanner (the woman who went to dinner late and allegedly saw a man carrying a child?). He wasn’t at the meal the night that Madeleine vanished … we are told he was back in England…’
Molly - how do you know this please ?
July 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
the wife of robert murat was on one of the other forums the other day.
unless it was a joke.
nobody seemed to talk to her.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Has anybody read the ‘pact of silence’ article appearing in Sol on June 30th ?
Makes the McCann group look very dodgy.
Russell O’Brien was at the meal. He was the only one seen by a Tapas employee to leave the table during the meal. Apparently.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Hi Scarlett … the initial connection between Russell O’Brien and Jane Tanner was pointed out in the ‘Sol’ article (the so called ‘Pact of Silence’ article)… where it was O’Brien who informed the paper that he could not say anything about the case as they had all promised the McCanns not to comment on the evening that Madeleine went missing because ‘Gerry and Kate want to control all information released’.
It was the same article which named Jane Tanner as the ‘witness’ who was late to dinner.
The connection between the two is confirmed by their Friends Reunited entries … they live together and have two children.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Aaaah … my understanding was that he was back in England at the time of the meal, but obviously that is wrong.
Was it his chair that the ‘quiz entertainer’ saw was empty during her time at the McCanns’ table before Kate McCann went back to the apartment?
July 11th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Thanks for the insite to the UK police. Glad to know your taught to go on gut feelings and not evidence the Menezes family will no doubt be thrilled.