Riddle of Madeleine's body
Updated on 25 September 2007
A senior Portuguese prosecutor has said that it will be difficult and complicated to convict anyone of the murder of Madeleine McCann unless a body is found.
In an interview with Portuguese press Antonio Cluny said a confession would most likely be needed to secure a conviction without a body, although he also said this was not certain.
Mr Cluny described the case of the missing four-year-old as "complicated", saying "in the Maddy case there is no confession, and according to what has been made public the evidence gathered up now keeps all leads open, from abduction to homicide or at least a simple accident".
The McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said Kate and Gerry McCann are open to the possibility of facing up to bereavement, and the loss of their daughter.
Madeleine's parents are reported to be feeling more positive in the search for the four-year-old, after they hired a private detective firm who specialise in hostile situations, to help locate their missing child.
