Missing girl's mother suspected

Until now, Portuguese detectives insisted that Madeleine McCann's parents - Kate and Gerry - were not considered suspects in the four-year-old's disappearance. But that's no longer the case after a friend of the family revealed that Kate McCann is now a suspect. It follows an 11-hour police interview in the presence of her lawyer. The decision to reinterview the British doctor came after authorities received results of forensic evidence recovered from the holiday apartment in the Algarve where Madeleine vanished on May 3rd. A friend of the McCanns said "Kate was stunned and disappointed at being declared a suspect". Under Portuguese law a suspect has more legal protection than a witness, including the right not to answer questions. But a witness who refuses to answer questions could face legal action. Kate McCann is due to face further questioning on Friday; her husband Gerry is also expected to be interviewed separately. The McCanns have consistently denied any part in their daughter's disappearance. Madeleine vanished from the Praia da Luz resort, just metres from where her parents were dining. After finding an opened window and shutter in the house, police said all evidence pointed to an abduction. Madelaine's two-year-old twin brother and sister were in the apartment at the time of her disappearance. In the days following, police identified a local man, a Portuguese-Briton, as the main suspect. But extensive searches of Robert Murat's home have yielded nothing. The McCann's have campaigned relentlessly to keep Madeleine's case in the public eye, travelling through Europe to appeal for information and even meeting the Pope. The couple planned to return home to England at the weekend but instead will have to remain in Portugal where they've been living since Madeleine vanished more than three months ago. Helen Long, Reuters

Submission | September 7, 2007

Tags:. .robert. .law. .eye. .couple. .campaigned