Both Murat and his Russian associate ( Kaplinka?) need the real culprit caught if they are to resume normal life. Yes, mud sticks and if they are innocent and the culprit isn't caught they will suffer a kind of hell. But nothing compared to that which the Mc Canns are suffering.

The whole story has been a media frenzy, and although the media help keep Madeleine in the publics thoughts, their presence and the tit bits of unsubstantiated 'fact' they throw around brings out the worst in some people.

The consequences of error can be so huge, that finger pointing becomes obscene and I think this is one of them times. It has divided us this side of the pond - the ones who wait for news and the ones who have their knitting ready for the public flogging.