PORTUGAL: Formal suspect in Maddie's case, Kate McCann, returns home after visiting Anglican priest as husband is questioned

The mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann visits an Anglican priest after leaving Portimao's judiciary police headquarters where she was declared formal suspect in the disappearance of her daughter. The coastal town of Portimao celebrates annual children fashion show next to Judiciary Police headquarters as husband Gerry McCann is questioned. Kate McCann, mother of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann, returned home on Friday (September 7) for the first time as a formal suspect in the investigation into her daughter's disappearance. Portimao Judiciary Police began questioning Kate McCann on Thursday (September 6). Following a 15-hour inquiring, the 4-year-old's mother left the police station on Friday as her husband, Gerry, entered for a separate interview. McCann family spokeswoman Justine McGuinness said Kate had told her that police found blood in a car hired by the couple but there was no confirmation it was Madeleine's blood. The car had been hired 25 days after Madeleine disappeared. Police received results this week of forensic tests on evidence from various sites including the holiday apartment from which Madeleine vanished. Earlier on Friday, Kate McCann visited Anglican priest Hubbart Heynes in his Praia da Luz home. Madeleine vanished from a hotel room four months ago in the Praia da Luz resort in the Algarve while her parents dined with friends a short distance away. Meanwhile in Portimao, Gerry McCann's questioning continued as local residents of this coastal town celebrated their annual kids fashion show, "Mini-Look Fashion Show", coincidentally at a square next to the Judiciary Police Headquarters where Gerry is answering police questions. At some point it became hard to distinguish the curious from those simply watching the childrens' fashion contest. "We are standing here mainly out of curiosity, but also because my son wants to see the show. We are kind of awaiting both events," local resident Juvenal Araujo told Reuters. Portimao resident Isabel Silva acknowledged to be impressed by the massive media presence in her hometown. "I'm here to see the media display, not so much to follow up on such a sordid story," she said. Before entering the police headquarters, Gerry McCann rejected any suggestion of his wife's involvement on his blog ( www.findmadeleine.com ). "The suggestion that Kate is involved in Madeleine's disappearance is ludicrous," he wrote. "Anyone who knows anything about the 3rd May knows that Kate is completely innocent. We will fight this all the way and we will not stop looking for Madeleine." Under Portuguese law, declaring Kate McCann a suspect indicates police think she may have been involved in the crime but does not necessarily mean that she will be detained. She would have more legal protection than as a witness, including the right not to answer questions. TSF radio reported that she would have to stay at a specific residence and would be unable to leave it without permission, meaning she would probably be unable to go back to England. A British man emerged as the first formal suspect soon after Madeleine vanished on May 3. Police had pursued a series of leads in their investigation, including that Madeleine may have been taken by a paedophile. Hundreds of people across Europe contacted police offering help after the McCanns launched a massive publicity campaign to find their daughter. Pictures of the girl have been posted across Europe at schools, airports and restaurants and the McCanns met Pope Benedict, who blessed a picture of Madeleine. Kate and Gerry decided to stay in Praia da Luz until the case is resolved, and have been going to a local church almost daily to pray for their daughter's safe return.

ITN Source | September 8, 2007

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