Locals Spot Robert Murat By Madeleine McCann’s Flat
MADELEINE McCann is in the news.
“New witnesses say they saw suspect near Madeleine flat,” says the Express on its front page.
“We saw top suspect near Madeleine kidnap flat,” says a headline deeper inside the paper. The Express says these witness statements cast doubts on Robert Murat’s alibi.
A police source tells us: “On Monday and Tuesday a number of witnesses were questioned at police headquarters. They claim they saw a man matching Murat’s description outside the Ocean Club on the night Madeleine disappeared.”
The source says the statements appear to contradict Murat’s alibi that he was home all night on the evening of Madeleine’s disappearance. “As a result of this evidence we will question Mr Murat again later this week.”
Robert Murat was questioned by police for more than 30 hours last week, says the Express. The paper tells its reader that the investigation has reached a “critical stage”.
“MADDY ALIBI QUIZ FOR MURAT,” say the Mirror. The paper says “Portuguese locals” told police they saw a man resembling Murat outside the McCanns’ flat “on the night she was snatched”.
The Mirror has established that’s Madeleine McCann was snatched. It tells us: “The sightings back up identical claims made by friends of Gerry and Kate McCann last week.”
Good that progress has been made in this case. And by the tabloid press. But Madeleine McCann is missing. Still missing…
July 18th, 2007 at 10:33 am
I just cannot believe those witnesses waited two whole months to admit they saw Murat that night!! It’s beyond my comprehension. After so much discussion about him being the main suspect. Couldnt the police talk to them earlier?Couldn’t they themselves go to the police and say what they know???!! Where do those ppl live?? Don’t they read newspapers? Don’t they listen to the radio??
July 18th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Pete,
when Maddie was taken it was the end of the holidays, maybe the people who say they saw Murat are back in the algarve now for the hols again, they realise that their evidence is vital now, just a thought,
or
maybe they have been paid enough now
or
who knows why ?? like a lot of the other posts on various forums, the whole scenario is a bit disjointed, I just wish the PJ would hurry up and reveal what is so critical at this point, and get this child home where she belongs,
I pray it is not too late
July 18th, 2007 at 11:43 am
The new ‘witnesses ‘ are meant to be locals? and wasn’t it the Daily Express which said the PJ have critical revelations this week?
The whole thing is as clear as mud, but I do wonder exactly where and on whom the PJ have got their focus.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I don’t get it either. Why would witnesses (local and otherwise) only come forward more than 2 months after the incident? Was Praia da Luz the site of some mass intoxicant and its victims are only now coming around?
July 18th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
sounds very fishy to me. These witnesses after 2 months decide they saw someone resembling Murat hanging around the Mcmoneys flat. Yeah right. What planet have they been on for the last couple of months. Probably a desparate effort by someone to try to divert the investigation away from them. Wouldn’t be surprised if they have been paid for the info by someone whos come into a lot of money recently.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
maybe these witnesses came forward two months ago and are being requestioned now. the police did suspect murat before the mirror journalist voiced suspicions. we dont know, because of the secrecy laws. i would be surprised if a bunch of locals suddenly remember this week that they saw murat 2 months ago at the apt. this is all part of reviewing the evidence. i beleive they are calling old witnesses back to confirm their story.
July 18th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
If anyone is wondering why the ‘witnesses’ are only coming forward now and friends suddenly ‘remembering’ things…
… one million quid can go a very long way…
July 18th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I am wondering, and saoirse’s theory, based on knowledge of how police investigations proceed, seems rather more plausible to me than the conspiracy-theory insinuations from sean the sheep and Brighton’er.
July 18th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
This is a stitch up!! To try and get the only suspect charged would be so satisfying for certain people. How do we know that Madeleine was in bed in the first place? To leave a door unlocked would mean there would have been no need to abduct the child, she was already missing!!
The Mc Cann’s are making a lot of money, and this seems to be what is driving them, not finding their daughter.
