Police seeking couple who entered McCann Apt to comfort crying Madeleine

[AnneGuedes]

The fact of being around the G5 in the middle of the night isn't in itself criminal. Many were there. What sounded suspicious was that Robert M denied he was there. Now, as I believe the TP3 who said they saw him aren't lying, as they maintained this accusation in July after being physically confronted to him, whom did they see ?
If the PJ had had time, if they didn't have all their forces focused on the search for Madeleine, if mainly Martin Smith hadn't firmly stated the carrier wasn't Robert M, they would, as the TP3 were so categoric, have found some lookalike men, asked Robert M to stay in line with them and asked the TP3 (separately) to choose the right man. To organize such a parade is time (and money).

[Redblossom]

  Fiona payne reckons he introduced himself as robert murat, she was adamant, liar or not?


A I say, I'd been to'ing and fro'ing between the front and the back and I'd come out of the front, really just to see if anyone knew, had any information of what was happening, and, erm, Robert MURAT actually walked over to me and shook my hand and introduced himself, erm, and told me that he was, that he was a local, he was working with the Police and he spoke Portuguese and if I needed any help or wanted any help with translation then, erm, you know, he'll be there to help us. And I withdrew from him, I didn't, I don't know why specifically I remember him, I mean, I haven't got a very good memory for faces, I think the others will say, or people, but I remember him very clearly, because he looked a bit strange and he had a squint, he had glasses, he appeared as if he was with the Police, because he was standing in front of all these uniformed Police, and maybe it was my assumption that he was with them, erm, yet he was saying he was a local, and I didn't quite, in my mind, I said, well how come you're a local living down the road and you're here in plain clothes yet you're saying you're with the Police, it didn't, it just seemed a bit odd, erm, and he seemed overly in my face, I can't think of a better way of putting it, he was very quite sort of almost forceful in his introduction and, you know, at that point I was sort of almost trying to steer people away from the apartment, any extra people that weren't really needed in there, just because of what was going on inside and Kate's state, so I didn't really want somebody who I didn't know, erm, in there, erm, and I think I said in my previous statement to the PJ, there was just something that made me uneasy'.

Yes ms fiona
Yes ms fiona every single person there that night who actually  KNEW robert murat including police said he wasnt there, so YOu who didnt know him decided he was, along with a few other non entities pfffttt

[registrar]

This is probably banal

But a grown chap talking all night to his mum in the kitchen?

Never rang true for me.

'Hi mum - how was your day - Good son, bought some new bedding for the dogs - ah ok mum I'll have some of that soup on the stove - and do some work on the computer after - sure son, I'll watch the news now'

all of 30 seconds and far more believable than talking to your mum all night in the kitchen 

(And I will not rehash Jenny's little confession box by the seaside - else I'd bore myself)

[Redblossom]

If a grown up chap lives at home still its natural he could be at home chatting to his mum

[icabodcrane]

I see that the Daily Mail, who had originally run with the  'Cleaners are suspects'  story, are now hitching themselves to the Express's petticoats and are also reporting the  'Couple who went into the McCann's apartement to comfort a crying Madeleine'  revelation

What is the  'source'  of this story,  I wonder  ...  I really can't believe that, post Leveson,  (  and half a million pounds  worth of damages later )   the tabloids would be as cavalier as to run with this,   unless  there was a credible and defensible reason for doing so

[AnneGuedes]

I see that the Daily Mail, who had originally run with the  'Cleaners are suspects'  story, are now hitching themselves to the Express's petticoats and are also reporting the  'Couple who went into the McCann's apartement to comfort a crying Madeleine'  revelation

What is the  'source'  of this story,  I wonder  ...  I really can't believe that, post Leveson,  (  and half a million pounds  worth of damages later )   the tabloids would be as cavalier as to run with this,   unless  there was a credible and defensible reason for doing so

Not only they give a wrong date (the 2nd) but they assume Mrs Fenn was home on that evening, whereas she said she wasn't. Luckily Rachael, who felt sick on the 2nd, was in her bedroom on the other side of the wall close to Madeleine's head. She heard nothing and said that when her baby cried very early morning and had to have a bath, the McCanns couldn't but notice it.

[Benice]

Fiona payne reckons he introduced himself as robert murat, she was adamant, liar or not?


