Madeleine McCann suspect

Plenty of cases where there is no body but yet a conviction. Anniebach It is harder but you can convict on circumstantial evidence.

Dee1012 they were not far away and were checking every so often. They were probably listening for crying infants - not expecting an intruder.
There but for the grace of god.....

I doubt there can be an arrest and trial, no body, no evidence,
he was in the area, he allegedly told someone he had committed the crime.

As a parent, I could not and still can't understand how they could leave their kids even for half an hour without a monitor or baby sitter,I'm not a perfect parent but never did that....3 children under the age of 4 alone?!!

From what I heard on tv last night the suspect mentioned what he’d done to someone in a bar, at the same time as showing that person pictures of another crime he’d committed. Sounds like something that happened in a film I saw a while back which, at the time I thought was implausible. Police are desperate for someone to come forward and give evidence as they can’t find any forensic evidence. I just can’t imagine anyone being so evil that knowing they weren’t going to get away with what they’ve done they won’t, at least give the parents closure: the moors murders spring to mind.

Me too Forestflame the guilt must be dreadful, I don't know how they have coped. Looking back there are things that happened in our or our children's lives that with hindsight could have ended in tragedy - sitting in cars with babies on our knees; our mums's leaving us outside in our prams to get some fresh air; or leaving the pram unattended outside a shop; children sitting outside pubs on their own with a packet of crisps and a bottle of pop (not me I hasten to add, but saw it happen); being allowed to 'play out' all day and roam wherever we liked. I just hope they get to find out finally, what happened; sadly I too think she has died.

I'm wondering, Gingster, if the suspect has made a confession.

It's very odd that he's a new suspect but was in the area with a history of criminal activity and only now they're taking him seriously.

Hope the poor parents can finally get some answers. It must be hell for them.

What took them so long to connect the man with the crime? The poor parents have been through so much but have always hoped she was alive and being treated well. Now it seems as if they will learn the truth and will be haunted by the way she was taken from them.

How wonderful it must be to be perfect. I'm not.

My heartfelt sympathy has always been with the parents who have suffered every day for the last 13 years and will no doubt continue to do so for the rest of their lives.

I hope they can at least find closure at last.

It is a point to remember that they paid the ultimate price for leaving Maddie and her siblings alone that night

I think it was Maddie who paid the ultimate price.

songstress - that's not really true though is it? There was absolutely masses of publicity and reporting about Ben Needham. It all kicked off again recently too, I seem to recall.

Me too. Must be a living hell for them.

On the question if the parents being responsible for poor Maddie's disappearance. I remember seeing a documentary a few years ago in which experts in body language, studied the interviews that Gerry and Kate gave to the media and concluded that they were telling the truth. It is a point to remember that they paid the ultimate price for leaving Maddie and her siblings alone that night and they have to live with the results for the rest of their lives. I hope and pray that they will find out what happened to their little girl and finally get closure.

You just need to read certain forums and it will tell you that it is fairly common to dose youngsters with Calpol at bedtime and it gives you an hour or two of peace and quiet.
A sedated child would not shout or cry.
I take exception to the suggestion that we all made mistakes, speak for yourself, some of us really were responsible.

many years ago I discovered a little girl about 8-9 outside a house 10pm at night very distressed I took her back to the open front door and used the house phone to let her speak to someone in the phone book who drove to the house immediatly just as the parents arrived home, turned out the father had gone to pick the mother up from her night shift job not dreaming that the little girl would wake up and find no one at home.! Good job it was me that came along!

I don’t think anyone on here is pretending to be perfect but they are just stating the fact that on holiday they never left small children unattended in the flat or hotel room.

Does anyone remember how amazed the Portuguese police were that the twins slept through all the commotion in the flat when they were there along with the McCanns plus their friends ?

Kate apparently was screaming, there was a lot of other noise yet still those two little ones slept. I seem to remember that’s when the idea of all the children having been sedated arose hence the parents being made arguidos.

No, it was not sensible parenting.

totally agree

Why are people so judgemental? None of us is perfect. We all should look first at the 'plank' in our own eye before trying to remove the 'speck' in someone else's

You’re right Anniebach. I was a child who was left in a Butlins chalet while my parents went out for the evening . I remember waking up and being frozen with fear . My little sister was sound asleep and I woke her up (I would’ve been about 7-8 ) we sat at the window behind a net curtain just waiting and waiting for what seemed forever for our parents to come back. I don’t recall, but knowing my parents I probably got into trouble for getting up .

For years parents holidayed in those Butlins holiday camps,
Left their children alone in chalets in the evening and went to
concerts etc, Butlins staff patrolled the paths around the chalets, was that sensible parenting ?

I’m not ashamed. It’s an opinion. I am entitled to that.

Self righteousness is really not a good trait! The McCanns have enough guilt of their own without all the vitriol thrown at them. I’m not saying I would have left my young children but I would also say I wasn’t perfect either.

25Avalon where does it say he has been officially charged? As of 1.15 he’s being investigated as a suspect, not charged with the offence. Can you provide a link to a reputable source?

Well said Nanny27

It sickens me to read on this thread that people feel that the McCanns were involved in their daughter's disappearance. What a terrible thing to suggest. All on here who have written such things should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
I just pray that those poor parents finally get closure....I could cry just thinking about what they have gone through.