By: CECÍLIA PIRES
[email protected]galresident.com
PORTUGUESE POLICE have not commented on the release of a new sketch of a man that was allegedly seen in Praia da Luz around the time that Madeleine McCann disappeared.
A spokesperson from Polícia Judiciária told The Resident that the PJ “is not commenting on any aspect of the investigation until it feels that it is appropriate”, referring to the new sketch released by Madeleine’s parents via the Find Madeleine website.
Meanwhile, the PJ is still waiting for a response to letters sent to the British police at the beginning of the year. The letters, containing many questions the PJ want answered, are designed to clarify some of the testimonies made by Gerry and Kate McCann as well as some of the friends who were with them at the holiday resort in May.
The new sketch was released on Sunday and is based on the information provided by Gail Cooper, a holidaymaker who stayed near the Ocean Club apartment from where Madeleine disappeared.
According to Gerry McCann, Gail Cooper “found the man, who claimed to be collecting for an orphanage, very intimidating”. He said that, after hearing Gail’s testimony, their private investigators commissioned a forensic sketch by an FBI trained artist.
Gerry also said that their friend Jane Tanner, who says she saw a man carrying a child on the night of May 3, feels he has a strong resemblance to that man.
According to Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCann family, the sketch had a “tremendous impact” on the public, with thousands of phone calls reporting mixed information about the possible new suspect.
And on Tuesday the UK’s Daily Mail reported that a phone witness has said he saw Robert Murat, who is also arguido on the case, talking with someone looking like the man in the sketch at the time Madeleine went missing.
Clarence Mitchell told Sky News that they just “believe this man could be linked to Madeleine’s disappearance”, adding that “if he’s innocent we want him to come forward for his own sake so he can be ruled out”. Clarence Mitchell also denied rumours that Método 3, the Spanish private investigators agency, had been sacked by the McCanns.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann, please contact the McCann helpline on 0034 902 300 213 or the Portuguese Police on 00351 282 405 400.
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