Madeleine: police files go to public prosecutor

gibby zobel reports on the latest developments in the Madeleine McCann investigation

The parents of the missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann spent their first night at home in Britain last night amid reports from Portugal that they could be charged with the accidental homicide of their daughter.

Files were handed into the public prosecutor today outlining the Portuguese police's case against Kate and Gerry McCann three days after both were named official suspects. They could be forced to return to Portugal and are said to be 'terrified' at the prospect of being separated from their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie.

The McCanns have hired an expert on extradition, Michael Caplan QC, who advised former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The public prosecutor will decide whether or not charges will be brought in a process that may take days or weeks.

The McCanns protested their innocence as

The McCanns are ‘terrified’ at the prospect of being separated from their two-year- old twins

they returned to Rothey, Leicestershire, 130 days since Madeleine disappeared. A statement read by Gerry McCann said: "Despite there being so much we wish to say, we are unable to do so, except to say this: we played no part in the disappearance of our lovely daughter Madeleine."

Portuguese police are awaiting further forensic evidence following the partial results which led to the dramatic turn of events last week. One piece of evidence suggested that Madeleine's DNA showed up in the hire car the McCanns rented 25 days after she disappeared. This appears to have been taken seriously by police, although doubts remain as to the strength of the sample.

Portuguese police are preparing to launch new searches to try and locate Madeleine's body, according to Portuguese press. Another report suggests that the Policia Judiciaria are investigating the possibility that Robert Murat, the only other official suspect in the case, helped the McCanns hide Madeleine's body.