Friday, 7 September 2007
Kate McCann, mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine, will be declared a suspect by the Portuguese police, the BBC has learned.
The McCanns' family spokeswoman revealed that Mrs McCann will today be declared an "arguida" or formal suspect.
Mrs McCann and her lawyer were informed of this by detectives during 11 hours of questioning yesterday.
The McCanns have consistently denied any part in Madeleine's disappearance.
The spokeswoman said arguida status would then allow the police to put certain questions to Madeleine's mother giving her the legal right to remain silent.
She will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a British man living locally.
Mrs McCann's husband Gerry is expected to be questioned on Friday afternoon about Madeleine's disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May.
Mrs McCann had been interviewed before by police, but this was the first time her lawyer had been present.
She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects.
Separately, Portuguese detectives confirmed they had the partial results of forensic tests by a UK laboratory.
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