Missing Maddie – Investigation To Stop? Update July 1, 2008

There are reports in the Portuguese media today that the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann is to be dropped. These reports have not been confirmed by the Portuguese authorities.

It is has been stated in the media that the inquiry would stop because the Policia Judiciaria report on the investigation is only ‘descriptive of the facts’ meaning that it has not reached any conclusion as to whether they were investigating an abduction, murder or concealment of a body. Other sources have said that the case would remain open without further investigation unless new evidence was found.

The final report is expected to go to the Ministerio Publico in Portimao in the next few days for a decision to be made.

It is also not certain that Kate McCann, Gerry McCann or Robert Murat will have their arguido (formal suspect) status lifted.

A spokesman for the McCann’s has said that at present they would not give any views until such time as they are told that the case has been officially dropped.

They would also like access to the files held by the PJ for their own investigators to continue their own lines of inquiry in the search for missing Maddie. The McCann’s have applied to the Family Division of the High Court for access to police files on the various reported sightings.

The judge, Mrs, Justice Hogg will decide whether the case and judgement will be made in public or not on July 7. British police have kept to their agreement with their Portuguese counterparts not to disclose any information regarding the investigations and interviews that have been carried out.

Madeleine McCann went missing from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, but secrecy laws in Portugal led to much speculation by the media, most of which was pure speculation and not based on fact or evidence.

Related Post:
Timeline and Update June 20, 2008