Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat dramatically changed his alibi during
police questioning, it has been claimed.
The Brit expat, 33, had initially told friends he was with his girlfriend when
Madeleine, four, was snatched.
But as detectives grilled him 11 days later, he claimed he had been with
elderly mum Jennifer at her nearby home, a Portuguese newspaper has reported.
Police sources also allege Murat asked a number of people for a fake alibi for
the night the youngster was taken.
Detectives are believed to have quizzed Murat at length last week over the
differing accounts of his whereabouts on May 3.
One source said: "When people started asking questions, he said he was
with his girlfriend, Michaela Walczuch. He said the
same thing to friends.
"But at the police station he told them he was with his mum Jennifer. He's
stuck to this story since."
Michaela was interviewed by police last month but they would not reveal her
answers. Jennifer, who lives 100 yards from the McCanns' Praia da Luz holiday apartment, backed her son's alibi when she
met police.
She insisted he did not leave the villa between finishing his evening meal and
going to bed.
A Portuguese newspaper reported that phone records between 8pm and midnight
back her claim. But police say it does not prove he was there all night.
The McCanns' friends Fiona Payne and Rachael Oldfield say they saw him outside
Madeleine's apartment at 11.45pm, soon after she went missing. Another pal,
Russell O'Brien, says he saw Murat at 1am.
Portuguese villagers have also told police they saw him that night. He remains
the only formal suspect.
Meanwhile, Madeleine's dad Gerry again urged the public to help him and wife
Kate keep up the search.
He wrote on his internet blog: "This can be achieved by simple measures
such as displaying posters in prominent public places." |
