Madeleine McCann's parents plan to stay in Portugal to prove their innocence after being named official suspects in the case, a friend has told the BBC. Jon Corner said Gerry and Kate McCann, both 39, were determined the search for their daughter would not be "derailed".
Mr Corner said the developments pointed to the "mindset of the Portuguese police. Clearly, they're not investigating or doing the detective work to find Madeleine," he said. "They're actually looking for a very quick, clean closure on the case, and that means turning their focus into the family."
Mr Corner had previously said Mrs McCann had told him officers had tried to "cut her a deal" where she would serve only two years in jail if she confessed.
But Portugal-based British journalist Paul Luckman told the BBC that under Portuguese law there is a set sentence for each crime which not even a judge can change. He said it would be simply not possible for the police to make such a deal. (BBC News)
