Refugee
09-07-2007, 04:56 AM
A family friend of Kate McCann said Mrs McCann has been told she will be named an official “arguido” when she returns to the police station for further questioning later today.
After Mrs McCann was questioned for over 11 hours yesterday, the McCann’s lawyer Carlos Pinto de Abreu, insisted she was interviewed only as a witness.
Portuguese laws severely restrict what those privy to an investigation may say publicly, but Mrs McCann is said to be “amazed and concerned” by the news that her status has changed.
Previously Kate McCann and her husband Gerry had always met police together and officials described the meetings as informal. Both have denied any involvement in their daughter's disappearance.
But yesterday Mrs McCann was interviewed alone and Mr McCann is expected to be interviewed separately at around 2pm today.
Leaving the police station in Portimao, a town in the Algarve, at around 1am local time, Mrs McCann looked gaunt and tired and did not speak to the media.
Mrs McCann was asked to go to the police station after authorities received forensic evidence recovered from the holiday apartment in the Algarve where Madeleine vanished on May 3.
Portuguese detectives are said to have a series of 22 questions which they felt unable to put to Mrs McCann before she was declared an official suspect.
The move is not thought to signal that police are any closer to making any arrest or bringing charges.
Under Portuguese law, an arguido has certain legal protection that is not extended to a witness, including the right to remain silent during questioning and the right to legal representation.
It is not uncommon for people caught up in criminal investigations in Portugal to declare themselves arguidos in order to receive this protection.
The family spokesman said: “Just before the session ended last night, they made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguido status rather than just witness status.”
He could not confirm what these questions were, or whether Mr McCann will also be made an arguido when he reports to the police station later.
The spokesman said: “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.”
Police spokesman Olegario de Sousa said yesterday his team had been satisfied with the results of the forensic evidence returned by the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham.
“I can confirm that we have received part of the results and the team is satisfied (with the results),” Mr de Sousa said.
Local newspapers have reported that the results included a sample of a speck of blood found on the wall of the McCann’s apartment.
A Briton living in Praia da Luz had previously been identified by police as the only suspect in the investigation and his house has been searched twice.
Madeleine’s parents have campaigned relentlessly to draw attention to the case and a fund they started to help find missing or abducted children has raised more than £1 million.
They have visited several countries where she could have been taken by an abductor and met with foreign officials.
They recently indicated they may soon return to Britain. Their efforts led to a meeting with Pope Benedict in Rome who blessed a picture of Madeleine a few weeks after the disappearance. British business tycoons and celebrities ranging from “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling to soccer stars have contributed to reward for her return.
After Mrs McCann was questioned for over 11 hours yesterday, the McCann’s lawyer Carlos Pinto de Abreu, insisted she was interviewed only as a witness.
Portuguese laws severely restrict what those privy to an investigation may say publicly, but Mrs McCann is said to be “amazed and concerned” by the news that her status has changed.
Previously Kate McCann and her husband Gerry had always met police together and officials described the meetings as informal. Both have denied any involvement in their daughter's disappearance.
But yesterday Mrs McCann was interviewed alone and Mr McCann is expected to be interviewed separately at around 2pm today.
Leaving the police station in Portimao, a town in the Algarve, at around 1am local time, Mrs McCann looked gaunt and tired and did not speak to the media.
Mrs McCann was asked to go to the police station after authorities received forensic evidence recovered from the holiday apartment in the Algarve where Madeleine vanished on May 3.
Portuguese detectives are said to have a series of 22 questions which they felt unable to put to Mrs McCann before she was declared an official suspect.
The move is not thought to signal that police are any closer to making any arrest or bringing charges.
Under Portuguese law, an arguido has certain legal protection that is not extended to a witness, including the right to remain silent during questioning and the right to legal representation.
It is not uncommon for people caught up in criminal investigations in Portugal to declare themselves arguidos in order to receive this protection.
The family spokesman said: “Just before the session ended last night, they made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguido status rather than just witness status.”
He could not confirm what these questions were, or whether Mr McCann will also be made an arguido when he reports to the police station later.
The spokesman said: “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.”
Police spokesman Olegario de Sousa said yesterday his team had been satisfied with the results of the forensic evidence returned by the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham.
“I can confirm that we have received part of the results and the team is satisfied (with the results),” Mr de Sousa said.
Local newspapers have reported that the results included a sample of a speck of blood found on the wall of the McCann’s apartment.
A Briton living in Praia da Luz had previously been identified by police as the only suspect in the investigation and his house has been searched twice.
Madeleine’s parents have campaigned relentlessly to draw attention to the case and a fund they started to help find missing or abducted children has raised more than £1 million.
They have visited several countries where she could have been taken by an abductor and met with foreign officials.
They recently indicated they may soon return to Britain. Their efforts led to a meeting with Pope Benedict in Rome who blessed a picture of Madeleine a few weeks after the disappearance. British business tycoons and celebrities ranging from “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling to soccer stars have contributed to reward for her return.