Madeleinen vanhemmat eivät ole, eivätkä koskaan ole olleetkaan epäiltyjä sanoo portugalin polliisi

' Strong Theory' Madeleine Is Dead

Updated: 19:23, Thursday August 16, 2007



One of the most senior police officers in Portugal has said it is a " strong theory" that Madeleine McCann is dead.



Madeleine McCannAlipio Ribeiro, national director of the Portuguese judicial police, said forensic test results on blood traces from the holiday flat are due " imminently" .



He told Spanish newspaper El Mundo: " Even though it' s a strong theory and there is always a possibility, we cannot say that she has died.



" It is the theory that we have to work with."



Speaking about forensic tests, he said the quality of traces of blood found in the Praia da Luz apartment were " not very good" and it was possible they would be inconclusive.



Mr Ribeiro refused to speculate on what would happen if it did turn out to be Madeleine' s blood, but said the results would be significant.



He said he was " optimistic" about getting to the bottom of the " very complex" case.



Asked if her parents were suspects, he said: " No. The parents have never been suspects. Never."



Asked if his force had any idea where Madeleine was, he said: " No. We have no idea where Madeleine could be."