Madeleine suspect "a scapegoat"
Wednesday, 16 May 2007 10:40
Robert Murat says he is being made a scapegoat
The man labelled as the chief suspect in the search for missing youngster Madeleine McCann has claimed that Portuguese police are using him as "a scapegoat".
Protesting his innocence Robert Murat said that his life had been "ruined" as a result.
"This has ruined my life and made my life very difficult for my family here and in Britain," the Briton told Sky News in off-camera comments.
"The only way I will survive this is if they catch Madeleine's abductor," added Mr Murat - named by the media as the official suspect questioned on Monday by Portuguese detectives, who are themselves prevented from revealing his identity by law.
"I've been made a scapegoat for something I did not do," the former property developer insisted.
Yesterday the detective leading the hunt for four-year-old Leicestershire youngster Madeleine told journalists that there was not enough evidence to arrest a 33-year-old man police had officially classed as a suspect in their inquiry.
Olegario de Sousa confirmed that two people were also questioned as witnesses in the case and revealed that forensic teams had searched five houses in the search for the missing girl, who disappeared from a holiday apartment at the Praia da Luz resort in southern Portugal on May 3rd.
A villa belonging to Mr Murat's mother, which lies just 150 yards from where Madeleine was snatched, was among the properties searched by police.
Meanwhile the hunt for Madeleine will reach parliament today, with her aunt and uncle Philomena and John McCann set to lobby MPs and peers as part of the family's efforts to find the missing youngster.
Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate McCann have pledged to remain in Portugal while the hunt for their daughter continues.
The couple were dining at a restaurant close to their apartment in Praia da Luz when they returned to find the window open and their daughter missing.
In a public statement on Monday, the McCanns expressed their continued hope that Madeleine is alive and well.
"Until we have concrete evidence to the contrary, we believe Madeleine is safe and being looked after," Mr McCann said.
High-profile celebrities and businesspeople have donated a total of £2.5 million as a reward to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest over Madeleine's disappearance, including England footballer Wayne Rooney, Virgin chief Richard Branson and Harry Potter author JK Rowling.