A two-day search of the home of the only official suspect in the abduction of
Madeleine McCann has uncovered no new evidence, according to police sources in
Portugal.
Police investigating her disappearance spent the weekend digging up the garden of Robert Murat, at his home 150 yards from
where the toddler was abducted. As many as 10 officers spent Saturday clearing
thick vegetation. Sniffer dogs inspected the premises.
However, the BBC Radio 4's Today programme reported this morning that police
sources had said the weekend search had found nothing to link Mr Murat with the
abduction.
Mr Murat, 33, has been the only official "arguido", or suspect, since
May 10, when he was detained by police. He was questioned for a second time
last month but detectives have never found any evidence to arrest him formally.
Intense police activity over the weekend had sparked hope of a breakthrough,
more than three months after Madeleine went missing.
It was claimed that two sniffer dogs from Britain and their police handlers
have found new clues at the apartment in Praia da Luz where she disappeared.
The focus of the inquiry was centred around Casa Liliana, which Mr Murat shares
with his elderly mother. He was on the premises at the weekend and has told
friends he welcomes the search, which he believes will reveal nothing except
his innocence.
Police remained silent over why they had searched Mr Murat's home a second
time.
"We have reached a phase in the investigation where we are trying to
evaluate everything," one Portuguese police source said.
"We are going through all the interviews, facts and clues - with the help
of British profilers - to ensure nothing has been missed or left out. At the
moment there is still only one arguido."
Police are yet to resolve alleged inconsistencies in statements given. Mr Murat
maintains that he was at home with his mother all evening when the girl was
snatched from her bed.
Meanwhile, Belgian police are investigating an alleged sighting at a café in
Tongeren.
They are awaiting results from DNA tests on a milkshake bottle and straw used
by a girl matching Madeleine's description.
One witness, a child therapist, said the couple were acting strangely and the
child seemed nervous. "It was obvious that the couple were not her
parents," she said.
The woman telephoned police but the trio left before officers arrived. |
