Paedophile agrees to quizzing in Maddy probe
Wednesday May 27 2009
Retired British detectives searching for Madeleine McCann yesterday welcomed convicted paedophile Raymond Hewlett's offer to answer their questions.
The two ex-policemen, employed by Gerry and Kate McCann, hope to interview the 64-year-old about her disappearance in the "near future", a source said.
Hewlett, who lived at various addresses in Ireland during the '80s and '90s, is said to have been staying around an hour's drive from the McCanns' holiday flat in Praia da Luz, Portugal, when Madeleine vanished in May 2007.
Over the weekend, the family's private investigators -- Dave Edgar and Arthur Cowley -- flew to Aachen in Germany, where Hewlett is being treated in hospital for cancer.
They had hoped to quiz him about his movements around the time that Madeleine went missing. But having failed to gain access to him, they returned to the UK yesterday.
Involvement
Hewlett emerged from the hospital in a wheelchair yesterday and was confronted by journalists. He again denied having any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance, but told reporters he would speak to the McCanns' detectives.
McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "The investigators are pleased to hear that Mr Hewlett has agreed to speak to them. An interview with him will be arranged and will take place in due course.
"Mr Hewlett has again denied any involvement in Madeleine's abduction, and if it helps to eliminate him from the private investigation, then he has done the right thing by indicating that he will speak to the investigators helping the McCanns."
- Sam Marsden in Aachen
