Madeline McCann

[Zetti]

Apparently they are searching for a body not her alive

Poor girl

[Frankie]

There is far too much reliance on rumour and speculation in this story.

I desperately hope that they find this little girl alive. I can not belive the vitriol that is being directed at the parents by some parts of the media.

[~Rosey~]

102 days

Apprantly yesterday they interviewed her parents again as suspects Ridiculous.

[Di]

I'm a suspect - Madeleine's mum

Formal suspect: Kate McCann

Kate McCann expects to be named as a formal suspect by police investigating the disappearance of her daughter Madeleine, a family spokesman said today.

Mrs McCann, 39, spent almost 11 hours being quizzed by police in Portugal and only emerged early today.

This morning a family spokesman said she expected to be made an "arguido" - a formal suspect - when she returns for further questioning today.

Until now there has only been one arguido in the case - expatriate Briton Robert Murat.

Mrs McCann was questioned at the headquarters of the Policia Judiciaria - Portugal's CID - in the city of Portimao yesterday, only emerging at 12.55am today.

Before she left the police station, detectives told her they had further questions to ask her which would require her to be given arguido status, the family spokesman said.

Mrs McCann will return to the police station at 10.30am and her husband Gerry is due to be interviewed by officers separately at 2pm.

Madeleine police claim 'blood found' in parents' hire car

The mother of Madeleine McCann was today declared an "arguida" or formal suspect in the investigation into the disappearance of the missing four-year-old.

After a second day of questioining for Kate McCann, police brought the session to an end without making any charges against her despite fears from family and her lawyer that she could even be charged in connection with Madeleine's disappearance.

Her husband Gerry McCann reported to the police station in Portimao at 2pm local time for his separate session of questioning by detectives.

Portuguese detectives suggested to Kate McCann in questioning yesterday that traces of the young girl's blood had been found in the family's hire car, a Renault Scenic, said a family friend.

But Mrs McCann told the officers there was "no way" this could be the case because they hired the car 25 days after Madeleine went missing.

The new development came after Mrs McCann was interviewed for 11 hours by detectives yesterday at the headquarters of the Policia Judiciaria - Portugal's CID - in the city of Portimao, only emerging at 12.55am this morning.

Before she left the police station, detectives told her they had further questions to ask her which would require her to be given suspect status, the family spokesman said.

Mrs McCann will returned to the police station at 10.30am and her husband Gerry is due to be interviewed by officers at 2pm.

Officers are refusing to say why they are quizzing them separately.

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.

Mrs McCann is said to be "shocked and surprised" at the development, and looked drawn and tired when she left the police station early this morning.

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."

Mrs McCann was interviewed as a witness yesterday, her lawyer Carlos Pinto de Abreu said.

Sources claim British tests on forensic samples had highlighted a discrepancy in the McCanns' account of the night Madeleine disappeared.

The samples were taken from the McCanns' holiday flat and a silver Renault people carrier they rented five weeks after Madeleine vanished on May 3.

The source said: "The re-questioning of the McCanns is directly linked to the forensic results.

"There are some crucial issues which need to be resolved." Kate and Gerry have told friends they believe they are being set up."

The McCanns have consistently denied any part in their daughter's disappearance.

Until now there has only been one suspect in the case - Robert Murat, a British man living locally.

Police 'suspect Madeleine mother'

Kate McCann: said to be "stunned" by the police decision to treat her as a suspect

Family spokeswoman

Portuguese police believe the mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann is involved in her death, a family spokeswoman has said.

Justine McGuinness said officers believed that traces of Madeleine's blood were in the McCanns' car, hired 25 days after she vanished.

Earlier, Kate McCann arrived for her second police interview in 24 hours.

She was named a suspect, or "arguida", by police. Her husband Gerry described the claims as "ludicrous".

He arrived at the same police station at 1535 BST, to face questioning as a witness.

The "suspect" status will allow the authorities to put certain questions to Mrs McCann, and also gives her the right to remain silent.

The couple vehemently deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance on 3 May.