July 18th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
g beal, you are obviously not a parent. the mccanns made a mistake, but to even suggest that money would be more important than having one’s child back in one’s arms is atrocious. i feel sorry for you.
July 18th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I do have children and I would not have left them alone with a door unlocked!! In fact I just would’nt have left them alone anywhere where they were not being looked after.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Very suspicious indeed. But didn’t Jenni Murat say her son was at Casa Liliana with her? And didn’t telephone records confirm his alibi? It sounds as if said witnesses have the wrong man.
July 18th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
why would the mccanns want the wrong person to be arrested and charged. they want their daughter back, so they want the right person beoing charged. Think about it!!!
well done mccanns, keep on going!!!!
July 18th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I find it strange that local people suddenly remember seeing him that night. It was reported in SOL recently that members of the McCann party insist that he was present during the initial search, whereas local people who actually know him and were there say he wasn’t and they would certainly have remembered if he had been. There’s also the ‘phone records if we believe all we read.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I think if anyone was planning on leaving their kids alone in an unlocked flat while having drinks “nearby” they will reconsider after this, but right now I don’t care if Murat was having a walk that night, the parents are alcoholic opportunists or their friends a bunch of conspiratorial lackeys - I just want that little girl safe. Someone can see later about prosecuting the parents for negligence.
July 18th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
So having a drink on holiday makes someone an alcholic does it? and not discussing all their intimate thoughts and feelings makes them conspiratorial lackeys?
Gee Bogus, it must to great to be so perfect.
Just a note… all witnesses have to sign at the end of their statements that they will not discuss the case at all.
Hence the silence… no consrpiracy there.
July 18th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Hmmm… so the question is - is this a legitimate ‘police source’?
It’s presumably not coming directly from de Sousa as it doesn’t quote him.
The next question is: are these local witnesses really ‘new’ or did they come forward at the beginning, were not mentioned because of the secrecy laws, and the police have decided to release the info now.
I am a bit concerned, given the corruption problems that have been documented in Portugal, that the police might try & frame Murat to close the case, in the interest of Portugal’s tourist economy.
But then, maybe they have better evidence on Murat that we think.
de Sousa did say about Murat:
“I didn’t say we have no evidence, I said we don’t have enough”
July 18th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I cannot believe all the “INVERTED SNOBS” out there. If Madeleines parents were low paid workers, or on benefits and still had the initiative to do what the McCanns have done, you would all be praising them for their efforts. Could any of you tell me how you would handle it any better if it were your child? And would you say no to financial help in such dire circumstances? And I don’t believe anyone who says they haven’t left their children at some point or other, not negligently but maybe naievely in todays world. God bless Madeleine and her family.
July 18th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Well said tarina, i believe that the McCanns are doing everything in their power to publisise this terrible event. I don’t believe that they have ever looked upon this as a money making scheme, which seems the opinion of others on this site and various others. Maddie is missing, still, but in who’s hands???? We have still not heard about other possible sightings, the media are focusing on Murat who I suspect may have been involved but she isn’t with him now, so where the hell is she?? I think the Malta link has been given up too easily, so many sightings and so little news, so frustrating!!!!!!!
July 18th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Absolutely Tarina! Nobody could have handled this dreadful tragedy better than the McCanns have done. The suggestion that they are behind a conspiracy to frame Murat is as shameful as it is ludicrous. Gerry McCann said right at the beginning that he hoped everyone would remember the principle that every individual is innocent until proven guilty. This was in the early days during the disgraceful trial by media which Murat faced. Gerry did not mention him by name but it was clear that it was Murat he had in mind when he made these comments.
The McCanns want their daughter back. They are going through agonising mental and emotional suffering. Why on earth would they wish the wrong person to be accused?
