Just a few weeks ago, Julia Wendell from Poland caused a stir when she claimed to be the missing Maddie McCann. However, subsequent DNA testing showed this to be extremely unlikely.
Nevertheless, the case seems to be getting going again: this week the police in Portugal will start a new investigation.
Where is determined?
The center of gravity of the investigation is at the Aradedam, about 50 kilometers from Praia de Luz, in the Portuguese Algarve.
The news channel SIC Noticias found that ten detectives and several firefighters had already cordoned off a large area on the edge of the reservoir on Monday. In the area, which is considered a natural paradise, a command post has been set up in a tent to coordinate the search from there.
Why the Arade Dam?
The broadcaster SIC Noticias speculated that it could be assumed that the investigations of the Germans had provided new clues.
The place was formerly visited by Christian B., reports SIC Noticias. He is said to have described it as “his little paradise”. B. has been an official suspect in the Maddie case since last year. The Germans believe he may be the key to solving the case.
However, B. denies having anything to do with Maddie’s disappearance. B. is currently serving a prison sentence for drug offenses and since 2019 another 7 years in Oldenburg Prison in Northern Germany. He was convicted of raping a 72-year-old American woman in 2005. The act took place in the same part of Portugal’s Algarve region where Madeleine later disappeared.
What are you looking for?
The Portuguese journalist Luis Garriapa, who is dealing with the case, points out to SIC Noticias that there are probably no traces of a biological nature left. This includes traces such as footprints, fingerprints or other DNA residues. He therefore assumes that the police are looking for other elements such as objects or clothing. The search will mainly be limited to the land surface.
Who started the investigation?
The action was requested by the German Federal Police (BKA) and would take place in the Algarve “in the coming days”, the Portuguese police said on Monday.
In addition to Portuguese and German officials, British police officers are said to be taking part in the new search. The Polícia Judiciaria gave no further details in its short statement. Lusa and other Portuguese media, citing authorities, reported that the search should begin as early as Tuesday at the Arade reservoir and last two to three days.
Are there any new clues?
Whether there is new information has not been announced. The public prosecutor’s office in Braunschweig, which is investigating B. on suspicion of murder in this case, initially also did not want to respond to the dpa request. However, she announced a message for Tuesday morning.
Can the case be dropped?
Yes. Crimes with a maximum sentence of 10 years or more have a statute of limitations of 15 years in Portugal. If this period expires, no costs can be charged.
Theoretically, this term has already passed: since Maddie disappeared on May 3, 2007, the case was 15 years old last year.
And yet the case is not time-barred. Why?
Eleven days before the approaching statute of limitations, so on April 22, 2022, Christian B. was officially declared a defendant for the first time. This measure has interrupted the statute of limitations in Portugal.
If Maddie is dead, the crime can be prosecuted for up to 15 years after the crime. If, on the other hand, she is alive and a child victim of a sex crime, a trial can take place until she reaches the age of 23. The Brit would now be 19 years old.
But maybe that doesn’t matter, because: under German law there is no statute of limitations for murder. And since the German investigations have nothing to do with those in Portugal, the German prosecutor’s office can file charges at any time. Provided they have a reasonable suspicion. However, conclusive evidence for this is still lacking.
What happened then?
Madeleine McCann disappeared without a trace from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal’s Algarve in 2007, just days before her fourth birthday. Her disappearance sparked one of the largest searches in history.
(saw with material from the sda and dpa news agencies)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
