PORTUGESE detectives last night confirmed convicted child rapist Christian B as an official suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The Portuguese prosecutor's office confirmed "a defendant was appointed this Wednesday".
Christian B, 43, was told he is now an 'arguido' in Portugal in his German prison cell yesterday morning according to an insider.
An "arguido" – normally translated as "named suspect" or "formal suspect" – is someone who is treated by Portuguese police as more than a witness but has not been arrested or charged.
A Portuguese source added: "The legal grounds for making [Christian B] an arguido include the fact that he allegedly confessed to a friend he had snatched Madeleine and mobile phone records placed him in Praia da Luz the night she vanished."
It has been revealed that the convicted child rapist travelled between Praia da Luz and Germany in a camper van for several years before Madeleine vanished.
It is now understood that investigators are focusing their forensic work on the vehicle.
Read our Madeleine McCann blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Milica Cosic
Portuguese to continue to investigate Maddie's disappearance
Madeleine vanished aged three from her family apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3 2007.
And the news yesterday comes after Portuguese police said they would continue to investigate Maddie's disappearance as the Met Police ended its probe.
The source said: “The legal grounds for making Christian B an arguido include the fact that he allegedly confessed to a friend he had snatched Madeleine and mobile phone records placed him in Praia da Luz the night she vanished.
“But it is obviously linked to the fact that the Portuguese authorities want to keep their options open with the 15-year deadline looming.”
- Milica Cosic
Official statement from the DIAP
A written statement issued by the Portimao section of the Faro Department of Criminal Investigation and Prosecution (DIAP) said: “As part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007, a person was made an arguido on Wednesday.
“The person was made an arguido by the German authorities in execution of a request for international judicial cooperation issued by the Public Ministry of Portugal.
“The investigation is led by the Portimao section of the DIAP in Faro with the assistance of the Policia Judiciaria police.
"The investigation has been carried out with the cooperation of the English and German authorities.”
- Milica Cosic
What is an 'arguido'?
Christian B was told yesterday he was now an 'arguido' in Portugal in his German prison cell according to an insider.
An "arguido" – normally translated as "named suspect" or "formal suspect" – is someone who is treated by Portuguese police as more than a witness but has not been arrested or charged.
Detectives invoke arguido status on someone as a preliminary to an arrest being made or charges brought, but that does not mean arrests or charges automatically follow.
- Milica Cosic
Forensic work on Christian B's van
It has been revealed that the convicted child rapist travelled between Praia da Luz and Germany in a camper van for several years before Madeleine vanished.
It is now understood that investigators are focusing their forensic work on the vehicle.
- Milica Cosic
Christian B confirmed as official suspect
PORTUGESE detectives last night confirmed convicted child rapist Christian B as an official suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
The Portuguese prosecutor's office confirmed "a defendant was appointed this Wednesday".
Christian B, 43, was told he is now an 'arguido' in Portugal in his German prison cell yesterday morning according to an insider.
An "arguido" – normally translated as "named suspect" or "formal suspect" – is someone who is treated by Portuguese police as more than a witness but has not been arrested or charged.
A Portuguese source added: "The legal grounds for making [Christian B] an arguido include the fact that he allegedly confessed to a friend he had snatched Madeleine and mobile phone records placed him in Praia da Luz the night she vanished.
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