Maddie suspect on verge of death

9 December 2009
The Sun
Allan Hall

A convicted paedophile who could hold the key to what happened to Maddie McCann is close to death. Private detectives acting for her family want to quiz Raymond Hewlett, 64, who lives in Aachen, Germany. But Hewlett's lawyer says he is in the final throes of throat cancer and can no longer speak. Detlev Wagner said: "He could not talk to them even if he wanted to. He does not have long for this world."

Now Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry, both 41, of Rothley, Leics, fear he could take the secrets of their daughter's disappearance to his grave. Hewlett, who hails from Todmorden, West Yorks, has multiple convictions for offences against children. He has admitted he was in the Algarve during May, 2007, when Maddie, then three, was snatched.

But he insisted: "I didn't kill the McCann girl. It's the truth."

Can't talk... Hewlett