Madeleine McCann: Robert Murat Wins Damages
MADDIE WATCH – Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
ROBERT Murat, the one-eyed, “oddball“, “weirdo“, “bouncy castle” fetishist, fingered by the Sunday Mirror’s Lori Campbell, has settled a claim for damages with a number of British newspapers over allegations of his involvement in the Madeleine McCann inquiry.
Mr Murat will be in the High Court in London on Thursday to receive apologies from the newspapers.
Did he get £1million? Did they all apologise?
The Sun’s Julie Moult considers the evidence. And delivers a piece entitled “stories of a fantasist”. “He always seemed so eager to get involved in the police investigation,” says the Sun’s woman–on-the-scene. “Robert claimed he had a daughter just like Madeleine and said he felt compelled to do anything he could. But to me he seemed like classic fantasist.”
The settlement is with eight UK national newspapers, with damages totalling between £250,000 and £500,000, according to Sky News.
The Mail’s Neil Sears also spots Murat. In “My encounters with a man ‘who just wanted to help’”, Sears tells Mail readers, “There was something more to the friendly expat who called himself ‘Rob’ than met the eye.”
The Sunday Mirror’s Lori Cambell who alerted police to Murat’s behaviour, she saw as “creepy”. She todl the police. But why did she tell the world?
Paul Titcombe had worked with Murat, and the Sun duly noted:
“Paul also suspected Murat had an unhealthy interest in children,” notes the Sun. Interesting. But, sadly, the Sun does not enlarge on this. The usually loquacious Titcombe is not quoted. Examples are not cited.
And:
The Sun hears from Murat’s former work colleague Ji Stanton. Says he: “If he didn’t take his medication, he could be very Jekyll and Hyde. People did see him as creepy.”
The Express topped the lot by comparing an innocent Murat to Soham killer Ian Huntley.
“Kidnapping has weird echoes of Soham case,” says the Express’s front page. “MADDY SUSPECT BEHAVED JUST LIKE HUNTLEY.”
Tuck Price defended Murat when they pointed the finger, and Kate McCann wondered, before the tabloids cleared him. Berore he killed himself. Before he became another Michael Cook. Jenny Murat remained steadfast. We watched his girlfriend.
Max Clifford. Calling Max Clifford…
Posted: 15th, July 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (336) | TrackBack | Permalink
