THE
man who was the first to be declared an official suspect over the disappearance
of Madeleine McCann broke his silence last night, insisting it is time his name
is cleared.
Robert Murat, a British expatriate who lives with his mother, Jenny, less than
100 yards from where the four-year-old went missing in the Portuguese resort of
Praia da Luz, has been under police restrictions for five months, which
included a ban on interviews.
But the property consultant last night gave a television interview, with family
members by his side, in a direct plea to the police to clear him of suspicion.
Mr Murat spoke only briefly but it is the first time he has done so since being
declared an arguido - an official suspect - and the move could theoretically
lead to action from the police.
He said: "It's five months, my savings have gone, Mum is doing what she
can. It is just very, very difficult."
Mr Murat's mother ran a stall in the centre of the village appealing for
information about Madeleine in the wake of her disappearance.
His cousin, Sally Eveleigh, who runs a guesthouse, urged police to revoke his
formal status.
"Five months down the line, he hasn't heard from the police for three
months, and there's no evidence against him," she said. "He hasn't
seen his daughter for over five months.
"He has no finances now; all his savings are gone and he needs to rebuild
his life. I mean, his life is on hold."
Mr Murat, whose father was Portuguese, was questioned by police 11 days after
Madeleine disappeared on 3 May.
Police searched the Murat family home, Casa Liliana, and its garden using
sniffer dogs after suspicions were aroused over his interest in the case.
Mr Murat, 33, had earlier offered his services as a translator to police and
became a familiar sight around the crime scene.
He was declared an arguido after his first night of questioning at the local
headquarters of the Policia Judiciaria in the town of Portimao,
Although they took him in for further questioning later and carried out new
searches over the summer, he has never been formally arrested or charged.
His family are hopeful there will be a reassessment of his status following the
appointment of a new head of the inquiry in Portugal.
Paulo Rebelo, the deputy national director of Portuguese police, is replacing
Goncalo Amaral, who was apparently removed for criticising UK police.
Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were
declared arguidos last month after tests on DNA samples found in their hire car
were taken as suggesting Madeleine's body had been transported in the vehicle.
The McCanns strenuously deny any such involvement.
Once someone is an arguido they can be arrested, but only if there is
sufficient evidence.
• GERRY McCann was earlier this week forced to deny reports he was not
Madeleine's biological father.
A Portuguese newspaper claimed she was the daughter of his wife Kate and an
unnamed sperm donor.
But the story was dismissed as "unwarranted, unsubstantiated and totally
inaccurate speculation" by Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesman.
Reports yesterday suggested the couple planned to sue 24 Horas, which is one of
Portugal's
most popular papers, over the claims. |
