Madeleine's father faces police questioning

Missing Madeleine McCann’s father arrived at a Portuguese police station today to face fresh questioning over his daughter’s disappearance as his wife Kate, who now believes she could be charged in connection with Madeleine’s death, left the police station after being interviewed separately by officers having been made an “arguida”, or formal suspect, this morning.

Before attending the police station, Mr McCann insisted any suggestion his wife was involved in their daughter’s disappearance was “ludicrous”.

Writing on his blog, on the findmadeleine.com website, Mr McCann said: “Anyone who knows anything about the 3rd May knows that Kate is completely innocent.”

Mr McCann added that the family will “fight this all the way and we will not stop looking for Madeleine”.

Mrs McCann fears she could be charged over Madeleine’s death later today, and could even be in custody by this evening, a family spokeswoman said.

Madeleine’s mother underwent 11 hours of questioning yesterday, during the course of which detectives suggested that traces of her daughter’s blood were found in the family’s hire car.

Mrs McCann is understood to have told them angrily there was “no way” this could be the case because they did not lease the car until 25 days after Madeleine disappeared.

She was made an arguida at noon today with detectives apparently wanting to put 22 key questions to her.

Like his wife, Mr McCann faced a barrage of journalists and onlookers when he arrived at the headquarters of the Policia Judiciaria – Portugal’s CID – in Portimao, in the Algarve, at 3.35pm.

He arrived in a car driven by the couple’s campaign manager and spokeswoman Justine McGuinness.

Wearing a blue t-shirt and brown trousers, and carrying a maroon backpack, he gave the waiting photographers and TV crews a forced smile as he walked to the entrance.

There were a few whistles from the large crowd of locals and holidaymakers, but the reception was more muted than that given to Mrs McCann this morning.

It is now 127 days since Madeleine went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Friends and family rallied round the couple after today’s dramatic developments.

John McCann dismissed as “crazy” the suggestion Mrs McCann could have been involved with Madeleine’s death.

Ms McGuinness said: “They have done nothing. She (Mrs McCann) has done nothing.

“She really has worked incredibly hard to try and find Madeleine. She’s a fantastically loving and caring mother.

“I could not imagine Kate McCann harming a fly.”

Mrs McCann kissed her two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie goodbye this morning before going to the police station.

She was greeted by whistles and jeers from a crowd of waiting locals as she arrived in Portimao for questioning, although one British holidaymaker shouted: “We believe you, Kate”.

Mrs McCann is aware there is “always the threat” she could be in custody by this evening, Ms McGuinness said.

A group of friends who were with the McCanns on holiday when Madeleine disappeared released a statement saying they were “totally appalled” at any suggestion that Mrs McCann had anything to do with it.

The McCanns now fear that Portuguese police might frame them over their daughter’s disappearance, according to a family friend.

Their lawyer, Carlos Pinto de Abreu, has advised Mrs McCann there is “a possibility” she may be charged today in connection with her daughter’s disappearance.

The police did not discuss the events of May 3 during yesterday’s interview, and it is understood they were not aggressive towards Mrs McCann.

The fact that Mrs McCann, 39, a GP from Rothley, Leicestershire, was expecting to be made an “arguida”, or formal suspect, was revealed this morning.

Commenting on the move, a family spokesman said: “She is shocked and surprised in several ways. First of all, that such an accusation could be made against her.

“And obviously she is concerned that such a line of investigation can become a distraction from further attempts to find Madeleine.”

Until now there has only been one arguido in the case – Anglo-Portuguese expatriate Robert Murat.

But he is widely expected to be formally ruled out of the inquiry.

Under Portuguese law, an arguido has legal protection that is not extended to a witness, including the right to remain silent during questioning and the right to legal representation.

It is not uncommon for people caught up in criminal investigations in Portugal to declare themselves arguidos to receive this protection.

Until now, police have always stressed that the McCanns were being spoken to as witnesses.

The latest developments have upset the McCanns’ plans to return to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie on Sunday.