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Original Source:
MAIL:
22 AUGUST 2007 |
By SAM
GREENHILL - More by this author
Last updated at 21:22pm on 22nd August 2007 |
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Portuguese detectives now favour the theory that Madeleine McCann died in a
tragic accident in the family's holiday apartment, it has emerged.
The three senior officers leading the inquiry are all but certain she died on
the night she vanished.
They are 'leaning towards' the conclusion that she was not intentionally
killed, according to police sources.
Kate and Gerry McCann continue to hope their little girl is alive, 112 days after
she disappeared.
But the detectives leading the investigation, Guilhermino Encarnacao, Goncal
Amaral and Luis Neves, are apparently agreed on the fatal accident theory.
A source close to the investigation said: "They are virtually certain that
Madeleine died that night, and there are several hypotheses to explain how she
died - was it murder or was it an accident?
"They are leaning towards the accident hypothesis as the strongest."
Police refused to explain what evidence they have to make them think the girl
is dead.
Detectives have stressed several times that neither the McCanns, both
39-year-old doctors, nor the friends they were holidaying with are suspects.
One possibility is a botched burglary, in which thieves panicked and tried to
silence Madeleine. But Mr McCann said: "This is wild speculation.
"The police have always said to us they are taking all possible scenarios
into consideration. For us, nothing has changed in the last two weeks.
"There is a very real possibility Madeleine is alive and we want the
police to look for her."
However, the consultant cardiologist conceded that the statistical chances of
finding his daughter are slim.
He said: "We have done a lot of research into missing children and the
percentage of minors who have ever reappeared is very small.
"Obviously a very long time has passed, but we will do everything we can
to make sure Madeleine does not become a statistic."
The couple yesterday gave interviews to Spain's three top- selling
newspapers.
Mr McCann told reporters: "The possibility that Madeleine is alive and in Spain is real.
There is no border guard and no one closed the border the night Madeleine
disappeared."
Police are still awaiting the results of forensic tests on blood samples found
in the family's holiday apartment at the Mark Warner Ocean Club.
In the meantime, the McCanns are considering whether to return home to Rothley,
Leicestershire, with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.
Yesterday they also launched the findings of research commissioned by the Find
Madeleine campaign.
The survey of MEPs found that 97 per cent would back a Europeanwide sex
offenders' register.
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