Madeleine 'killed by overdose of sleeping tablets'

Madeleine 'killed by overdose of sleeping tablets'

By PETER ALLEN - Last updated at 00:16am on 14th September 2007

Madeleine McCann died from an overdose of sleeping pills, it was claimed yesterday.

French investigative reporter Guilhem Battut said a report outlining how the four-year-old met her death was already with Portuguese prosecutors.

The newspaper France Soir said it contains scientific analysis of the bodily fluids found in the boot of the car hired by Kate and Gerry McCann which "prove that the little girl had ingested medicines, without doubt sleeping pills, in large quantities".

British forensic experts expressed severe doubts about the claim. They said the fluid was only a partial match to Madeleine's DNA and the sample was not strong enough to determine the presence of drugs. Even so, the report will come as a grave blow to the McCanns.

It supports theories published in Portugal that Mrs McCann was involved in Madeleine's death and her husband helped her dispose of their daughter's body.

The couple's supporters have dismissed these as "rumour-mongering" fuelled by sources in the floundering police investigation.

But this is harder to apply to France Soir and Battut's frontpage story.

A source at the newspaper said 'We are not simply repeating rumours carried in other papers.

"This is not a theory, but a fact contained in hard evidence in the hands of the Portuguese authorities.

"It's all very well putting theories and opinions forward, but in the end this case will be decided on evidence. As journalists, we have been trying to establish what evidence is available."

Although Battut would not reveal his sources, his newspaper claimed he had "senior Portuguese contacts".

Battut is an experienced investigative journalist who has worked on a number of major inquiries, including the death of Prince Diana.

Alan Baker, of the independent forensic science organisation Bericon, confirmed it would be possible to test decomposing bodily fluids - including urine or vomit - for the presence of drugs but said it would be "very difficult" to quantify the amount.

"These samples are likely to be far from ideal," he said. "If it is just a smear or dried deposit, you could detect the drug but not how much."

Sources said strands of hair were still being analysed for drugs.

The French accusation came as a mystery benefactor - understood to be a wealthy British businessman - agreed to meet the McCanns' legal costs.

British experts also attacked the forensic evidence trumpeted by Portuguese police as proof of the McCanns' involvement. They said it was so 'flawed and unreliable' it could never be relied on in a fair trial.

In Portugal, police were reported to be drawing up a list of 40 questions they want to put to Mrs McCann.

She could be called back to be reinterviewed, or the questions could be put by detectives in this country.

The McCanns were visited by social workers at their family home in Rothley, Leicestershire yesterday.

Two officials from Leicestershire Social Services spent an hour interviewing them as their two-year- old twins Sean and Amelie played in the garden.

The visit - said to have been at the McCanns' invitation - followed a meeting of Leicestershire's child protection team and police earlier this week to discuss whether it was safe to leave the twins with their parents, who are suspects in a missing child inquiry and may face charges over her disappearance.

The couple, who were described as 'horrified' at the prospect of their children being taken away, quickly arranged for social workers to call and see how they are caring for the twins.

Social services is obliged to investigate any case where parents are suspected by police of harming their children and it is understood the McCanns were questioned about leaving the children alone in their holiday apartment while they went out for dinner.

A spokesman for the McCanns said last night: "The meeting was absolutely fine.

"It was very much at Gerry and Kate's instigation that they meet with social services so early on after returning to Leicestershire."

Portugal's ambassador to the UK said last night he hoped relations between the countries would not be damaged by the Madeleine investigation.

Antonio Carlos was speaking at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where a session of questions on his country's current presidency of the EU was interrupted by queries about the McCann case.

Asked whether he thought relations would be harmed, Mr Carlos said: "I hope not - our two countries are the oldest alliance. We are doing our utmost to solve the problem together with the support of the British police."