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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Police quiz Madeleine's mother | Police quiz Madeleine's mother |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Portuguese police have interviewed Kate McCann, mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine, for 11 hours. | |
| Her husband Gerry is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May. | |
| Mrs McCann had been interviewed before by police, but this was the first time her lawyer had been present. | |
| She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have said the McCanns are not suspects. | |
| Separately, Portuguese detectives confirmed they had the partial results of forensic tests by a UK laboratory. | Separately, Portuguese detectives confirmed they had the partial results of forensic tests by a UK laboratory. |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. | |
| Blood traces | Blood traces |
| Mrs McCann was driven to the police station in the Algarve by her husband, arriving at 1400 local time (1400 BST). She entered the police station with her sister-in-law. | Mrs McCann was driven to the police station in the Algarve by her husband, arriving at 1400 local time (1400 BST). She entered the police station with her sister-in-law. |
| Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events Justine McGuinness,McCann family spokeswoman | Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events Justine McGuinness,McCann family spokeswoman |
| In a statement released before the interview, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." | In a statement released before the interview, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police." |
| She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." | She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited." |
| Family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness, speaking shortly after Mrs McCann entered the police station, said: "Kate and Gerry are happy to help the police in their investigations to find their daughter Madeleine, as they have been since she was taken. | Family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness, speaking shortly after Mrs McCann entered the police station, said: "Kate and Gerry are happy to help the police in their investigations to find their daughter Madeleine, as they have been since she was taken. |
| "Kate continues to believe that Madeleine is still alive, and to hope and pray that she will be returned soon. | "Kate continues to believe that Madeleine is still alive, and to hope and pray that she will be returned soon. |
| "Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events." | "Kate is a loving, gentle mother - one of the victims in an extraordinary and terrible set of events." |
| Mrs McCann emerged from the police station at about 0100 local time (0100 BST). | Mrs McCann emerged from the police station at about 0100 local time (0100 BST). |
| Her lawyer, Carlos Pinto de Abreu, made a brief statement in which he stressed she was treated as a witness throughout the questioning and that work to find Madeleine was ongoing. | Her lawyer, Carlos Pinto de Abreu, made a brief statement in which he stressed she was treated as a witness throughout the questioning and that work to find Madeleine was ongoing. |
| Mr McCann is expected to attend Portimao police station at about 1400 local time (1400 BST) on Friday to be formally interviewed. | |
| Blood traces | Blood traces |
| Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. | Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment. |
| The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them. | The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them. |
| Madeleine was last seen on 3 May | Madeleine was last seen on 3 May |
| Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details. | Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details. |
| Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. | Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which claimed they killed their daughter. |
| A public statement from the director of police followed, saying the McCanns had never been viewed as suspects. | A public statement from the director of police followed, saying the McCanns had never been viewed as suspects. |
| The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. | The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter. |
| The only person officially regarded as a suspect by police is Briton Robert Murat. He has not been arrested or charged. | The only person officially regarded as a suspect by police is Briton Robert Murat. He has not been arrested or charged. |
| He told BBC correspondent Richard Bilton that he had not had contact with the police for a few weeks. | He told BBC correspondent Richard Bilton that he had not had contact with the police for a few weeks. |