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Madeleine: bloody
footprint found in McCanns' apartment
By IAN GALLAGER
Last updated at 23:44pm on 13th October 2007
A bloody footprint was found in Kate and Gerry McCann's
apartment, matching a print on their hire car, according to a
forensic report shown to The Mail on Sunday.
The existence of the two marks, which has never been revealed
until today, is apparently at the heart of renewed suspicion
that the couple were involved in their daughter's disappearance.
New tests carried out at the Forensic Science Service laboratory
in Birmingham show there is a 'moderate' chance that the blood
belonged to Madeleine. But the results are inconclusive.
The inquiry into the four-year-old's disappearance has been rife
with conjecture and wild speculation over DNA material.
And, until now, confusion has surrounded what samples had been
found and how important they might be.
Part of the report shown to this newspaper reveals that officers
who examined the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz on the
Algarve after Madeleine went missing on May 3 discovered a
'partial footwear mark', believed to be from a size 5 or 6 shoe,
just outside the bedroom.
It adds that it 'appeared to have a blood imprint' that was
visible to the naked eye.
The FSS results conclude that the footprint matched the pattern
of a mark found above the rear bumper of the McCanns' Renault
Scenic hire car a print which Portuguese police apparently
believe is consistent with someone lifting a body in or out of
the boot.
Experts could find no definite traces of blood in that print.
Blood in the footprint at the apartment was tested for DNA.
Results are rated on an eight-point scale: no scientific
evidence, limited, moderate, moderately strong, strong, very
strong, extremely strong and conclusive.
Scientists found there was only 'moderate' support, number 3 on
the scale, to suggest it matched Madeleine's DNA.
What they believe is significant about the footprint is that no
traces of blood were found around it.
'It is quite possible, therefore, that the blood had been picked
up on the sole of the shoe from outside the apartment, from
literally anywhere,' said a source close to the investigation.
The source added that there was concern at the FSS that the
Portuguese police have already attached too much weight to the
results.
It has been reported, for instance, that DNA results justified
the naming of the McCanns as official suspects, or arguidos.
'The simple fact is that, as was the case before, the results
are not conclusive,' said the source.
'In short, it cannot be said the blood belongs to Madeleine. If
other strong evidence accompanied it for example, that someone
was seen emerging from the apartment with a hammer then a lawyer
might find it of some use. But on its own it is of little
value.'
Further question marks were raised over the forensic evidence
last night, as Portuguese police have still failed to take DNA
samples from people who helped in the initial stages of the
search for Madeleine.
These profiles would prove crucial in matching scene-of-crime
evidence to those who were at the resort.
One resident who had not been asked to give a sample said: 'I
thought it was quite important for us to give DNA so that we
could be ruled out if nothing else. There were lots of us
helping look for the little girl that night and you would have
thought our DNA would be all over the place.'
The FSS report says the footprint found in the apartment 'was
made when the foot was heading towards the bedroom'.
'The impression was made up of small circles and square blocks.
It is not possible to ascertain whether the shoe print was from
an adult or a child but it is estimated that it was a shoe size
5 or possibly 6. It was of a right shoe.
'The shoe print found at the rear of the Renault hire car below
the boot area and above part of the rear bumper was a left-sided
shoe and the impression has similar pattern component, pattern
size and degree of wear to the outer toe region of the sole to
match the right shoe, and again has circles and square blocks. A
swab for blood from this mark has been examined but it proved
inconclusive.'
This is the first time that forensic evidence relating to the
case has been presented in such detail.
Sources have told this newspaper that the sample taken from the
apartment was not of good quality. Other partial prints were
underneath it and it had been walked over countless times.
Tests were carried out to determine whether anyone had tried to
clean it up, and, crucially, the results showed that no
'concerted' effort had been made.
'If someone had tried to wipe it away, using bleach, for
instance, this would have shown up clearly in the results,' said
the source.
There is also concern over the Portuguese police's
interpretation of the print on the Renault Scenic.
'They seem to think it is consistent with someone putting their
foot on the boot to lever a body in or out. But there could be
101 reasons why someone would put their foot on the car in this
way,' the source said.
A pair of Madeleine's ankle socks 'heavily stained on the sole
and the heel' were also examined at the Birmingham laboratory.
It could not be determined whether the stains contained blood
and were deemed to hold 'limited scientific' evidence.
Nail clippings found in the hire car were found to contain
fragments of paint but otherwise to be 'of no significance'.
The McCanns have always vehemently denied any involvement in
their daughter's disappearance and will view the new report as
confirmation of their fears that the Portuguese police are
overplaying the importance of forensic evidence.
The couple have consistently said any material found in Portugal
can be wholly and innocently explained. They have hired their
own forensic experts to refute Portuguese police claims that the
new DNA tests link them to Madeleine's disappearance.
But the Policia Judiciaria have not contacted the McCanns since
they returned to their Leicestershire home more than a month
ago.
A friend said: 'They have not heard a word. It's a shambles
considering they have been made the focus of the investigation
and stand accused of playing a part in their daughter's death.
They don't have a clue what's going on.'
Last night, Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesman, said: 'We
simply cannot comment on unsubstantiated reports that touch on
any evidence at the centre of this inquiry.'
Meanwhile, detectives are focusing on evidence from former Mark
Warner nanny Charlotte Pennington, 20, that she saw a man
dropping a 'bundle' from a dinghy into the Atlantic just off
Praia da Luz at 11.30pm on the night Madeleine disappeared.
A police source described the sighting as 'credible', but
questions hang over it.
Miss Pennington said the man's jacket had a yellow reflective
hood, and for her to have seen him in the dark, the boat would
have had to be close to shore.
Neither fact seems to indicate a man wishing to remain
undetected. |