Shouts and whistles

Ms McGuinness said: "They [the police] believe they have evidence to show that in some way she's involved in the death of her daughter, which of course is completely ludicrous.

"They have suggested that blood has been found in a hire car that they hired 25 days after Madeleine was taken."

In his latest diary entry on a website publicising the search for Madeleine, Mr McCann wrote: "The suggestion that Kate is involved in Madeleine's disappearance is ludicrous.

"Anyone who knows anything about 3 May knows that Kate is completely innocent. We will fight this all the way and we will not stop looking for Madeleine."

THE NIGHT MADELEINE VANISHED

Kate McCann tucks Madeleine into bed in their ground floor apartment.

Mrs McCann and husband Gerry then go to a nearby tapas bar, which has a clear view to their apartment, to eat dinner.

The McCanns said in an interview they checked on their children every half an hour.

At about 2200 local time Mrs McCann returns to the apartment to find Madeleine missing from her bed.

She goes back to her husband at the restaurant to raise the alarm and police are called.

Meanwhile, friends of the family said that Mrs McCann has been told by her lawyer that she could be charged in connection with the disappearance of her daughter.

A large number of journalists and members of the public were outside the police station in Portimao to watch Mrs McCann arrive by car.

She entered the building to the sound of a few whistles and some shouts in Portuguese from the waiting crowd.

One British tourist shouted: "We believe you, Kate."

It is understood that Portuguese police have told Mrs McCann, 39, they have 22 questions they want to ask her during Friday's interview, although they have not told her what they are.

Lawyer present

Ms McGuinness said: "Just before the session ended last night, the police made it clear they had some further questions to ask which would require her to be in arguida status rather than just witness status."

She added: "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."

Mr McCann arrived at the police station several hours later and went inside without speaking to reporters still gathered outside with members of the public.

Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from the family's holiday apartment while her parents were eating in a nearby restaurant.

Madeleine was last seen on 3 May

Mrs McCann had previously been interviewed before by police the day after Madeleine disappeared, but yesterday was the first time her lawyer had been present.

She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects.

In a statement released before her interview yesterday, she appealed to her daughter's abductors, saying: "It is not too late - please let her go or call the police."

She said: "We came to Portugal an ordinary family of five. We just want to know what happened on 3 May and want to be able to go home one family, reunited."

Mrs McCann will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a British man living locally. He has not been arrested or charged.

Mrs McCann's husband Gerry, originally from Glasgow, is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve. It's is not known whether he too will be questioned as a suspect.

Blood traces

Samples, including suspected traces of blood, have been recovered from the McCanns' holiday apartment.

The UK's Forensic Science Service has spent the past month analysing them.

Portuguese police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said partial results from tests had been received, but would give no further details.

Last week, the McCanns launched a libel action against a Portuguese newspaper which reported that "police believed" the couple killed Madeleine, with the paper suggesting she may have died in an accident.

A public statement from the director of police followed, saying neither Kate nor Gerry McCann had ever been viewed as suspects.

The McCanns have travelled extensively through Europe to raise awareness of the search for their daughter.

[Ashirr-Leigh]

I don't know what to make of that..

I hope, really, really, hope that Kate doesn't have anything to do with it and I don't really believe that she does but the police must have something to have made her a suspect, you know?

[Zetti]

I hope Kate has nothing to do with it, I really do.

[claire_louise]

There's been something very strange about this whole thing from the start. I can see why they think Kate had something to do with it, but it is horrific to think about. I just hope they find some answers so the whole family can move on.

[Skykat]

She's now been officially named as a suspect and Gerry is still being quizzed. Its horrible, I really can't believe they had anything to do with it.

[Ashirr-Leigh]

Apparently they're, well Kate, is being offered a deal or something to say that it was accidental death and that she'll only get two years in jail. I don't know, it all just seems a bit, sudden?

That's probably not the right word that I'm looking for but I don't know.

I agree with you Claire, that there has been something really weird about this whole thing but I don't know if this is it.

[beckyboo]

There is no way shes done it

Why 25 days later!!!!???

They were followed for the 1st 2 months of her disaperance so when could she have put Maddie in the car!!!!!?