Politics
Madeleine McCann suspect could escape prosecution over Portugal law
POLICE in Portugal could lose their chance to nail anyone over Madeleine McCann’s disappearance due to a law which prevents prosecutions after 15 years.
Legal experts say the time limit means the chances of putting anyone behind bars would be “greatly reduced” after May 3, the day she vanished in 2007.
APPolice could be running out of time to press charges over Madeleine McCann’s disappearance[/caption]
Accused German national Christian B, 45, who lived near the resort from where Madeleine vanished at the time — Praia da Luz — would have to be declared an “official suspect” by that date this year.
Spencer Dohner, of MDM Legal in Faro, said Portugal’s statute of limitations states that anyone behind a crime punishable by ten or more years’ jail “cannot generally be prosecuted once 15 years has passed”.
The lawyer said: “If Madeleine is dead and was murdered the cut-off point for prosecution would be the 15th anniversary of her disappearance.
“If she were found alive and had been the victim of sex crimes as a minor, legal proceedings could take place until she was 23.” She is now 18.
A Lisbon-based lawyer, who asked not to be named, said: “Police and prosecutors in Portugal will be acutely aware of the time limits hanging over the case.”
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German Police Chief Hans Christian Wolters has said investigators are “confident” they have enough to charge the suspect, who is in prison for raping a pensioner.
He admitted the evidence was “circumstantial”.
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Scotland Yard, meanwhile, has decided to wind up its £13million Operation Grange probe in September due to lack of leads, it is said.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, are thought to have some private funding to help them continue with the search for their daughter.
German suspect Christian B could avoid prosecutionRex
AlamyMadeleine went missing from Praia da Luz in 2007[/caption]
