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McCanns seek 'Beckham lookalike' | McCanns seek 'Beckham lookalike' |
(9 minutes later) | |
Private detectives hired by Madeleine McCann's parents want to trace a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian accent. | Private detectives hired by Madeleine McCann's parents want to trace a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian accent. |
The woman is being sought because of something she said to a British man who met her in Barcelona several days after Madeleine went missing. | The woman is being sought because of something she said to a British man who met her in Barcelona several days after Madeleine went missing. |
Former detective inspector Dave Edgar said it was a "significant" lead. | Former detective inspector Dave Edgar said it was a "significant" lead. |
Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she went missing from a holiday flat in Portugal on 3 May 2007. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she went missing from a holiday flat in Portugal on 3 May 2007. |
Brief conversation | Brief conversation |
At a press conference in London, Mr Edgar and the McCann's spokesman Clarence Mitchell went into more detail about the incident and also provided an e-fit of the woman they said was not a "suspect". Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann did not attend. | At a press conference in London, Mr Edgar and the McCann's spokesman Clarence Mitchell went into more detail about the incident and also provided an e-fit of the woman they said was not a "suspect". Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann did not attend. |
Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell describes the new suspect investigators are looking for | |
Two British men first saw the woman when they were drinking in bars in Barcelona's Port Olimpic Marina early in the morning on 7 May 2007. | Two British men first saw the woman when they were drinking in bars in Barcelona's Port Olimpic Marina early in the morning on 7 May 2007. |
She was said to be well-dressed but appeared agitated and kept walking up and down outside the El Ray de la Gamba restaurant bar, apparently waiting for somebody. | She was said to be well-dressed but appeared agitated and kept walking up and down outside the El Ray de la Gamba restaurant bar, apparently waiting for somebody. |
One of the witnesses, a 41-year-old British man, had a brief conversation with her in which she apparently thought he was the person she was scheduled to meet. | One of the witnesses, a 41-year-old British man, had a brief conversation with her in which she apparently thought he was the person she was scheduled to meet. |
She said something to him that has made the McCanns' private detectives think she may know something about Madeleine, who went missing from Praia Da Luz in the Algarve. | She said something to him that has made the McCanns' private detectives think she may know something about Madeleine, who went missing from Praia Da Luz in the Algarve. |
The witnesses said the woman was aged between 30 and 35, 5ft 2in and of slim build. She also speaks either fluent Spanish or Catalan. | The witnesses said the woman was aged between 30 and 35, 5ft 2in and of slim build. She also speaks either fluent Spanish or Catalan. |
She was last seen walking away towards a local hospital and more distant ferry and cruise ship terminals. | She was last seen walking away towards a local hospital and more distant ferry and cruise ship terminals. |
Pursuing leads | Pursuing leads |
Mr Edgar said the main witness was "very credible" and was described as a professional in a senior position. | Mr Edgar said the main witness was "very credible" and was described as a professional in a senior position. |
The former policeman would not be drawn on why it had taken the man two years to come forward, only to say it was for "personal reasons". | The former policeman would not be drawn on why it had taken the man two years to come forward, only to say it was for "personal reasons". |
Madeleine was three when she went missing from a holiday flat in Portugal | |
He said: "We are satisfied that he is a very credible witness and the account he's given is clear and concise." | He said: "We are satisfied that he is a very credible witness and the account he's given is clear and concise." |
Mr Edgar would also not divulge the details of the conversation but said he had spent two days in Barcelona following up some lines of inquiry. | Mr Edgar would also not divulge the details of the conversation but said he had spent two days in Barcelona following up some lines of inquiry. |
Mr Mitchell said Kate and Gerry McCann "neither get their hopes nor down" but they were "praying this was the piece of the jigsaw" that would help find Madeleine. | Mr Mitchell said Kate and Gerry McCann "neither get their hopes nor down" but they were "praying this was the piece of the jigsaw" that would help find Madeleine. |
He said: "They are searching for Madeleine with every breath they have got. They will not give up until they find out what happened to her." | He said: "They are searching for Madeleine with every breath they have got. They will not give up until they find out what happened to her." |
Mr Edgar and a second retired British detective, Arthur Cowley, were hired by the McCanns to continue the search for their daughter after the official Portuguese investigation was shelved in July last year. | Mr Edgar and a second retired British detective, Arthur Cowley, were hired by the McCanns to continue the search for their daughter after the official Portuguese investigation was shelved in July last year. |
The two former policemen have visited a number of European countries in the pursuit of leads. | The two former policemen have visited a number of European countries in the pursuit of leads. |
This week Leicestershire Police said it had spent almost £750,000 assisting the Portuguese police in their inquiry. | This week Leicestershire Police said it had spent almost £750,000 assisting the Portuguese police in their inquiry. |