Madeleine case ongoing: Portugal's attorney general
Tuesday, 01 Jul 2008 19:13
Portuguese police reported to be 'closing' Madeleine case
Portugal's attorney general has claimed that no decision has been taken on the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Portuguese newspapers claimed this morning that police were closing the investigation into the missing girl.
It was reported that the police did not have "sufficient evidence" to charge Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry, who are both official suspects in the case along with Robert Murat.
Madeleine, four, went missing from the Praia da Luz holiday resort on May 3rd last year.
Fernanado Pinto Monteiro said this afternoon though that the case continued to be assessed.
Both the Correio da Manha and Journal de Noticias newspapers claimed on Tuesday that the case will be officially closed in the next few days.
The later stated: "The police have not found the guilty".
The McCanns were named as official suspects – arguidos – last September.
Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell told the BBC in an interview today that the couple were still unsure whether the media reports were true.
"If they are true, it's to be welcomed that Kate and Gerry are not to face any charges," Mr Mitchell said.
"It's quite right. They are innocent of any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. They have suffered enough in this process.
"And surely the Portuguese authorities, if this is true, must lift their arguido status as a priority."
Gerry and Kate McCann are due in the high court on Monday to ask for police files into the disappearance of their daughter to be released.