Madeleine McCann suspect quizzed

Jul 11 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

Toddler Madeleine McCann, who was abducted in Portugal _158

THE chief suspect in the Madeleine McCann abduction investigation was being re- interviewed by police last night.

Almost two months after he was first named as an official "arguido" – meaning suspect or defendant – in the case, Robert Murat was called in for questioning.

Murat, 33, was thrown into the spotlight on May 14, 11 days after the four- year-old from Rothley, Leicestershire, was snatched in the Algarve village of Praia Da Luz on May 3.

Last night Justine McGuinness, the McCanns’ spokeswoman, said the issue was a matter for Portuguese detectives adding that Made- leine’s parents Gerry and Kate – whose parents Sue and Brian Healy, live in Mossley Hill in Liverpool – did not wish to comment.

When Madeleine went missing on May 3 Murat volunteered his services, telling journ- alists he was translat- ing documents for police and others that he was helping with the investigation.

But one journalist reported him to Portu-gal’s investigative Policia Judiciaria (PJ), suspicious of his motives. Murat insists he is entirely innocent and was dining with his mother on the night Madeleine went missing.

Murat was never formerly arrested and was released but the following day he was formally designated as an arguido in the case.

Yesterday at around 10am police telephoned Murat and asked him to come into the local PJ headquarters in the town of Portimao for further questioning family friend Tuck Price said.