09.00 hours
KATE MCCANN, mother of missing four-year-old Madeleine, will be declared a formal suspect, or arguida, by the Portuguese police later today (Friday).
She is due to return to the PJ headquarters later this morning to be informed officially.
This was confirmed by the McCanns’ family spokesman, Justine McGuinness.
Mrs McCann and her lawyer were informed of this by detectives during 11 hours of questioning yesterday.
The McCanns have consistently denied any part in Madeleine’s disappearance.
Arguida status will allow the police to put certain questions to Madeleine’s mother giving her the legal right to remain silent.
She will become the second formal suspect in the case. The first was Robert Murat, a 33 year old British man living locally.
Gerry McCann is expected to be questioned this afternoon about Madeleine’s disappearance from an apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3.
Mrs McCann had been interviewed before by police, but this was the first time her lawyer had been present.
She was questioned as a witness until after midnight on Thursday. Police have previously said the McCanns are not suspects.
