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Madeleine suspect re-questioned | Madeleine suspect re-questioned |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The only official suspect in the case of the missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann is being questioned for a second time by Portuguese police. | |
Robert Murat, 33, is being interviewed at a police station in the Algarve, a spokeswoman for the McCann family said. | |
Nearly two months ago, the British expatriate was questioned for 12 hours and his mother's villa was searched. | |
Madeleine, from Rothley in Leicestershire, was taken from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. | Madeleine, from Rothley in Leicestershire, was taken from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. |
Mr Murat has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. | Mr Murat has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. |
'Routine' | 'Routine' |
On Tuesday morning, he attended the police station in Portimao, accompanied by his lawyer. | |
Detectives questioned him throughout the day and were expected to continue into the night. | |
His spokesman, Tuck Price, said: "He [Mr Murat] says they are just going through everything again but he sounds well and I'm sure it's just a routine thing that they have to do." | |
Mr Price added that Mr Murat hoped the questioning would mark the beginning of the end of police classification of him as a suspect and he could soon be reunited with his daughter. | Mr Price added that Mr Murat hoped the questioning would mark the beginning of the end of police classification of him as a suspect and he could soon be reunited with his daughter. |
The BBC's Alison Roberts said police had told her officers were cross-checking people's statements. | The BBC's Alison Roberts said police had told her officers were cross-checking people's statements. |
Mr Murat denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance | Mr Murat denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance |
Mr Murat was first questioned by police in May, after which officers said they did not have the evidence to formally arrest or charge anybody. | |
Until several years ago, the former property developer had been living in Hockering, Norfolk, with his then-wife Dawn and their young daughter. | |
But he moved back to Portugal, where he grew up, to live with his mother, Jenny, 71, at her villa, close to where Madeleine was last seen. | |
After Madeleine went missing, her home was searched extensively and several items were removed for examination. | |
Mr Murat claims he helped police with translation work during the early stages of the hunt for Madeleine. | |
Justine McGuinness, spokeswoman for the McCanns, said it was a matter for Portuguese detectives and Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, did not wish to comment. | Justine McGuinness, spokeswoman for the McCanns, said it was a matter for Portuguese detectives and Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, did not wish to comment. |
They have travelled to the Vatican, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to urge people to help in the search for their daughter. | They have travelled to the Vatican, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to urge people to help in the search for their daughter. |
There have been a number of reported sightings of Madeleine, but none so far have yielded any more information on her whereabouts. | There have been a number of reported sightings of Madeleine, but none so far have yielded any more information on her whereabouts. |