Portuguese police believe Madeleine McCann died after falling down a flight of
steps and that her parents panicked, hiding her body because they feared being
blamed, it was claimed yesterday.
It was alleged that the four-year-old smashed the back of her head on a ceramic
flagstone at her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz.
Fearing they would be charged with manslaughter, Kate and Gerry McCann then got
rid of the body, possibly with the help of their friends, it was alleged.
The latest theory against the couple, who are official suspects in their
daughter's disappearance, was dismissed as "ludicrous and
unsubstantiated" by their spokesman.
It emerged as a source close to the McCanns said police were investigating
claims that a disgruntled ex-employee from the Ocean Club, where the family was
staying, may have been involved in Madeleine's abduction.
Mrs McCann has said she would be willing to risk going to prison by speaking
out about the events of May 3 in breach of
Portugal's secrecy laws. As
suspects, or arguidos, the couple are prevented from speaking about the
investigation, and have expressed frustration that they are not able to defend
themselves against increasingly lurid allegations regarding their daughter's
fate.
Despite the ban, they are in talks with chat-show hosts in the
US in an
attempt to remind people Madeleine is missing.
Yesterday, the McCanns spent a quiet day in their home town of
Rothley in Leicestershire, marking 150 days
since their daughter disappeared.
They are adamant that she was abducted but police in
Portugal
were described as "100 per cent" certain that the little girl died in
the family's apartment in the
Algarve.
A senior detective told Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas: "The only thing to
investigate is how the body disappeared." The newspaper claims Madeleine
fell down steps at the back of the apartment. Photographs taken at the time
show a children's safety barrier above the steps.
The new theory emerged after a report from
Britain said specialist sniffer
dogs had detected the "smell of death" on the steps, it was claimed.
In the past, Mr and Mrs McCann, both 39, have been accused of hiding their
daughter's body because she had been sedated.
But yesterday, a source close to the couple hit back at the allegations.
"Where is the proof that this happened? Madeleine was put to bed at 7pm
and there was a witness. When is Madeleine supposed to have fallen?
"If the police are 100 per cent certain that Madeleine fell down some
steps, that means they must be able to prove she died in that way. It's just
not possible without a body."
The couple's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, added: "It is just ludicrous.
All of these reports are unsourced and unsubstantiated."
A tip-off claiming that a former Ocean Club employee was involved in
Madeleine's disappearance was sent to the Prince of Wales's official website,
and passed to police.
It alleged that a maid who used to work at the Mark Warner resort kidnapped
Madeleine in revenge for being fired. Police have discovered the woman
identified does exist and that the tip-off came from an email address
registered in the
Iberian peninsula. |
