Murat's girlfriend 'spotted with Madeleine McCann'

Robert Murat's girlfriend 'spotted with Madeleine McCann'

THE SEARCH FOR Madeleine McCann stepped up again last night as police investigated a possible sighting of her with the girlfriend of suspect, Robert Murat.

A witness has come forward to say he saw Madeleine with a couple two days after she disappeared from the Portuguese holiday resort.

The witness has reportedly identified the woman as Mr Murat's German girlfriend, Michaela Walczuch.

The identity of this most recent witness has not been disclosed but he told Spanish detective agency, Metodo 3, which is working for the McCanns, that the couple he saw were behaving suspiciously and seemed to be trying to hide the child.

Detectives have taken the report seriously and have passed all details on to the Portuguese police.

They have linked the sighting to the McCann's friend, Jane Tanner's sighting, who said she saw a man carrying a child away from the McCann's apartment in Praia da Luz.

The private detectives hired by the McCanns said the latest sighting confirmed their belief that Madeleine is still alive and went on to say the McCanns were said to be 'extremely encouraged'.

Francisco Marco, the boss of Metodo 3 said: 'We are 100% sure she is alive. We are sure she was abducted. We are very, very close to finding the kidnapper.'

Tonight's Panorama special, The Mystery of Madeleine McCann, will reveal more behind the sighting and marks the 200th day since Madeleine was abducted on 3 May.

In a video diary in tonight's programme, Gerry McCann speaks of his fear that Madeleine's abductor had been watching the family for days.