People simply resent the fact that they have the intelligence, courtesy, resourcefulness and back-up to manage this campaign as well as possible. Clearly they have many, many friends and family members, in all the places where they have lived, worked or studied, who have a tremendous respect and affection for them. The fact that they are fortunate in this one respect pales into insignificance compared with the tragic misfortune which has befallen them. Most people who don’t know them also support them and long for their child to be found and returned to them. Most people are basically good and want good for other people.
This is NOT a soap opera but a real live tragedy with real human being siffering as none of us would ever wish to do. Weaving plots and counter-plots is not our business. Supporting the family is.
God help Kate and Gerry McCann. God protect Madeleine.
July 18th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Maria, Anne , Tarina
You all seem very concerned for Gerry & Kate and their feelings. But they continually neglected all three of their children when leaving them in an unlocked room whilst they went out for the evening all through the holiday only checking every 30 minutes not very intelligent. It was because of this neglect that Madeleine (Notice I can spell her name unlike Gerry who continually gets it wrong on his Blog until someone corrects it for him) went missing. Yet we’re supposed to treat them as living Saint’s above any questioning or criticism. What exactly are they doing to find their daughter beside jetting around the world like z list celebrities.
Madeleine is the only one suffering.
July 18th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Witnesses coming forward two months after the event is very strange. How reliable can their evidence be when human memory is so fallible? The fact that the police are going to such lengths to try to demolish Murat’s alibi seems to suggest that they have nothing else against him and are desperate to find some way of clearing up the case.
If Murat is innocent framing him will not find Madeleine. I should have thought that obvious. What is he supposed to have done with her? Is an accomplice hiding her or has her body been disposed of somewhere?
Gerry McCann may have re stated the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” but he still despised Murat enough to call him a “sad loner” which he clearly is not. Such a label is on a par with gutter press labels which he has been given such as “creepy” and “oddball”. I have seen no evidence presented which justifies such insults. What they do, however, is to devalue the man, so that he becomes a lower form of life and fair game for anyone else who wants to suggest that he is some kind of monster.
God protect him also, as well as his innocent family.
July 18th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Muarat says he was involved the next morning so could the people have seen him then but don’t remember for sure which day? There is also the power of suggestion then add recognition…
For now it doesn’t appear Murat has Madeleine. Police have Murat pinned down whether or not he is involved. I keep hoping there will be more investigative reporting concerning who might have Madeleine now or where she might be.
If Murat was around that night you would think that is an alibi. At least if Murat was around that night he didn’t have much time to take Madeleine much distance. I assume the claims by McCann friends that Murat was around that night would suggest he only aided someone in abducting Madeleine? At least we know from what we are told that Murat was either at his house or at the search that night for Madeleine. We don’t know where Madeleine is. If there is someone else involved who could that be? Who is known for sure to have been in the apartment then go from there. Who else, if anyone, was seen around the apartment? Was anyone seen watching the apartment during the time leading up to the abduction? How much time would Murat have had between the time Madeleine is assumed missing and the time Murat was supposedly seen at the search that night? Take the information printed above and figure out about what time the McCann friends claim to have seen Murat at the search and figure how long he had alone to be involved in the disappearance or assist in helping? Assuming Muart only supposedly aided in the abduction then what are the other known suspicious circumstances?
So, what stranger, if it was a stranger, could have gone in the apartment and walked off with a child without frightening the child or being seen by anyone other than the one ladyfriend of the McCann’s who claims to have seen a man with a child? Could Madeleine have been drugged? Is Murat known to have access to some type of substance that could be used to drug a child? Who would have access to a substance that could be used to drug a child? A doctor possibly but any other theory? Could Madeleine have been abducted by someone she knew? When children are abducted by strangers do they go without making noise? I don’t know. Does anyone know the assumed reason Madeleine could have been carried off without crying or screaming? Statistics?
Although is important to read any new information that might indicate whether or not Murat is actually involved I worry about the failure to fill in the missing pieces.
