Portugal's most senior police officer has confirmed that they are now working
on the assumption that Madeleine McCann is dead.
Alipio Ribeiro, the national director of the Policia Judiciaria, said the
"strongest hypothesis" was that the four-year-old, who has been
missing for 15 weeks, was no longer alive but added that his officers were still
a "long way" from solving the case.
A sniffer dog was said to have picked up the scent of a body inside the
apartment where Madeleine disappeared and it was believed that detectives were
holding back a "key clue" that had led them to the conclusion.
Previously they had always insisted that unless there was evidence to the
contrary, they would work on the basis that Madeleine was still alive.
Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have been kept in the dark about developments and
are still demanding to see what has caused the shift in the investigation.
Mr Ribeiro, who denied that the parents had ever been suspects, said:
"This is a very dynamic investigation. We cannot explain everything to
them that we are doing."
After three months of silence from Portuguese police, senior officials,
including spokesman Olegario Sousa, have been authorised to give a series of
interviews, all of which confirmed they believed Madeleine was probably dead.
Tests were continuing on blood specks found on the walls of the apartment and
other forensics, although police have always played down their likely outcome
and significance. Reports yesterday claimed that the blood was not that of
Madeleine, although sources at the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham said that the results were not
known.
British forensic experts were still examining evidence gathered in a
British-led review of the case but Mr Ribeiro said there was no sign of where
it would lead them. He said the motive behind Madeleine's disappearance
remained a mystery.
"We are trying to clear up a difficult situation, above all in relation to
the motive," he said. "It could have been for money, for revenge, for
hate. We don't know."
Asked about the search for the girl, he added: "We have no idea where
Madeleine could be."
The comments confirmed the worst fears of Mr and Mrs McCann, who told friends
they needed an end to the ordeal, but believed the investigation was back to
"square one". A spokesman said that until they were presented with
concrete evidence to the contrary, they would continue to believe that
Madeleine was still alive.
Mr Ribeiro also confirmed that there were contradictions in the witness
statements of three British couples and a woman who were on holiday with the
McCanns.
"The contradictions, in themselves, are worth little," he said.
"We have to see what their relevance is."
It is believed the friends may be re-interviewed.
As The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week, police have exhausted all
leads and are still no closer to finding Madeleine.
Robert Murat, the only formal suspect questioned in the case, has been ruled
out.
However Mr Ribeiro said: "I am optimistic because I believe we will end up
understanding everything that happened.
"We recognise the expectation is low. It is not easy. There is a long way
yet to go and it would be frivolous of me to say we are near the end."
He criticised officers who had leaked false information to Portuguese
newspapers.
He said: "The police should be discreet but there is always someone who
talks. Sometimes it is someone who knows nothing and just wants to be a
protagonist.
"If I denied everything erroneous that had been published, I would have no
time for anything else." |
