News
7 kids were left in McCann flat
Gaunt ... Kate manages a smile
leaving church yesterday
leaving church yesterday
POLICE in Portugal piled fresh torment on Madeleine McCann?s parents yesterday by claiming SIX other kids were with her the night she disappeared.
The bizarre theory – that the couple?s friends left their own children in the fateful holiday apartment to go out – emerged as the country?s No2 cop took over the case of the missing four-year-old.
Last night Maddie?s gaunt-looking mum Kate and husband Gerry slammed the latest slur on their version of events as ?utter rubbish?.
The two doctors, both 39, insist their two-year-old twins Amelie and Sean were the only other children sleeping in the rented flat when Maddie vanished.
The news comes as friends of Kate have argued today that the fact she refused to leave Portugal, despite pleas from husband Gerry and friends, is further proof she is telling the truth.
Even though she knew public opinion in Portugal was turning against them, Kate felt emotionally attached to the area and wanted to stay.
Friends argue that someone with something to hide would not have behaved in the same way.
But police sources reportedly told Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas they had "significant evidence" that seven of the eight children in the group had been in the McCanns' apartment.
Reports suggest they did not give an explanation as to where the eighth child was.
And the newspaper also claims that Maddie and twins Sean and Amelie were sedated.
This belief is apparently based on the first preliminary results of the tests carried out at a lab in Birmingham.
These results are said to tie in with forensic analysis previously carried out at the National Institute of Legal Medicine in Portugal.
According to a reported police source, there is no proof that the other children claimed to be in the apartment were also sedated.
Yesterday three detectives visited the apartment where Madeleine disappeared to reconstruct what happened.
They were there for five hours. Their new boss Paulo Rebelo, 45, is understood to favour a ?rethink? of every aspect of the investigation.
The McCanns? spokesman Clarence Mitchell scoffed at the cops? new allegations, saying: ?If you put seven children together you are going to have a far harder time getting them to sleep than three.? The latest theory casts doubt not only on what Kate and Gerry have always said but knocks statements by the three couples they holidayed with.
Pals Jane Tanner, 36, and her partner Dr Russell O?Brien, 36, have two young daughters. Dr Matthew Oldfield, 37, and wife Rachael, 36, also have two children.
Also in the Algarve with the McCanns were David Payne, 41, and his wife Dr Fiona Payne, 34 – who have one child – and Fiona?s mother Diane. Maddie vanished five months ago in the resort of Praia da Luz as her parents and friends dined in a nearby tapas bar. The police theory about other kids being in the flat was leaked by a detective to a Portuguese newspaper.
It emerged as highly respected senior officer Rebelo – second in command at the Policia Judiciaria – took over the inquiry. He replaced disgraced Goncalo Amaral – axed last week for blasting the McCanns and UK detectives. Rebelo, 45, has worked on some of Portugal?s most high profile crimes – although he has no experience of investigating missing children.
His appointment was announced as it was revealed the McCanns have hired their own forensic team. The move follows reports that new DNA evidence links them to their daughter?s disappearance.
Spokesman Mr Mitchell said: ?Kate and Gerry hope Mr Rebelo will now work to eliminate them from the inquiry as suspects and will then be in a position to refocus his team into the search for Madeleine.?
But news emerged today that a team of six Portuguese detectives is reportedly investigating the disappearance of Madeleine - down from about 100 inspectors put on the case when she first went missing
Carlos Anjos, president of the Association of Criminal Investigation Staff, told Portugal's national news agency Lusa that five detectives and a chief inspector made up the team.
He said the drawdown was "normal" in investigations where the missing person was not found in the immediate period after disappearing, Lusa reported.
Yesterday Kate looked pale and thin as she attended a Catholic service for Madeleine near the family?s home in Rothley, Leics.
Mr Mitchell insisted: ?Kate may appear frail but inside she is stronger than ever.?
Gerry and Kate McCann have praised Hollywood star Ben Affleck for his "sensitivity" after he halted the UK screening of his latest film over its similarities to the missing Madeleine case.
Gone Baby Gone - directed by the actor and starring his brother Casey - features a private detective trying to find a missing four-year-old girl.
The thriller has now had its UK premiere postponed.
At the Los Angeles premiere, Affleck said: "It just came down to the fact that there is a family there, and there is a country that has been exposed to the story and seems to have become to a certain degree emotionally sensitive to it."
The McCanns' family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "We thank him for being thoughtful enough and sensitive enough to Gerry and Kate's position to make such a commercial decision."
The bizarre theory – that the couple?s friends left their own children in the fateful holiday apartment to go out – emerged as the country?s No2 cop took over the case of the missing four-year-old.
