Sir Peter Blake's killer confesses

MACAPA, Brazil - Police say a 23-year-old man - Ricardo Tavares - has confessed to killing New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake.

All seven pirates - known locally as 'Water Rats' - in the Brazilian town of Macapa have confessed to storming the research vessel Seamaster on Wednesday night after Blake, 53, and his crew had returned from dinner ashore.

Police arrested the suspects after questioning a man with a gunshot wound to the hand. The wounded man is reported to have confessed and named his accomplices.

Police are still searching for an eighth man, 20-year-old Rubens da Silva Souza, who allegedly ferried the assailants to Sir Peter's boat.

Sir Peter Blake - two-time winner of the America's Cup - fired a rifle at the bandits before being shot twice in the back, police said.

The seven were arrested after a manhunt was launched on the "express orders" of Brazil's president Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Federal Police agent Jose Araujo said the suspects claimed they fired in self-defence.

"They said they didn't know anyone famous was aboard and they weren't expecting any resistance.

"They were probably attracted by the boat's shiny appearance. They saw it was a rare boat, owned by a foreigner so they figured there was money aboard and lots of expensive equipment," Araujo said.

Also arrested were Janio Gomes, 41, Jucelino Rocha Filho, 24, Israel Pantoja da Costa, 27, Jose Irandi Cardoso, 25, Rene Macedo, 21, and Antonio de Lima, whose age was not provided.

Local television showed images of the young-looking handcuffed men in police custody, one wearing a bandage over a bleeding wound, and a bounty of watches and money that they had allegedly taken from the boat.

Seamaster was on a two-month environmental awareness expedition thousands of miles up the Amazon and was at anchor awaiting customs clearance to depart Brazil when the attack happened. Macapa, the Amapa state capital, is near the mouth of the Amazon River on the equator.

- REUTERS

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