Police 'closing' Madeleine case

Subject: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:04 pm

Police 'closing' Madeleine case

Madeleine was on holiday in the Algarve when she disappeared
Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are closing the case, Portuguese media have reported.

Her parents Kate and Gerry McCann are both official suspects in the inquiry, along with a third man, Robert Murat.

But two newspapers claim the police have said they plan to close the case because of a lack of evidence.

Madeleine, of Rothley, Leics, was three when she disappeared in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007. The family said they were awaiting confirmation of the reports.

The Correio da Manha newspaper said on Tuesday that sources within Portugal's judicial police said they "do not have sufficient evidence to allow formal charges to be brought against the McCanns in the disappearance of their daughter".

The Jornal de Noticias said the police did not have enough evidence to charge either the McCanns or Mr Murat with any wrongdoing.

"The police have not found the guilty," the paper added.

One newspaper said the case had already been closed, while another said the end of the investigation would be announced within the next few days.

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell gives his reaction
The BBC's Alison Roberts, in Portugal, said reports suggested the case had been "archived" or shelved, meaning police would no longer devote resources to investigating it.

She said it could be reopened if new evidence emerged, but officers would not be actively working on it.

'Suffered enough'

The McCanns were declared official suspects - "arguidos" in Portuguese legal jargon - last September.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the BBC the couple did not know yet whether the reports were correct.

"If they are true, it's to be welcomed that Kate and Gerry are not to face any charges," Mr Mitchell said.

"It's quite right. They are innocent of any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. They have suffered enough in this process.

"And surely the Portuguese authorities, if this is true, must lift their arguido status as a priority."

Mr Mitchell said the family wanted to know whether police now planned to stop searching for Madeleine. Surely it's only humane and decent that information that could help find Madeleine comes to the investigators who will keep looking for her

Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman Clarence Mitchell

Madeleine case timeline

If so, he said, all the information held by the police must be made public so the McCanns could carry on their own hunt.

"What happens to all those leads, all those contacts? There are thousands of pieces of information in those files," he said.

"What we don't want is that information to lie on a shelf somewhere gathering dust.

"Surely it's only humane and decent that information that could help find Madeleine comes to the investigators who will keep looking for her even if the police feel they can't."

The McCanns have their own "very sophisticated intelligence gathering operation", Mr Mitchell added.

Mr and Mrs McCann are due to go to the High Court on 7 July to ask a judge to order police files on the disappearance of their daughter to be released.

The BBC's correspondent said the period of judicial secrecy surrounding the case was due to end in August.

Briton Mr Murat lives with his mother in Praia da Luz close to the apartment where Madeleine was last seen. He strongly denies any involvement in her disappearance.

His lawyer Francisco Pagarete said he had heard nothing from the Portuguese authorities about the case being closed.

Asked whether he would welcome such a development, Mr Pagarete said: "Yes, we will, but it depends on the way it's going to be dropped.

"If it's going to be dropped because there's not enough evidence connecting my client to this case or if it's going to be dropped because Robert hasn't got any involvement in this case.

"Only the second way will make us happy."
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:10 pm

This just wouldn't happen in this country.How must they be feeling? I know this happened abroad but why aren't the British government doing more to find her?
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:39 pm

I agree why is knowone over there fighting to keep Madies case open like it should be she is a little girl who needs to be found.
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:18 am

I think its a case of 'theres other things to deal with' fair enough over here, things would calm down with the search to find her but the case would never get closed!!

I still think there is something dodgy about the parents, and i will carry on saying it - the mother was always too 'made up' her hair and makeup when searching the streets. if it was my kid, i would forget to wash! i wouldnt sleep! id be hunting day and night - i think the only reason they have been let off so lightly is because they are high earning doctors! If it was some council estate family, like that girl who was found under the ned (cant think of her name now) then the parents would never be out of the media till it had come to an end!

Theres just too much things that dont add up, blood in the boot of the car, why they would take needles on holiday ect... and then theres the friends who were on holiday with them - why did they refuse to take part in the crimewatch appeal! I just hope whoever is living with the lies decides to come clean soon
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:25 am

I agree Hailey, Who gos out and leaves there children on there own I would never do it never never they are ment to be clever people and they are stupid they left there child its wrong.
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:16 pm

I have always said that i don't trust the mother even tho you never want to think badly that anyone would deliberatly do anything like that. Like you said Hayley i hope the truth comes out but somehow i really don't think we ever will truely know what happened xx
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:19 pm

That dog that was lost for 5 years got found so fingers crossed the truth about Madie will come out I hope sooner rather than later
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Subject: Re: Police 'closing' Madeleine case Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:29 pm

totally agree with you Hay!!! Swanning off to rome to meet the pope,jetting off to here there and everywhere...leaving the twins while they do so.....erm my child has just gone missing im not going ANYWHERE without my other kids!! If anyone else had left their kids and gone out and they disappeared then they would have been dragged throught the courts for neglect!! same old adage..........."money talks"
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