A I say, I'd been to'ing and fro'ing between the front and the back and I'd come out of the front, really just to see if anyone knew, had any information of what was happening, and, erm, Robert MURAT actually walked over to me and shook my hand and introduced himself, erm, and told me that he was, that he was a local, he was working with the Police and he spoke Portuguese and if I needed any help or wanted any help with translation then, erm, you know, he'll be there to help us. And I withdrew from him, I didn't, I don't know why specifically I remember him, I mean, I haven't got a very good memory for faces, I think the others will say, or people, but I remember him very clearly, because he looked a bit strange and he had a squint, he had glasses, he appeared as if he was with the Police, because he was standing in front of all these uniformed Police, and maybe it was my assumption that he was with them, erm, yet he was saying he was a local, and I didn't quite, in my mind, I said, well how come you're a local living down the road and you're here in plain clothes yet you're saying you're with the Police, it didn't, it just seemed a bit odd, erm, and he seemed overly in my face, I can't think of a better way of putting it, he was very quite sort of almost forceful in his introduction and, you know, at that point I was sort of almost trying to steer people away from the apartment, any extra people that weren't really needed in there, just because of what was going on inside and Kate's state, so I didn't really want somebody who I didn't know, erm, in there, erm, and I think I said in my previous statement to the PJ, there was just something that made me uneasy'.

Yes ms fiona
Yes ms fiona every single person there that night who actually  KNEW robert murat including police said he wasnt there, so YOu who didnt know him decided he was, along with a few other non entities pfffttt

Why would she make up such a unnecessarily complicated lie - filled with all kinds of details which she would have to remember.  That makes no sense.    If she didn't see him but decided to lie and say she did - then why not just say ''I saw him standing in front of a group of policemen'' and leave it at that.

I'm absolutely sure that Robert Murat had nothing to do with Madeleine's abduction, but I do think it's possible he may have panicked and denied ever being at the scene when he realised the PJ finger was pointing at him.   And then having said that - he had to stick to it.     I do think he may have popped out when he heard the 'sirens' - as from what I've read about him I get the impresson he is the type who would want to know everything that's going on - and to be in the middle of it. 

The fact that he wasn't seen by people who knew him isn't proof that he wasn't there.   The fact that 7 people in total said they saw him that night is far more relevant   IMO






 

[ferryman]

Fiona payne reckons he introduced himself as robert murat, she was adamant, liar or not?


A I say, I'd been to'ing and fro'ing between the front and the back and I'd come out of the front, really just to see if anyone knew, had any information of what was happening, and, erm, Robert MURAT actually walked over to me and shook my hand and introduced himself, erm, and told me that he was, that he was a local, he was working with the Police and he spoke Portuguese and if I needed any help or wanted any help with translation then, erm, you know, he'll be there to help us. And I withdrew from him, I didn't, I don't know why specifically I remember him, I mean, I haven't got a very good memory for faces, I think the others will say, or people, but I remember him very clearly, because he looked a bit strange and he had a squint, he had glasses, he appeared as if he was with the Police, because he was standing in front of all these uniformed Police, and maybe it was my assumption that he was with them, erm, yet he was saying he was a local, and I didn't quite, in my mind, I said, well how come you're a local living down the road and you're here in plain clothes yet you're saying you're with the Police, it didn't, it just seemed a bit odd, erm, and he seemed overly in my face, I can't think of a better way of putting it, he was very quite sort of almost forceful in his introduction and, you know, at that point I was sort of almost trying to steer people away from the apartment, any extra people that weren't really needed in there, just because of what was going on inside and Kate's state, so I didn't really want somebody who I didn't know, erm, in there, erm, and I think I said in my previous statement to the PJ, there was just something that made me uneasy'.

Yes ms fiona
Yes ms fiona every single person there that night who actually  KNEW robert murat including police said he wasnt there, so YOu who didnt know him decided he was, along with a few other non entities pfffttt

Why would she make up such a unnecessarily complicated lie - filled with all kinds of details which she would have to remember.  That makes no sense.    If she didn't see him but decided to lie and say she did - then why not just say ''I saw him standing in front of a group of policemen'' and leave it at that.

I'm absolutely sure that Robert Murat had nothing to do with Madeleine's abduction, but I do think it's possible he may have panicked and denied ever being at the scene when he realised the PJ finger was pointing at him.   And then having said that - he had to stick to it.     I do think he may have popped out when he heard the 'sirens' - as from what I've read about him I get the impresson he is the type who would want to know everything that's going on - and to be in the middle of it. 

