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Tapas Nine 'told police that Murat was man who fled apartment with child in his arms'
By VANESSA ALLEN - More by this author » Last updated at 08:14am on 16th November 2007
Comments Comments (33)
Robert Murat
Robert Murat, seen here shortly after Madeleine's disappearance, was named by the McCanns' friends as the man who was seen with a child in his arms
Two friends of the McCanns told police they saw British expatriate Robert Murat carrying a child away from the couple's apartment the night Madeleine vanished, it was claimed yesterday.
Russell O'Brien and Jane Tanner allegedly identified Mr Murat, 33, during a face-to-face meeting between him, the McCanns and the rest of the so-called Tapas Nine in May, before he was named as an official suspect, Portuguese daily 24 horas claimed.
The McCanns' spokesman dismissed the report as "laughable".
The couple have said they do not remember ever meeting Mr Murat, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
Miss Tanner, 37, has told police she saw a man carrying a child away from the apartment, but never saw his face. Her partner Dr O'Brien, 36, has never claimed he saw a man carrying a child that night.
But an insider told the paper: "They were all placed in the same room and two people that left the restaurant pointed to Robert Murat.
"They said he was the person they saw next to the apartment where Madeleine was sleeping around the time the alarm was raised about her disappearance."
The tabloid added: "24 horas has learnt that the friends who accused Murat are Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien.
"They clearly stated, during the face-to-face meeting, they thought it was him who was carrying a child in his arms.
Read more...
* Madeleine: How the police ruined the forensic evidence in her bedroom
"This is the same couple said to have indicated to Portuguese public prosecutors they intend altering their statements after it was made public that they could become official suspects."
Quoting a separate source, 24 horas added: "We know that Robert Murat was next to the apartment, he was pointed out by two witnesses and he is a friend of the McCanns."
Last night Francisco Pagarete, Murat's lawyer dismissed the claims as rubbish.
He said: "They are lies. "My client doesn't know the McCanns and the day Madeleine disappeared, he was at home with his mum.
"We are going to prove this is the case." Criticising Portuguese authorities over their decision not to clear Murat immediately and making him wait until next May to see the case files against him, he added:
"We're unhappy that we'll only be able to see the files next May and be in a position to defend ourselves."
Jane Tanner and partner Russell O'Brien
Jane Tanner and her partner Russell O'Brien allegedly named Murat as the man they had seen leaving the apartment complex with a child in his arms
Mystery has surrounded the identity of the two McCann holiday pals alleged to want to change statements they gave police soon after Madeleine disappeared.
Respected Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which made the initial claims, carried quotes from an unnamed lawyer for one of the Tapas Nine this week complaining his client was terrified about speaking out because of the political support for the McCanns.
madeleine abductor
This picture of 'Madeleine's abductor' was issued based on descriptions by the McCanns' friends
Portuguese police believe the McCanns and their friends are hiding the truth and fear they may never solve the case if they do not break an alleged pact of silence.
The claim Jane Tanner and her partner fingered Murat early on in the investigation - and now want to change their statements - will fuel further speculation he is being made a scapegoat.
Jane Tanner helped police produce an E-fit of a man she claimed to have seen runhing away from their Ocean Club holiday complex with a child in a blanket.
Today's claim that she identified Murat as that man comes amid reports police are preparing to make her and three other members of the Tapas Nine official suspects because of inconsistencies in their original statements.
Murat has always protested his innocence and police have found no DNA evidence linking him to Madeleine's disappearance despite searching the home in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz he shares with mum Jennifer and digging up their garden.
The McCanns have rubbished suggestions they are pressuring their friends into lying and claims any of the Tapas Nine want to change their statements.
They insist Madeleine was kidnapped by an intruder and possibly taken across the border into Spain by someone working to the orders of a paedophile gang.
Madeleine
Madeleine McCann playing on a slide
Police allegedly failed to send blankets, pillows and mattresses from the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz for forensic testing.
A source at Portugal's National Institute of Legal Medicine said: "We were only sent a few forensic traces for DNA testing.
"It would have been good if they had sent us the blankets, pillows and even the mattress where the girl was sleeping.
"We might have found some important clues on them and not just hairs, which was what was sent to the institute.
"Speaking hypothetically, there could have been fibres belonging to an abductor, or even a fingerprint." Several items in the apartment are thought to have been cleaned by staff at the Ocean Club days after Maddie's disappearance.
The McCanns and their friends are also believed to have damaged vital evidence when they were walking round the crime scene before police arrived.
A police source said: "When we returned to the apartment more than 24 hours after the girl vanished, half of the evidence had already disappeared."
