Kate and Gerry McCann could have to wait another six months to learn why they were made suspects in their daughter's disappearance. (Daily Mail)Portuguese police files setting out the alleged evidence against them were due to be made public on January 3, but are now expected to be kept secret until as late as July, sources revealed yesterday.Under Portuguese law, secrecy restrictions on police files would be lifted after eight months to allow the suspects' lawyers to see the evidence against them.
But detectives have not completed their investigation and want to re-interview the McCanns and their friends. The public prosecutor is expected to be granted an extension to accommodate this, meaning evidence remaining secret for up to six months.
The McCanns now fear their lawyers could face a protracted legal battle to get their official suspect, or "arguido", status lifted and might even have to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights. Under Portuguese law there is no deadline which forces police to charge someone or lift their suspect status and there have been cases of people remaining arguidos for more than seven years.
The couple are desperate to have their arguido status lifted so they can talk freely about the case.