The fact that he wasn't seen by people who knew him isn't proof that he wasn't there.   The fact that 7 people in total said they saw him that night is far more relevant   IMO






 

The Times (now, sadly, subscription only) ran two, excellent articles about Robert Murat, one by Matthew Parris, the other a profile.

The profile in particular gave testimony, except in a positive way, to the sort of person Robert Murat is, the type of person most people would die for as a neighbour precisely because of his qualities who wants to help, wants to be involved, would think nothing of being woken in the middle of the night to change a light bulb for someone, almost over-exuberant and friendly.

It's not hard to see how such qualities, against the backdrop of something as sinister as a missing and abducted little girl, might be misconstrued and misrepresented.

I know the Matthew piece is around on line.  I'll see if I can find the profile.

[sadie]

   @ Benice

[Benice]

Fiona payne reckons he introduced himself as robert murat, she was adamant, liar or not?


A I say, I'd been to'ing and fro'ing between the front and the back and I'd come out of the front, really just to see if anyone knew, had any information of what was happening, and, erm, Robert MURAT actually walked over to me and shook my hand and introduced himself, erm, and told me that he was, that he was a local, he was working with the Police and he spoke Portuguese and if I needed any help or wanted any help with translation then, erm, you know, he'll be there to help us. And I withdrew from him, I didn't, I don't know why specifically I remember him, I mean, I haven't got a very good memory for faces, I think the others will say, or people, but I remember him very clearly, because he looked a bit strange and he had a squint, he had glasses, he appeared as if he was with the Police, because he was standing in front of all these uniformed Police, and maybe it was my assumption that he was with them, erm, yet he was saying he was a local, and I didn't quite, in my mind, I said, well how come you're a local living down the road and you're here in plain clothes yet you're saying you're with the Police, it didn't, it just seemed a bit odd, erm, and he seemed overly in my face, I can't think of a better way of putting it, he was very quite sort of almost forceful in his introduction and, you know, at that point I was sort of almost trying to steer people away from the apartment, any extra people that weren't really needed in there, just because of what was going on inside and Kate's state, so I didn't really want somebody who I didn't know, erm, in there, erm, and I think I said in my previous statement to the PJ, there was just something that made me uneasy'.

Yes ms fiona
Yes ms fiona every single person there that night who actually  KNEW robert murat including police said he wasnt there, so YOu who didnt know him decided he was, along with a few other non entities pfffttt

Why would she make up such a unnecessarily complicated lie - filled with all kinds of details which she would have to remember.  That makes no sense.    If she didn't see him but decided to lie and say she did - then why not just say ''I saw him standing in front of a group of policemen'' and leave it at that.

I'm absolutely sure that Robert Murat had nothing to do with Madeleine's abduction, but I do think it's possible he may have panicked and denied ever being at the scene when he realised the PJ finger was pointing at him.   And then having said that - he had to stick to it.     I do think he may have popped out when he heard the 'sirens' - as from what I've read about him I get the impresson he is the type who would want to know everything that's going on - and to be in the middle of it. 

The fact that he wasn't seen by people who knew him isn't proof that he wasn't there.   The fact that 7 people in total said they saw him that night is far more relevant   IMO






 

The Times (now, sadly, subscription only) ran two, excellent articles about Robert Murat, one by Matthew Parris, the other a profile.

The profile in particular gave testimony, except in a positive way, to the sort of person Robert Murat is, the type of person most people would die for as a neighbour precisely because of his qualities who wants to help, wants to be involved, would think nothing of being woken in the middle of the night to change a light bulb for someone, almost over-exuberant and friendly.

It's not hard to see how such qualities, against the backdrop of something as sinister as a missing and abducted little girl, might be misconstrued and misrepresented.

I know the Matthew piece is around on line.  I'll see if I can find the profile.

Thanks Ferryman.   I was trying to think of a word to describe him -  my first thought was 'busybody' - but that does have an a negative vibe to it which is not how I see him  Then I thought of 'do-gooder' but unfortunately that description is not normally used in a positive way either.   I still havent thought of an appropriate word. 

I entirely agree that his choice to involve himself so deeply in this case from the start, albeit with benign intentions, could be misconstrued.




