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Madeleine cops: 'She died by accident in flat'
Senior detectives have told prosecutors they believe Madeleine McCann was killed accidentally in her holiday flat.
The three Portuguese officers leading the investigation made the
revelation at a meeting this week - and claimed to have evidence that supports
their theory.
A source said: "They said they think Madeleine is dead and it
happened in the flat. But they don't think she was killed on purpose. It's the
first time they have said this.
"All they would say is they have evidence her death was accidental.
Nobody knows what the evidence is."
The detectives - Guilhermino Encarnacao, Goncalo Amaral and Luis Neves -
admitted that there are still a number of potential theories about the missing four-year-old
that are being considered.
But they said they did not believe she was deliberately murdered.
The source added: "At the moment they are leaning towards it being
a tragic accident."
There are also said to be simmering tensions between Portuguese and
British police over the handling of the case.
The Portuguese are furious at the time it is taking to get crucial DNA
results on blood found in the Praia da Luz flat from the British laboratory
where they are being tested.
But British detectives pointed out the evidence was only uncovered
because of a UK led review of the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance
on May 3.
It is believed police are waiting for the results of the tests before
they make their next move.
Despite the revelation by detectives, Gerry McCann yesterday said he
believed his daughter is still alive and could be in Spain.
He told a Spanish newspaper: "There is a very real possibility that
Madeleine is alive and we want the police to look for her.
"The possibility that Madeleine is alive and in Spain is real. The
border between the two countries is very big. If someone had a car, it is clear
they could cross into Spain. There is no border guard and no one closed the
border the night Madeleine disappeared."
But he also admitted: "We've done a lot of research into missing
children and we realise the percentage of minors who reappear is very
small."
As we revealed yesterday, Gerry and wife Kate have put their plans to
return home on hold. Police asked them not to leave in mid-September as planned
in case there are developments in the investigation.
And yesterday Kate, a locum GP from Rothley, Leics, said: "We have
still not decided to go home. Emotionally, it's very difficult to return
without Madeleine."
End
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20th July 2013