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Police 'suspect McCann parents' | Police 'suspect McCann parents' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Portuguese police have named both parents of Madeleine McCann as formal suspects in her disappearance. | Portuguese police have named both parents of Madeleine McCann as formal suspects in her disappearance. |
Gerry McCann was officially given "arguido" status about 12 hours after his wife Kate. They had been questioned separately for more than 24 hours. | Gerry McCann was officially given "arguido" status about 12 hours after his wife Kate. They had been questioned separately for more than 24 hours. |
No bail conditions or charges have been imposed and both deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. | No bail conditions or charges have been imposed and both deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May. |
Earlier, a family spokesman said Portuguese police believed Kate McCann had killed her daughter accidentally. | Earlier, a family spokesman said Portuguese police believed Kate McCann had killed her daughter accidentally. |
Asked whether the couple, both 39, were still protesting their innocence, family spokesman David Hughes said: "They certainly are." | Asked whether the couple, both 39, were still protesting their innocence, family spokesman David Hughes said: "They certainly are." |
'Very low' | 'Very low' |
Mr McCann refused to speak to reporters as he left police headquarters in Portimao after eight hours of questioning. | Mr McCann refused to speak to reporters as he left police headquarters in Portimao after eight hours of questioning. |
It is understood Kate McCann, refused to "cut a deal" of two years in prison in exchange for a confession. | 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. | She underwent a second day of questioning on Friday. |
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. |
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. |
He added that she was feeling "very down, very low" and "deflated". | He added that she was feeling "very down, very low" and "deflated". |
Another family representative said officers believed that traces of four-year-old Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished. | Another family representative said officers believed that traces of four-year-old Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished. |
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. |
'Ordinary family' | 'Ordinary family' |
The "suspect" status allows the authorities to put certain questions to Mr and Mrs McCann, and also gives them 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. | Mr and Mrs McCann have not been arrested or charged. |
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." |
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." |
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 |
Samples | Samples |
The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, say they left Madeleine in the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they went to eat in a nearby restaurant. | The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, say they left Madeleine in the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they went to eat 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. |