This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6983604.stm
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Police 'suspect Madeleine mother' | Police 'suspect Madeleine mother' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Portuguese police believe the mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann accidentally killed her daughter, a family spokesman has said. | Portuguese police believe the mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann accidentally killed her daughter, a family spokesman has said. |
| 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. |
| Kate McCann underwent a second day of questioning by police on Friday and has been named a suspect, or "arguida". | Kate McCann underwent a second day of questioning by police on Friday and has been named a suspect, or "arguida". |
| Police are continuing to question her husband, Gerry McCann. | |
| 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. |
| 'Ludicrous allegations' | 'Ludicrous allegations' |
| Mr McCann arrived at the police headquarters in Portimao at 1535 BST, minutes after 39-year-old Mrs McCann left. | |
| It is believed he will not be made an arguido and will remain a witness. | It is believed he will not be made an arguido and will remain a witness. |
| The "suspect" status allows the authorities to put certain questions to Mrs McCann, and also gives her the right to remain silent. | The "suspect" status allows the authorities to put certain questions to 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. | |
| Mrs McCann has not been arrested or charged. | Mrs McCann has 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. |
| 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. |
| A crowd of about 250 journalists and members of the public gathered behind metal barriers outside the police station in Portimao to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car on Friday morning. | A crowd of about 250 journalists and members of the public gathered behind metal barriers outside the police station in Portimao to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car on Friday morning. |
| She entered the building to the sound of a few whistles and some shouts in Portuguese from the waiting crowd. | She entered the building to the sound of a few whistles and some shouts in Portuguese from the waiting crowd. |
| One British tourist shouted: "We believe you, Kate." | One British tourist shouted: "We believe you, Kate." |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects. | A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects. |