Judge Considers McCann Case

A Portuguese judge is studying a 1,000-page dossier on the Madeleine McCann case and reviewing the evidence against her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann.

The judge will have ten days to consider the contents of the dossier, which was passed to him by prosecutor Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Menesses on Tuesday, one day after the files were handed to him on Monday.

It is not known if Mr Cunha de Magalhaes e Menesses is recommending that Mr and Mrs McCann be charged in connection with their daughter's disappearance. It is thought that he may request search warrants, further interviews or that stricter bail conditions be imposed on the couple.

However, Sky News reported that the prosecutor has asked for emergency powers to seize Kate McCann's private diary, while it was also reported that police wanted to confiscate Madeleine's toys, including Cuddle Cat, which Mrs McCann had been photographed clutching in the days following her daughter's disappearance.

Portuguese newspapers have also reported that police are planning new searches in Praia da Luz, where Madeleine vanished on May 3. These are reported to include searches at the village church of Nossa Senhora da Luz.

Mr and Mrs McCann, both 39, were named as formal suspects - or 'arguidos' - in the case last week, although they were allowed to leave Portugal to return to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire on Sunday.

Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, told reporters that the passing of the files to the judge was expected and "doesn't change a thing". She said: "We will have to wait and see if they are bringing charges or not."

The move comes after DNA evidence was discovered in a car, hired by the McCanns three weeks after Madeleine disappeared. It had originally been reported that the DNA found in the car was a 100% match with the missing four-year-old, but Portuguese officials have played down these reports.

On Wednesday, it was also reported that the McCanns were considering commissioning their own independent forensic tests on the hire car.

They also released a statement saying that they would not used funds from the Find Madeleine campaign to finance their legal defence.

(KMcA/SP)