 

[sadie]

Sounds as tho he is like his mum then.  She tried to help and it was misconstrued.

[AnneGuedes]

It's not hard to see how such qualities, against the backdrop of something as sinister as a missing and abducted little girl, might be misconstrued and misrepresented.

I know the Matthew piece is around on line.  I'll see if I can find the profile.

Try to find it, please Ferryman, this is how I always understood Robert M was. Not at all the guy who "panicks and denies etc.", to say nothing of Fiona and Co really absent-minded (but with severe consequences ; they were very lucky Robert M didn't sue them for confirming he was the one) statements.

[AnneGuedes]

The fact that he wasn't seen by people who knew him isn't proof that he wasn't there.   The fact that 7 people in total said they saw him that night is far more relevant   IMO

Please provide a link to the 4 others, Benice.




 

[Carana]

Fiona payne reckons he introduced himself as robert murat, she was adamant, liar or not?


A I say, I'd been to'ing and fro'ing between the front and the back and I'd come out of the front, really just to see if anyone knew, had any information of what was happening, and, erm, Robert MURAT actually walked over to me and shook my hand and introduced himself, erm, and told me that he was, that he was a local, he was working with the Police and he spoke Portuguese and if I needed any help or wanted any help with translation then, erm, you know, he'll be there to help us. And I withdrew from him, I didn't, I don't know why specifically I remember him, I mean, I haven't got a very good memory for faces, I think the others will say, or people, but I remember him very clearly, because he looked a bit strange and he had a squint, he had glasses, he appeared as if he was with the Police, because he was standing in front of all these uniformed Police, and maybe it was my assumption that he was with them, erm, yet he was saying he was a local, and I didn't quite, in my mind, I said, well how come you're a local living down the road and you're here in plain clothes yet you're saying you're with the Police, it didn't, it just seemed a bit odd, erm, and he seemed overly in my face, I can't think of a better way of putting it, he was very quite sort of almost forceful in his introduction and, you know, at that point I was sort of almost trying to steer people away from the apartment, any extra people that weren't really needed in there, just because of what was going on inside and Kate's state, so I didn't really want somebody who I didn't know, erm, in there, erm, and I think I said in my previous statement to the PJ, there was just something that made me uneasy'.

Yes ms fiona
Yes ms fiona every single person there that night who actually  KNEW robert murat including police said he wasnt there, so YOu who didnt know him decided he was, along with a few other non entities pfffttt

Why would she make up such a unnecessarily complicated lie - filled with all kinds of details which she would have to remember.  That makes no sense.    If she didn't see him but decided to lie and say she did - then why not just say ''I saw him standing in front of a group of policemen'' and leave it at that.

I'm absolutely sure that Robert Murat had nothing to do with Madeleine's abduction, but I do think it's possible he may have panicked and denied ever being at the scene when he realised the PJ finger was pointing at him.   And then having said that - he had to stick to it.     I do think he may have popped out when he heard the 'sirens' - as from what I've read about him I get the impresson he is the type who would want to know everything that's going on - and to be in the middle of it. 

The fact that he wasn't seen by people who knew him isn't proof that he wasn't there.   The fact that 7 people in total said they saw him that night is far more relevant   IMO






 

The Times (now, sadly, subscription only) ran two, excellent articles about Robert Murat, one by Matthew Parris, the other a profile.

The profile in particular gave testimony, except in a positive way, to the sort of person Robert Murat is, the type of person most people would die for as a neighbour precisely because of his qualities who wants to help, wants to be involved, would think nothing of being woken in the middle of the night to change a light bulb for someone, almost over-exuberant and friendly.

It's not hard to see how such qualities, against the backdrop of something as sinister as a missing and abducted little girl, might be misconstrued and misrepresented.

I know the Matthew piece is around on line.  I'll see if I can find the profile.

Thanks Ferryman.   I was trying to think of a word to describe him -  my first thought was 'busybody' - but that does have an a negative vibe to it which is not how I see him  Then I thought of 'do-gooder' but unfortunately that description is not normally used in a positive way either.   I still havent thought of an appropriate word. 

I entirely agree that his choice to involve himself so deeply in this case from the start, albeit with benign intentions, could be misconstrued.

Community-spirited?

[AnneGuedes]

Community-spirited?

Sounds like it  ;)