Vile fantasist ties to sell 'dynamite' Madeleine McCann pics/The People

7 August 2008
Vile fantasist ties to sell 'dynamite' Madeleine McCann pics
Exclusive by James Millbank

Maddie McCann's parents are "devastated and furious" over a cruel bid to cash in on their anguish.

Grasping Duarte Levy demanded £50,000 for photographs he claims implicate Kate and Gerry in their daughter's disappearance.

The 23-stone Frenchman said the "dynamite" pictures showed Kate had changed clothes suspiciously the night Maddie vanished.

Despicable Levy also made the ludicrous claim that the 24 photos he was peddling cast doubt on what Gerry and one of the couple's Tapas 7 pals told Portuguese police.

Levy, who said he had close links to the cops, bragged outrageously: "These photos are a bombshell and will force the Maddie case to be re-opened."

The People refused his offers to sell the pictures - and told the McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell of Levy's preposterous claims.

Mr Mitchell branded Levy "a con man and fantastist".

He said: "Kate and Gerry are angry and upset that he is seeking to make money out of Madeleine - it is a disgrace.

"They are no longer suspects and he should not be trying to tarnish their reputation. We thank The People for exposing this man."

A People investigator met Levy in a Brussels hotel last week. Levy said: "I will sell the photos to the highest bidder. I got hold of them through my contacts."

Levy - who is in his 40s and claims to have homes in Spain, Belgium and London - said he had sold pictures and stories about Maddie for tens of thousands of pounds.

He said his new photos showed doctors Kate and Gerry, both 40, dining with their friends in Praia da Luz the night Maddie, then three, disappeared 15 months ago.

Levy claimed that Kate and one of the Tapas 7 changed their clothes.

He also alleged: "The photos were taken between about 8.10pm and 10.15pm and they show that the time lines made by Gerry McCann and another Tapas 7 friend are wrong.

They are dynamite." Levy cruelly scorned Kate and Gerry's belief that Maddie is still alive. He said: "I believe she died in that room during an accident and then her body was moved to a flat in the town where it was kept in a freezer."

The claim is categorically denied by the McCanns and police produced no evidence to support the theory. Levy said the pictures were taken by a Spanish tourist whose camera was later stolen.

He claimed a police source tipped him off after officers found the camera, which he then bought legally.

Levy also tried to convince The People that a well-known British legal firm offered him 600,000 euros (£512,800) for the photographs.

Bizarrely, he said he refused because the lawyers would not agree to his demand that the police should have copies of the pictures.

He also offered The People recordings he claimed to have of the McCanns' financial backer, double-glazing tycoon Brian Kennedy, in a private meeting with Portuguese police.

Mr Mitchell last night said he did not know if Kate changed her clothes and added: "If she did, so what?" He said: "It is no big deal that Mr Kennedy met the police.

"He is interested in all - aspects of the investigation. He is a very hands-on person."

A friend of the McCanns, of Rothley, Leics, said last night: "They have nothing to hide. It appears the Portuguese police are using Levy to leak negative material."

'Photos of couple are a bombshell...I will sell for highest offer'

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=vile-fantasist-ties-to-sell-dynamite-madeleine-mccann-pics&method=full&objectid=20701105&siteid=93463-name_page.html
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If these PJ had put all their energies into finding madeleine Instead of trying to incriminate the mccanns then this case might have been solved a long time ago.

How really insensitive can a person be..... Why does this person feel the need to sell these pictures.??The bla bla surrounding them is also a load of cr#p..he would need to make them sound really interesting so that potential buyers get tempted into an exclusive story with them. I suppose he as pictures of th cops flicking fag ash all over the place to??

All this guy is interested in is making a quick buck.And in order to do so he doesn't care who he hurts along the way. Even if it means a 5 year old girl suffers as a result.

Clairesy, utterly despicable. Do you know that this Duarte Levy is co-editor of Gazetta Digital edited by Paulo Reis? Don't know whether he is also connected with SOS.

He has campaigned along with Paulo Reis against the McCanns for such a long time, a man who the anti's hold in 'high regard'. pmsl. Yet what it has come down to is to make a fast buck on the back of a missing girl, Madeleine. Just what we have come to expect from the anti camp, so no surprise there then. :roll:

If this man has these photographs, why has he not given them to the police?

Why hasn't the police confiscated these pictures?

If he has these pictures then he is potentially withholding evidence about a crime.

More truth as if we need it that the PJ are still leaking this garbage against these parents and Paulo Rebelo is the lead, can't blame Amaral for this one, why doesn't Rebelo do something about this?

I hope Kate and Gerry sue this man Duartye Levy, who along with failed journalist Paulo Reis have spearheaded the most negative campaign containing fanciful unsubstantiated facts.

I also hope this is the catalyst they need to sue the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria. I think this is one leak too many.

Just unbelievable, if he had information concerning this case then he is duty bound to turn that information over to the PJ NOT try and sell it.

The fat pig Frenchman may not change his sweaty clothes much, but the rest of us do, especially when we are on holiday. Especially when we go out in early evening and it is still warm and then suddenly turns cold. this is just a complete nonsense.

How odd he came to get hold of a previously stolen camera and claims he now has it legally, perhaps Duarte Levy should be investigated? Why would a Spanish tourist decided to take a photograph of the tapas group anyway? For what possible reason? More rubbish designed to hurt this couple, it is time the libel writs started and I believe this will be the start of them, I hope Levy (and Reis) have ample bank accounts.