McCanns return to UK
Sunday, 09 Sep 2007 21:02
Kate McCann spoke to police yesterday for about 11 hours
The parents of Madeleine McCann have returned to their home in the UK, days after being named as suspects over the disappearance of their daughter.
Gerry and Kate McCann, both 39, strongly deny any involvement in four-year-old Madeleine's abduction or death, while a family spokesman said their return to Rothley, Leicestershire, was in "full agreement" with Portuguese detectives.
On the 129th day since Madeleine disappeared they arrived at East Midlands airport at 12:15 BST with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie after their flight from Faro airport.
Yesterday Mr McCann joined his wife in being given the 'arguido' – named formal suspect – tag by Portuguese police.
On Friday Mrs McCann had been handed 'arguida' status after facing a line of questioning reportedly revolving around the accusation she accidentally killed Madeleine and covered up her death.
Under Portuguese law detectives can now ask the McCanns certain questions and they will have the right not to answer those questions after being given arguido status.
In interviews with the British press published today Mr and Mrs McCann claim that Portuguese police are attempting to frame them for the killing of Madeleine.
"They want me to lie – I'm being framed," Kate McCann told the Sunday Mirror.
"They are basically saying, 'If you confess Madeleine had an accident, and that I panicked and hid the body in a bag for a month then got rid of it in a hire car, I'd get two or three years' suspended sentence'," she continued in an interview given before she was named as a formal suspect.
"I was even told, 'Think about it - Gerry would even be able to work again'. I was told that I could say I was stressed and I sedated Madeleine and it could be the best option for me. It is ridiculous. The worst nightmare."
Mr McCann meanwhile admitted to the News of the World that the couple were "fighting for our lives".
"We will clear our name and we will not give up on Madeleine," he said.