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| Police 'suspect McCann parents' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The father of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann has been declared an arguido, or formal suspect, by Portuguese police, his lawyer has said. | |
| Gerry McCann's wife Kate had previously been given the same status. | |
| Earlier, a family spokesman told reporters that Portuguese officers believe that Kate McCann accidentally killed her daughter. | |
| It is understood Kate McCann refused to "cut a deal" of two years in prison in exchange for a confession. | |
| She underwent a second day of questioning on Friday at police headquarters in Portimao. | |
| Under Portuguese law, police are not allowed to publicly give details of ongoing investigations. | Under Portuguese law, police are not allowed to publicly give details of ongoing investigations. |
| Mr McCann's sister, Philomena, claimed the Portuguese police had offered Kate McCann a "deal" if she made a confession. | Mr McCann's sister, Philomena, claimed the Portuguese police had offered Kate McCann a "deal" if she made a confession. |
| "What the Portuguese police have tried to do is get Kate to confess that she accidentally killed Madeleine," she told BBC News. | "What the Portuguese police have tried to do is get Kate to confess that she accidentally killed Madeleine," she told BBC News. |
| Jon Corner, a close family friend, said Kate McCann had told him officers had tried to "cut her a deal" where she would only serve two years in jail. | Jon Corner, a close family friend, said Kate McCann had told him officers had tried to "cut her a deal" where she would only serve two years in jail. |
| Another family representative said officers believed that traces of Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished. | Another family representative said officers believed that traces of Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished. |
| 'Ludicrous allegations' | 'Ludicrous allegations' |
| Mr McCann arrived at the police headquarters at 1535 BST. He was not questioned with Mrs McCann, who left shortly afterwards. | Mr McCann arrived at the police headquarters at 1535 BST. He was not questioned with Mrs McCann, who left shortly afterwards. |
| The "suspect" status allows the authorities to put certain questions to Mr and Mrs McCann, and also gives her the right to remain silent. | |
| ARGUIDO/ARGUIDA STATUS Officially a suspectBestowed by police or requested by individualRight to remain silentRight to a lawyerMust report to police every five days | ARGUIDO/ARGUIDA STATUS Officially a suspectBestowed by police or requested by individualRight to remain silentRight to a lawyerMust report to police every five days |
| The first formal suspect was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. | The first formal suspect was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. |
| Mr and Mrs McCann have not been arrested or charged. | |
| The couple vehemently denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. | The couple vehemently denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. |
| 'We will fight this' | 'We will fight this' |
| The BBC's Richard Bilton, in Portimao, said a McCann family source had told him the questioning on Friday had been firm. | The BBC's Richard Bilton, in Portimao, said a McCann family source had told him the questioning on Friday had been firm. |
| "What we have heard is that the impression Kate McCann got from the detective is that they do think she is responsible for the death of Madeleine, a thought she says is absolutely horrifying," he said. | "What we have heard is that the impression Kate McCann got from the detective is that they do think she is responsible for the death of Madeleine, a thought she says is absolutely horrifying," he said. |
| He added that the couple had called for an independent review of the evidence. | He added that the couple had called for an independent review of the evidence. |
| McCann family spokesman David Hughes said: "She is suspected of accidentally killing her daughter." | McCann family spokesman David Hughes said: "She is suspected of accidentally killing her daughter." |
| Earlier another McCann representative, Justine McGuinness, said: "They [the police] believe they have evidence to show that in some way she's involved in the death of her daughter, which of course is completely ludicrous. | Earlier another McCann representative, Justine McGuinness, said: "They [the police] believe they have evidence to show that in some way she's involved in the death of her daughter, which of course is completely ludicrous. |
| "They have suggested that blood has been found in a hire car that they hired 25 days after Madeleine was taken." | "They have suggested that blood has been found in a hire car that they hired 25 days after Madeleine was taken." |
| In his latest diary entry on a website publicising the search for Madeleine, Mr McCann wrote: "The suggestion that Kate is involved in Madeleine's disappearance is ludicrous. | In his latest diary entry on a website publicising the search for Madeleine, Mr McCann wrote: "The suggestion that Kate is involved in Madeleine's disappearance is ludicrous. |
| "Anyone who knows anything about 3 May knows that Kate is completely innocent. We will fight this all the way and we will not stop looking for Madeleine." | "Anyone who knows anything about 3 May knows that Kate is completely innocent. We will fight this all the way and we will not stop looking for Madeleine." |
| Whistles and shouts | Whistles and shouts |
| Meanwhile, friends of the family said that Mrs McCann has been told by her lawyer that she could be charged in connection with the disappearance of her daughter. | Meanwhile, friends of the family said that Mrs McCann has been told by her lawyer that she could be charged in connection with the disappearance of her daughter. |
| It is understood that after questioning Mrs McCann on Thursday, police said they had 22 questions they wanted to ask her during Friday's interview. | It is understood that after questioning Mrs McCann on Thursday, police said they had 22 questions they wanted to ask her during Friday's interview. |
| Madeleine was last seen on 3 May | Madeleine was last seen on 3 May |
| Ms McGuinness said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status." | Ms McGuinness said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status." |
| She added: "She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all that such an accusation could be made against her. And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine." | She added: "She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all that such an accusation could be made against her. And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine." |
| Samples | Samples |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant. |
| Mrs McCann had been interviewed by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but Thursday was the first time her lawyer had been present. | Mrs McCann had been interviewed by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but Thursday was the first time her lawyer had been present. |
| In a statement released before her interview on Thursday, 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 her interview on Thursday, 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." |
| A British sniffer dog picked up the scent of a dead body in the apartment and samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the scene. | A British sniffer dog picked up the scent of a dead body in the apartment and samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the scene. |
| 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. |