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/6984781.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 10 | Version 11 |
---|---|
Madeleine parents 'will fight on' | Madeleine parents 'will fight on' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Madeleine McCann's parents plan to stay in Portugal to prove their innocence after being named official suspects in the case, friends have told the BBC. | Madeleine McCann's parents plan to stay in Portugal to prove their innocence after being named official suspects in the case, friends have told the BBC. |
Jon Corner said Gerry and Kate McCann, both 39, were determined the search for their daughter would not be "derailed". | Jon Corner said Gerry and Kate McCann, both 39, were determined the search for their daughter would not be "derailed". |
The four-year-old disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal's Algarve on 3 May. | The four-year-old disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal's Algarve on 3 May. |
Earlier, a family spokesman said police believed Mrs McCann, of Rothley, Leics, had killed Madeleine accidentally. | Earlier, a family spokesman said police believed Mrs McCann, of Rothley, Leics, had killed Madeleine accidentally. |
'Intimidatory' questioning | 'Intimidatory' questioning |
No bail conditions, travel restrictions or charges have been imposed on the couple, who had been questioned separately for more than 24 hours. | No bail conditions, travel restrictions or charges have been imposed on the couple, who had been questioned separately for more than 24 hours. |
Mr McCann was officially given "arguido" status 12 hours after his wife. | Mr McCann was officially given "arguido" status 12 hours after his wife. |
Gerry is frustrated by the line of questioning and where the inquiry is going Jon Corner, McCann family friend | Gerry is frustrated by the line of questioning and where the inquiry is going Jon Corner, McCann family friend |
The move allows the authorities to put certain questions to Mr and Mrs McCann, and also gives them the right to remain silent. | The move allows the authorities to put certain questions to Mr and Mrs McCann, and also gives them the right to remain silent. |
The couple have opted to stay in Portugal despite wanting to return home with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. | The couple have opted to stay in Portugal despite wanting to return home with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie. |
Philomena McCann said her brother Mr McCann "doesn't want it to look as if they are running away". | Philomena McCann said her brother Mr McCann "doesn't want it to look as if they are running away". |
Mr Corner said: "I spoke to Gerry in the early hours this morning and he wasn't surprised that he was named as an official suspect. | Mr Corner said: "I spoke to Gerry in the early hours this morning and he wasn't surprised that he was named as an official suspect. |
"The process of questioning I think is designed to be intimidatory, but Gerry is frustrated by the line of questioning and where the inquiry is going. | "The process of questioning I think is designed to be intimidatory, but Gerry is frustrated by the line of questioning and where the inquiry is going. |
"But he's also fighting and I think he's determined that the search for Madeleine is not going to be derailed by this." | "But he's also fighting and I think he's determined that the search for Madeleine is not going to be derailed by this." |
Quick closure | Quick closure |
Mr Corner said the developments pointed to the "mindset of the Portuguese police". | Mr Corner said the developments pointed to the "mindset of the Portuguese police". |
ARGUIDO/ARGUIDA STATUS Officially a suspectBestowed by police or requested by individualRight to remain silentRight to a lawyerMust report to police every five days | |
"Clearly, they're not investigating or doing the detective work to find Madeleine," he said. | "Clearly, they're not investigating or doing the detective work to find Madeleine," he said. |
"They're actually looking for a very quick, clean closure on the case, and that means turning their focus into the family." | "They're actually looking for a very quick, clean closure on the case, and that means turning their focus into the family." |
The BBC understands that the police put it to Mrs McCann that she was somehow responsible for the accidental death of Madeleine inside the apartment. | The BBC understands that the police put it to Mrs McCann that she was somehow responsible for the accidental death of Madeleine inside the apartment. |
They went on to say that with the help of her husband she then hid the body temporarily and then moved it later using the couple's hire car. | They went on to say that with the help of her husband she then hid the body temporarily and then moved it later using the couple's hire car. |
The McCanns vehemently deny such claims. | The McCanns vehemently deny such claims. |
Mrs McCann's uncle Brian Kennedy said: "The notion that even accidentally they killed their daughter, hid her body, then put her body in a car hired 25 days later while the glare of the international publicity is on them, and when they are always with friends and family, is fatuous beyond words. | Mrs McCann's uncle Brian Kennedy said: "The notion that even accidentally they killed their daughter, hid her body, then put her body in a car hired 25 days later while the glare of the international publicity is on them, and when they are always with friends and family, is fatuous beyond words. |
"I just find the notion repulsive." | "I just find the notion repulsive." |
Set sentence | Set sentence |
Mr Corner had previously said Mrs McCann had told him officers had tried to "cut her a deal" where she would serve only two years in jail if she confessed. | Mr Corner had previously said Mrs McCann had told him officers had tried to "cut her a deal" where she would serve only two years in jail if she confessed. |
The media have set up camp outside the McCanns' rented villa | |
But Portugal-based British journalist Paul Luckman told the BBC that under Portuguese law there is a set sentence for each crime which not even a judge can change. | But Portugal-based British journalist Paul Luckman told the BBC that under Portuguese law there is a set sentence for each crime which not even a judge can change. |
He said it would be simply not possible for the police to make such a deal. | He said it would be simply not possible for the police to make such a deal. |
Local lawyer Oliveira Trindade said: "Legally, if the prosecutor has enough evidence they have to charge the arguidos within the next 10 days. | Local lawyer Oliveira Trindade said: "Legally, if the prosecutor has enough evidence they have to charge the arguidos within the next 10 days. |
"If they don't have enough evidence the investigation will continue." | "If they don't have enough evidence the investigation will continue." |
TV crews and photographers, who had been camped outside the police station in Portimao, have moved on to the McCanns' rented house in Praia da Luz. | TV crews and photographers, who had been camped outside the police station in Portimao, have moved on to the McCanns' rented house in Praia da Luz. |
Mr and Mrs McCann called off plans to attend a service at the village church of Nossa Senhora da Luz on Saturday night because of the amount of media interest. | Mr and Mrs McCann called off plans to attend a service at the village church of Nossa Senhora da Luz on Saturday night because of the amount of media interest. |