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| Madeleine suspect defends himself | Madeleine suspect defends himself |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The life of the British suspect in the case of missing four-year-old Madeleine has "fallen apart", his cousin has told BBC News. | The life of the British suspect in the case of missing four-year-old Madeleine has "fallen apart", his cousin has told BBC News. |
| Sally Eveleigh, speaking in the Algarve on behalf of Robert Murat, said he vehemently denied any involvement. | Sally Eveleigh, speaking in the Algarve on behalf of Robert Murat, said he vehemently denied any involvement. |
| Mr Murat, 33, who helped police with translation work, was questioned for 12 hours over the disappearance and his mother's villa was searched. | Mr Murat, 33, who helped police with translation work, was questioned for 12 hours over the disappearance and his mother's villa was searched. |
| Meanwhile, a fighting fund to cover rising search costs has been launched. | Meanwhile, a fighting fund to cover rising search costs has been launched. |
| Map of locations | Map of locations |
| Madeleine, from Rothley in Leicestershire, was taken from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. | |
| She disappeared from her bedroom as her parents ate dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant. | She disappeared from her bedroom as her parents ate dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant. |
| Madeleine McCann disappeared on 3 May | Madeleine McCann disappeared on 3 May |
| Ms Eveleigh said her cousin was "devastated" and in "a very bad state". | Ms Eveleigh said her cousin was "devastated" and in "a very bad state". |
| She was speaking on Mr Murat's behalf because, as police were treating him as a suspect, he is not allowed to speak directly to the media under Portuguese law. | She was speaking on Mr Murat's behalf because, as police were treating him as a suspect, he is not allowed to speak directly to the media under Portuguese law. |
| "His whole life's fallen apart just from being over-enthusiastic trying to help people as he always does - that's his way," she said. | "His whole life's fallen apart just from being over-enthusiastic trying to help people as he always does - that's his way," she said. |
| "People not knowing him have misunderstood it." | "People not knowing him have misunderstood it." |
| No arrests | No arrests |
| Mr Murat, who previously lived in Hockering, Norfolk, has recently been living with his mother Jenny, 71, at her villa, Casa Liliana. | Mr Murat, who previously lived in Hockering, Norfolk, has recently been living with his mother Jenny, 71, at her villa, Casa Liliana. |
| After questioning Mr Murat, officers said they did not have the evidence to formally arrest or charge anybody. | After questioning Mr Murat, officers said they did not have the evidence to formally arrest or charge anybody. |
| This fund will be a vehicle to help our family get our darling, wee niece back John McCannMadeleine's uncle class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6662723.stm">Madeleine fund launched | |
| Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon the fighting fund to help cover escalating costs in the search for Madeleine was launched at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester by her uncle John McCann. | Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon the fighting fund to help cover escalating costs in the search for Madeleine was launched at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester by her uncle John McCann. |
| Speaking at the launch, Mr McCann said: "This fund will be a vehicle to help our family get our darling, wee niece back." | Speaking at the launch, Mr McCann said: "This fund will be a vehicle to help our family get our darling, wee niece back." |
| It was also announced that any money raised not needed for the search for Madeleine would be used to help find missing children in the UK, Portugal and elsewhere. | It was also announced that any money raised not needed for the search for Madeleine would be used to help find missing children in the UK, Portugal and elsewhere. |
| Also at the launch, former England and Leicester rugby union captain Martin Johnson said Madeleine's disappearance had "touched everyone". | Also at the launch, former England and Leicester rugby union captain Martin Johnson said Madeleine's disappearance had "touched everyone". |
| Philomena McCann appealed to MPs for their help | Philomena McCann appealed to MPs for their help |
| Details of how to donate to the fund - at banks, by post or via the internet - can be found at www.findmadeleine.com. | Details of how to donate to the fund - at banks, by post or via the internet - can be found at www.findmadeleine.com. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, of Glasgow, visited Parliament to lobby MPs and peers for support. | Earlier on Wednesday, Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, of Glasgow, visited Parliament to lobby MPs and peers for support. |
| She said that, in a personal meeting, Mr Brown had offered support on "a practical and a personal level". | She said that, in a personal meeting, Mr Brown had offered support on "a practical and a personal level". |
| Mr Murat may have been designated a suspect by police, or he could have chosen to take "arguido" status himself to gain additional protections under Portuguese law. | Mr Murat may have been designated a suspect by police, or he could have chosen to take "arguido" status himself to gain additional protections under Portuguese law. |
| On Tuesday, Chief Inspector Olegario de Sousa told a news conference he could not confirm whether Madeleine was alive or dead. | On Tuesday, Chief Inspector Olegario de Sousa told a news conference he could not confirm whether Madeleine was alive or dead. |
| Back up | Back up |