MADELEINE MCCANN - DE NOVO EM PRIMEIRO PLANO

Madeleine McCann foi raptada por um homem semelhante a este?

O desapareciento de Madeleine McCann continua envolto num grande mistério.
O problema chave dos que defendem que foi morta é que não encontram o, eventual, cadáver.










«McCanns' Sketch Of Possible Abductor
Updated: 22:44, Thursday October 25, 2007

Sketches have been released of the man the parents of Madeleine McCann believe abducted their daughter.

Details recalled by McCanns' friendThey depict a man of southern European or Mediterranean appearance walking with a child in his arms.

It is understood the images were drawn by an FBI-trained forensic artist from the eyewitness account of Jane Tanner.

She was in the group of friends who dined with Gerry and Kate McCann on the evening the little girl disappeared.

She said she spotted the man striding from the area of the McCanns' apartment but had not realised the relevance of what she saw at the time.

The man is drawn by the artist with greasy, straggly hair, wearing a purple or maroon top and beige chinos.

He is aged about 35 to 40, 5ft 6in (1.7m) tall, and of slim build.

The child, with her legs dangling, is wearing the same pyjamas as Madeleine on the evening of May 3.

To ensure accuracy, where Jane Tanner could not be certain, the artist left details blank.

The release of the images, commissioned by private detectives working for the McCanns, was given the "tacit approval" of Portuguese police, said the McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell said: "This is another important phase of our investigation into Madeleine's abduction and we hope that this picture will be a very important reminder to anyone who was in the area on that night who may have seen this man.

"We believe that this was Madeleine being carried away by a man from the apartment, so we place great importance on having these pictures produced.

"Anyone who knows this man should contact our confidential phone line immediately."

The forensic artist who created the images is not being named but she is a world renowned specialist, Mr Mitchell added.

It is now almost six months since Madeleine went missing from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz.

In a fresh bid for information, the couple have announced details of a new confidential 24-hour phone.

Manned by private detectives and targeted at Spain, Portugal and north Africa, it has already brought people forward, the family say. The number is: +34 902 300213.»


(In «Sky News» o.l.)