Grim ... Gerry yesterday
Last night Maddie?s gaunt-looking mum Kate and husband Gerry slammed the latest slur on their version of events as ?utter rubbish?.
The two doctors, both 39, insist their two-year-old twins Amelie and Sean were the only other children sleeping in the rented flat when Maddie vanished.
The news comes as friends of Kate have argued today that the fact she refused to leave Portugal, despite pleas from husband Gerry and friends, is further proof she is telling the truth.
Even though she knew public opinion in Portugal was turning against them, Kate felt emotionally attached to the area and wanted to stay.
Friends argue that someone with something to hide would not have behaved in the same way.
But police sources reportedly told Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas they had "significant evidence" that seven of the eight children in the group had been in the McCanns' apartment.
Reports suggest they did not give an explanation as to where the eighth child was.
And the newspaper also claims that Maddie and twins Sean and Amelie were sedated.
This belief is apparently based on the first preliminary results of the tests carried out at a lab in Birmingham.
These results are said to tie in with forensic analysis previously carried out at the National Institute of Legal Medicine in Portugal.
According to a reported police source, there is no proof that the other children claimed to be in the apartment were also sedated.
Yesterday three detectives visited the apartment where Madeleine disappeared to reconstruct what happened.
They were there for five hours. Their new boss Paulo Rebelo, 45, is understood to favour a ?rethink? of every aspect of the investigation.
The McCanns? spokesman Clarence Mitchell scoffed at the cops? new allegations, saying: ?If you put seven children together you are going to have a far harder time getting them to sleep than three.? The latest theory casts doubt not only on what Kate and Gerry have always said but knocks statements by the three couples they holidayed with.
Rebelo ... now heads the case
Pals Jane Tanner, 36, and her partner Dr Russell O?Brien, 36, have two young daughters. Dr Matthew Oldfield, 37, and wife Rachael, 36, also have two children.
Also in the Algarve with the McCanns were David Payne, 41, and his wife Dr Fiona Payne, 34 – who have one child – and Fiona?s mother Diane. Maddie vanished five months ago in the resort of Praia da Luz as her parents and friends dined in a nearby tapas bar. The police theory about other kids being in the flat was leaked by a detective to a Portuguese newspaper.
It emerged as highly respected senior officer Rebelo – second in command at the Policia Judiciaria – took over the inquiry. He replaced disgraced Goncalo Amaral – axed last week for blasting the McCanns and UK detectives. Rebelo, 45, has worked on some of Portugal?s most high profile crimes – although he has no experience of investigating missing children.
Missing ... Maddie
His appointment was announced as it was revealed the McCanns have hired their own forensic team. The move follows reports that new DNA evidence links them to their daughter?s disappearance.
Spokesman Mr Mitchell said: ?Kate and Gerry hope Mr Rebelo will now work to eliminate them from the inquiry as suspects and will then be in a position to refocus his team into the search for Madeleine.?
But news emerged today that a team of six Portuguese detectives is reportedly investigating the disappearance of Madeleine - down from about 100 inspectors put on the case when she first went missing
Carlos Anjos, president of the Association of Criminal Investigation Staff, told Portugal's national news agency Lusa that five detectives and a chief inspector made up the team.
He said the drawdown was "normal" in investigations where the missing person was not found in the immediate period after disappearing, Lusa reported.
Yesterday Kate looked pale and thin as she attended a Catholic service for Madeleine near the family?s home in Rothley, Leics.
Mr Mitchell insisted: ?Kate may appear frail but inside she is stronger than ever.?
Gone Baby Gone - directed by the actor and starring his brother Casey - features a private detective trying to find a missing four-year-old girl.
The thriller has now had its UK premiere postponed.
At the Los Angeles premiere, Affleck said: "It just came down to the fact that there is a family there, and there is a country that has been exposed to the story and seems to have become to a certain degree emotionally sensitive to it."
The McCanns' family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "We thank him for being thoughtful enough and sensitive enough to Gerry and Kate's position to make such a commercial decision."
Brits face DNA quiz
BRITS who were in Praia da Luz when Madeleine went missing have been asked to give DNA samples to police.
Leicestershire police sent letters to all those staying at the Ocean Club resort the week the McCanns were there.
Portuguese detectives are trying to identify DNA samples and fingerprints from locations including the McCanns’ apartment.
It shows police have not ruled out the theory that Madeleine, four, was snatched.
They are also tying to trace mobile calls from the night she vanished.
Det Supt Stuart Prior wrote in the letter that the samples would “help Portuguese police eliminate samples they have not yet been able to identify”.
A McCann family friend said: “Kate and Gerry will welcome this as it shows increased police activity.”
