McCanns to be cleared as no evidence found

Kate and Gerry McCann are to be cleared as official suspects in their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance after a review concluded there is no evidence they were involved, it has emerged.

The couple’s status as arguidos will be lifted unless “screaming contradictions” are revealed in forthcoming police interviews, according to a Portuguese newspaper.

	The McCanns were made arguidos 'too hastily'

Detectives investigating Madeleine’s disappearance from the family’s rented holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3 last year, do not have a shred of evidence against the McCanns, reported the respected broadsheet, Expresso.

After forensic tests proved inconclusive and a thorough review of the case by detectives in the Algarve uncovered nothing new, “the judicial police do not have any proof or evidence whatsoever against Madeleine’s parents,” it stated.

“They will only remain arguidos if there are screaming contradictions revealed in the answers to the letters sent to England.”

Legal letters containing 40 questions that Portuguese detectives want to put to the McCanns will be sent to the UK authorities this week following months of bureaucratic delays.

Attorney General Fernando Pinto Montiero told Expresso: “The couple’s legal status will be considered at the appropriate moment, depending on various elements still to be obtained.”

Earlier this month, Alipio Ribeiro, the national director of the Policia Judiciaria, admitted that his officers had been “hasty” in naming the McCanns as suspects.

Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ official spokesman said: “This report is extremely encouraging. We have consistently said that the police have no evidence against Kate and Gerry.

"Any questions the police do have can be easily and quickly explained.

“This latest report backs up Mr Ribeiro’s comments that his officers acted too quickly in naming Kate and Gerry as arguidos.

"We now urge the judicial authorities to eliminate Kate and Gerry as suspects.”

Jose Miguel Judice, former president of the Portuguese Bar Association said: “Either the director of the judicial police is preparing public opinion for the archiving of the case, or he is anticipating a hypothetical failure of the investigation.”

This view supports comments made by Carlos Anjos, the head of Portugal’s police federation, who on Friday indicated that the Madeleine case was no longer a priority.

“There are bigger concerns in the PJ than the Madeleine case, with all the respect it deserves,” he said.