Lisbon/London - Police files outlining the case against Kate and Gerry McCann in connection with the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine were Tuesday handed to a public prosecutor in Portugal, media reports said. The daily Publico said a part of the files were already in possession of the prosecutor, who could now decide to maintain - or to ask a judge to step up - controls on the McCanns.
The couple are suspected of involvement in Madeleine's disappearance in the southern resort of Praia da Luz on May 3.
At the moment, the McCanns are allowed to travel freely. Alipio Ribeiro, the head of Portugal's judicial police, said he did not expect stricter controls.
Publico said material contained in the files showed that the McCanns were suspected of hiding Madeleine's body, but not of killing her. Investigators suspected that she died accidentally, according to the daily.
On the basis of the files, the prosecutor could seek charges against the McCanns, or decide that there is not sufficient evidence against them.
Ribeiro denied British reports that a full correspondence had been found between Madeleine's DNA and blood traces discovered in a car hired by her parents.
On the basis of the laboratory results that Portuguese police had received from Britain so far, it was not possible to affirm a 100 per cent correspondence with Madeleine's DNA, Ribeiro said.
Reports claiming that the girl's body had been in the car were "speculation," he added.
Any presence of biological traces from Madeleine's body in the car would not necessarily mean that the body had been there, but could come from clothes or blankets which had been in contact with the body, the daily Jornal de Noticias said.
The McCanns used the car several weeks after Madeleine went missing.
Ribeiro rejected criticism of Portuguese police by British media, saying police followed European norms, working meticulously and respectfully.
Portuguese Justice Minister Alberto Costa said in Brussels that he had "full confidence" in the work of Portuguese police in the case.
Madeleine's parents meanwhile described the case as an "unending nightmare" and said life had become "unbearable."
Ever since their return to Britain from Portugal Sunday, Kate and Gerry McCann have locked themselves into their family home in Rothley, in the county of Leicestershire in central England.
In his regular internet blog, Gerry McCann said he and his wife were facing an "unbearable" situation. But when all the facts were presented, they would be able to show that they played "no part in Madeleine's abduction."
