(+1) 647 931 2711Private detectives hired by the McCann’s to find missing child Madeleine, are in Germany trying to get a DNA sample from known pedophile Raymond Hewlett.
Arriving in Aachen, Germany, on Sunday night, the two ex-policemen, hired by Gerry and Kate McCann, are hoping to interview the 64-year-old man to find out what his connection is in the abduction of their daughter.
Mr Hewlett is currently in Germany, under investigation from the authorities in association with his son’s death in a car accident, and may be asked to submit a DNA sample as part of their inquiry.
Mr Hewlett is not legally required to speak to the private investigators; however he may do so in an effort to clear his name from the investigation.
Mr Hewlett, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, was allegedly living just an hour away from Praia da Luz, and the flat where Madeleine was staying with her family, at the time of her disappearance in May 2007.
During the original investigation, DNA evidence was taken from the McCann’s holiday apartment, some of which have never been identified.
According to the Daily Mirror, the detectives are also hoping for access to Mr Hewlett’s mobile phone records to establish whether he was in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine disappeared.
West Yorkshire Police are also keen to interview Mr Hewlett, who has lived in Blackpool and Telford, in connection with an indecent assault case dating back to 1975.
The McCann’s are hoping that police officers will facilitate a meeting between Mr Hewlett and their investigators, once they have conducted their interviews. Sources close to the McCann’s have said that this meeting could take place as early as Monday this week.
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for Gerry and Kate McCann, said: “Mr Hewlett has denied any involvement in Madeleine’s abduction.
“Our investigators hope he will co-operate by giving them whatever information is needed so they can eliminate him from their investigation.
“It is clear that the man is ill and it is clear he has information that our investigators need.”
Mr Hewlett is currently in intensive care, recovering from throat cancer surgery, and it has been reported that security in the hospital he is staying at has been heightened since it was revealed that there may be a connection to the Madeleine McCann investigation.
Mr Hewlett has several previous convictions for sexual offences against young girls, and British police have been trying to locate him for questioning.
Madeleine McCann was not quite four years old when she was abducted from her family’s holiday apartment in May 2007. Her parents were having dinner at nearby friends and had left Madeleine and her twin brothers asleep in their flat, unaccompanied. Now, two years on, despite a massive police investigation, various sightings and worldwide media coverage, Madeleine has still not been found.
Dave Edgar, a former RUC and Cheshire Police officer, and Arthur Cowley, previously of Merseyside Police, who run Alpha Investigations Group are now leading the search after being hired by the Find Madeleine Fund.
June 2009
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