By VANESSA ALLEN - More by this author » Last updated at 08:14am on 16th November 2007
Comments Comments (33)
Robert Murat
Robert Murat, seen here shortly after Madeleine's disappearance, was named by the McCanns' friends as the man who was seen with a child in his arms
Two friends of the McCanns told police they saw British expatriate Robert Murat carrying a child away from the couple's apartment the night Madeleine vanished, it was claimed yesterday.
Russell O'Brien and Jane Tanner allegedly identified Mr Murat, 33, during a face-to-face meeting between him, the McCanns and the rest of the so-called Tapas Nine in May, before he was named as an official suspect, Portuguese daily 24 horas claimed.
The McCanns' spokesman dismissed the report as "laughable".
The couple have said they do not remember ever meeting Mr Murat, who denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
Miss Tanner, 37, has told police she saw a man carrying a child away from the apartment, but never saw his face. Her partner Dr O'Brien, 36, has never claimed he saw a man carrying a child that night.
But an insider told the paper: "They were all placed in the same room and two people that left the restaurant pointed to Robert Murat.
"They said he was the person they saw next to the apartment where Madeleine was sleeping around the time the alarm was raised about her disappearance."
The tabloid added: "24 horas has learnt that the friends who accused Murat are Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien.
"They clearly stated, during the face-to-face meeting, they thought it was him who was carrying a child in his arms.
Read more...
* Madeleine: How the police ruined the forensic evidence in her bedroom
"This is the same couple said to have indicated to Portuguese public prosecutors they intend altering their statements after it was made public that they could become official suspects."
Quoting a separate source, 24 horas added: "We know that Robert Murat was next to the apartment, he was pointed out by two witnesses and he is a friend of the McCanns."
Last night Francisco Pagarete, Murat's lawyer dismissed the claims as rubbish.
He said: "They are lies. "My client doesn't know the McCanns and the day Madeleine disappeared, he was at home with his mum.
"We are going to prove this is the case." Criticising Portuguese authorities over their decision not to clear Murat immediately and making him wait until next May to see the case files against him, he added:
"We're unhappy that we'll only be able to see the files next May and be in a position to defend ourselves."
Jane Tanner and partner Russell O'Brien
Jane Tanner and her partner Russell O'Brien allegedly named Murat as the man they had seen leaving the apartment complex with a child in his arms
Mystery has surrounded the identity of the two McCann holiday pals alleged to want to change statements they gave police soon after Madeleine disappeared.
Respected Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which made the initial claims, carried quotes from an unnamed lawyer for one of the Tapas Nine this week complaining his client was terrified about speaking out because of the political support for the McCanns.
madeleine abductor
This picture of 'Madeleine's abductor' was issued based on descriptions by the McCanns' friends
Portuguese police believe the McCanns and their friends are hiding the truth and fear they may never solve the case if they do not break an alleged pact of silence.
The claim Jane Tanner and her partner fingered Murat early on in the investigation - and now want to change their statements - will fuel further speculation he is being made a scapegoat.
Jane Tanner helped police produce an E-fit of a man she claimed to have seen runhing away from their Ocean Club holiday complex with a child in a blanket.
Today's claim that she identified Murat as that man comes amid reports police are preparing to make her and three other members of the Tapas Nine official suspects because of inconsistencies in their original statements.
Murat has always protested his innocence and police have found no DNA evidence linking him to Madeleine's disappearance despite searching the home in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz he shares with mum Jennifer and digging up their garden.
The McCanns have rubbished suggestions they are pressuring their friends into lying and claims any of the Tapas Nine want to change their statements.
They insist Madeleine was kidnapped by an intruder and possibly taken across the border into Spain by someone working to the orders of a paedophile gang.
Madeleine
Madeleine McCann playing on a slide
Police allegedly failed to send blankets, pillows and mattresses from the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz for forensic testing.
A source at Portugal's National Institute of Legal Medicine said: "We were only sent a few forensic traces for DNA testing.
"It would have been good if they had sent us the blankets, pillows and even the mattress where the girl was sleeping.
"We might have found some important clues on them and not just hairs, which was what was sent to the institute.
"Speaking hypothetically, there could have been fibres belonging to an abductor, or even a fingerprint." Several items in the apartment are thought to have been cleaned by staff at the Ocean Club days after Maddie's disappearance.
The McCanns and their friends are also believed to have damaged vital evidence when they were walking round the crime scene before police arrived.
A police source said: "When we returned to the apartment more than 24 hours after the girl vanished, half of the evidence had already disappeared."