July 18th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
is anyone thinking of that poor little girl out there away from the only people she knows and loves she must be terrified bless her take time out and think of her PLEASE
July 18th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
anon, when you say “Madeleine is the only one suffering” I presume you mean “Out of Kate, Gerry, and Madeleine, Madeleine is the only one suffering”? You couldn’t mean that of all the people connected with the case she is the only one who has suffered.
To believe that that the McGanns are not suffering, you must believe that they don’t love their child at all. Since I don’t think you know them, I think you must believe that their actions show they didn’t love her. I disagree that people are that simple. It’s not that people are EITHER completely responsible and unselfish parents, OR strangely inhuman parents who don’t love their children. One can criticize the McCanns’ actions without having to believe they are without feeling. Between living saints (not saint’s) and living devils are human beings, which is what I think they are.
A lot of people do, however, need to think in binary oppositions and are uncomfortable with spectrums (spectra?). It seems like you are one of these dualist thinkers.
Consider that maybe you _need_ to believe they are monsters who don’t love their child and aren’t suffering, because if this is so they are nothing like you. And if they’re nothing like you, you will never have a missing child.
July 18th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Sue, I think of nothing else but what that little girl may be suffering. Everyday I cry for her, seeing her beautiful face on the cover of papers is an ordeal in itself. She isn’t my child, but my heart aches like she is. Gerry and Kate are better people than me, there is no way I could hold it together as well as they do but I suspect that they think only action will bring their daughter back, well, let’s see some!
July 19th, 2007 at 12:04 am
TO ALL YOU PRO MCCANNS. what are you all on? “doing all they can to find their daughter! Yeah Right-all they seem to be doing is everything possible to make more money for their CHARITY ( oh sorry my mistake, its NOT a charity is it? Its a BUSINESS - a very profitable one by the look of things) Oh and lets not forget all the publicity for Madeliene or should I say Gerry. Do any of you actually know what this money is actually being spent on? Let me see; numerous flights around the world, luxury accomodation, sun sea and TAPAS and of course a team of top lawyers.
What about a team of private investigators (a million pounds would pay their wages for a while).
And one more thing doesn’t anyone think its a bit strange Madeliene hasn’t been found? With the whole world looking for her and the publicity all this has received I find it very strange. I sincerely hope she is still alive, but realistically its not looking very promising.
And before you idiots start on me I do care about what has happened to Madeliene but I have absolutely no time whatsoever for her parents .
Some people make good parents - some are just selfish bastards SORRY.
July 19th, 2007 at 12:08 am
ANON: You’re just trying to wind everyone up and getting some kind of kick out of it. How can anybody say that the McCanns aren’t suffering?
You have yet to tell us what they should be doing (in your opinion ) of course. Maybe they should hide away and forget Madeleine ever existed. They won’t do that, because they are strong in adversity, they have faith, they have shown patience and compassion as far as witness Robert Murat is concerned, and can obviously turn the other cheek as far as people like you are concerned.
July 19th, 2007 at 12:13 am
We are all entitled to opinions on this case Sean, and although I appreciate that you think the McCanns are in it for the money, I do not.
Many children are abducted and not traced for years. If Madeleine is still alive, how do we know that she isn’t being held somewhere?? What about children who turn up months or years later. I find your views biased, you need to see the bigger picture here.
July 19th, 2007 at 12:14 am
But perhaps anon what you really mean is that any suffering the McCanns endure is deserved and they brought it on themselves.
Hey, sean the sheep, thanks for demonstrating some classic dualist thinking in the last line of your message.
Can you, by the way, give us the source for the list you give of what the money is being spent on? I do not actually know what the money is being spent on, to answer your question, and I’m rather surprised that you do know. You must have access to evidence the rest of us don’t.
But your message is not addressed to me; I’m not a Pro McCann (I’m sorry, my mistake, PRO MCCANN), but a fence sitter (like you, though, I’m pro-Madeleine of course).