[Developing Story] Missing Girl's Mother a Suspect

gucci888 · Sep 7, 2007

(CNN) -- Police on Friday named Madeleine McCann's mother Kate a suspect in her disappearance, and said the girl's blood was found in a vehicle the family rented 25 days after reporting her disappearance, according to family spokeswoman Justine McGuiness.

Madeleine McCann's blood was found in a car her parents rented 25 days after they reported her disappearance, Ms McGuinness told CNN.

Kate McCann was seen going into the police headquarters in Portimao, a town in Portugal's Algarve region, on Friday morning.

She was questioned for almost 11 hours the day before, and left looking visibly shaken and drained, according to CNN's Paula Hancocks.

Portuguese authorities made no public statement on the latest developments.

Philomena McCann, Madeleine's aunt, said police were suggesting Kate McCann might have accidentally killed her daughter.

"They are suggesting that Kate has in some way accidentally killed Madeleine, then kept her body, then got rid of it," Philomena McCann told Sky News.

"I have never heard anything so utterly ludicrous in my entire life."

Madeleine's father Gerry McCann is also expected to be questioned on Friday. Family friend Clarence Mitchell told The Associated Press that Gerry would also be named as an arguido or a formal suspect. The couple have maintained their innocence throughout.

The McCanns "continue to deny absolutely they had anything to do" with their daughter's disappearance, Mitchell said.
Portuguese Law

As a formal suspect under Portuguese law Kate McCann will gain more legal protection than when she was questioned as a witness. She will be able to remain silent during questioning and to have legal representation.

Those involved in criminal investigations in Portugal can ask to be declared formal suspects to receive this protection although it is unclear whether Mrs. McCann asked to do this.

Madeleine was reported missing on May 3, days before her 4th birthday. Her parents told police she was abducted from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal while they ate a meal at a nearby restaurant.

Madeleine's parents, who are both doctors from Leicestershire in central England, have campaigned internationally to secure the safe return of their daughter, including having a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and securing support from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and soccer star David Beckham.
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Until now police have insisted Madeleine's parents were not suspects and were being questioned as witnesses.

Only one person has previously been named as a formal suspect, British national Robert Murat, who has denied any involvement in the case. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/09/07/madeleine.mccann/index.html
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Don't really remember how much coverage this story got over here but it was the biggest story of the year in Europe (much like our Jon-Bennet case). If this is true, this maybe the biggest scandal/twist of the century IMO.

Very sad case to begin with, should be very interesting to see what happens the next couple days.

A_3PO · Sep 7, 2007

It got lots of coverage and one of my early thoughts was to suspect the parents. Reminds me of JonBenet.

SWTsig · Sep 7, 2007

easily the biggest story by far while i was in europe last month.... talked about it nonstop.

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[Developing Story] Missing Girl's Mother a Suspect

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