Madeleine McCann cops want to re-test saliva found at Algarve apartment where she vanished

MADELEINE MCCANN investigators in Germany want to re-test a saliva sample from the Portugal flat where she vanished to see if it matches main suspect Christian B, it's reported.

Last week, The Sun reported how a scrap of blue material in the vaults of a Portuguese forensic lab could provide the vital link between Christian B and Madeleine McCann.

Detectives hope advances in DNA testing may yet provide a full profile for comparison with the 43-year-old convicted paedophile and rapist.

The material comes from the bedspread draped over the bed Madeleine was sleeping on when she was abducted from her family’s holiday apartment.

Tests uncovered a microscopic a DNA profile initially identified as semen, but later confirmed to be saliva.

And according to Sky News today, German authorities are now keen to re-examine a sample from the Praia da Luz holiday apartment where Madeleine vanished from in 2007.

SALIVA SAMPLE

Sky News claims Portuguese tests on the sample apparently found no DNA match to Christian B.

Authorities in Germany believe their scientists should do their own tests.

But Portuguese police may not send the sample due to legal restrictions in sending samples abroad for testing and recent criticism of them from Germany, Sky reports.

Asked about today's report about the saliva sample, Braunschweig state prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters, who is leading the Madeleine investigation, said: "That information is not mine.

"I don't know where it comes from. I can't confirm anything."

You can help by calling Operation Grange with information on 0207 321 9251 or email Operation.grange@met.police.uk

The Met Police, who have also been investigating Madeleine's disappearance through their missing person inquiry Operation Grange, were unable to comment.

Last week, The Sun reported that scientists in Portugal were unable to obtain a full DNA profile at the time but have continued to work on it with new testing techniques.

The sample is being held at the National Institute of Legal, Medical and Forensic Science, in Coimbra, near Lisbon.

Forensic tests have also been carried out on particles taken from the floor, sofa, walls and skirting board in the McCann’s apartment at the Ocean Village complex.

Christian B is currently in jail in the north German town of Kiel after being convicted of drug offences. Last year, he was convicted of a 2005 rape of a 72-year-old widow, which he is appealing.

Yesterday, Christain B's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher spoke for the first time to say his client "denies any involvement" in the McCann case.

It also emerged that a request by his legal team to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on breaches over his 2018 extradition from Italy to Germany was being considered.

His lawyers are challenging the evidence and witness statements against him and accuse German authorities of breaching international law.

He was arrested for an outstanding drugs offence but then put on trial back in Germany for the rape following his arrest in Milan.

The ECJ decision is expected by July 16.

EUROPEAN COURT DECISION

But Mr Wolters said there are doubts over whether Christian B could be released then as he faces another court appearance in the German town of Flensburg over his drug-dealing case, for which he is eligible for parole having served two thirds of his sentence.

Mr Wolters told Sun Online: "I think this decision [the drug dealing parole] would be the first decision.

";And if in this case the judge says he has to stay in prison, he will be in prison longer than July 16.

"I think that he will not be released in the drug-dealing case, so he has to stay in prison until, I think, January 2021.

"And so the decision of the European Court is not so important to us.

"I'm not sure that the judge in the drug-dealing case will not release him, it's a possibility, but I think the possibility is very small.

"The second thing is that the European Court must find a mistake in the rape verdict, so only in this case if both come together he could be released on July 16."

He added "we are hopeful, but not sure" of being closer to charging Christian B.