Madeleine McCann could still be ALIVE admits German prosecutor who said she was dead
MADELEINE McCann could still be alive, a German prosecutor has admitted in an extraordinary U-turn.
Hans Christian Wolters confessed that there was no forensic evidence to suggest Madeleine was dead - just a week after claiming she had been killed by prime suspect Christian B.
Last week, German prosecutors named Christian B as the prime suspect in the infamous 2007 disappearance revealing they were investigating him "on suspicion of murder".
The admission comes after Madeleine's parents urged German police to tell them why they believe their little girl is dead.
Just last week, Mr Wolters told a press conference that investigators "think that Madeleine McCann is dead and are appealing for witnesses."
But now, he has told the that Madeleine could potentially be alive - as there is no clear forensic evidence that she has died.
Because there is no forensic evidence there may be a little bit of hope
German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters
He said: "Because there is no forensic evidence there may be a little bit of hope.
"We don’t want to kill the hope and because there is no forensic evidence it may be possible."
When quizzed by the paper why he said that he believed Madeleine may have been killed quickly after she was snatched, he responded: "That was private opinion and speculation… without facts.
"I said ‘I believe’ because in cases where children were kidnapped, they made a sexual crime then killed."
'NOT SPOKEN'
Mr Wolters also said that cops had not spoken with Christian B, and added that they "don’t believe he will say he did it".
He added: "Then it’s a possibility he can speak with witnesses and say, ‘Tell the police it’s not true.’
"We think we have 90 per cent evidence. If he knows what this is, he can try to change his story."
The German national is currently serving sentences for drug offences and rape in high security Kiel prison in north Germany - and has so far refused to come forward with any information on the case.
But Mr Wolters told Sky News last week: “All indications we have got that I can't tell you points in the direction that Madeleine is dead.
“We expect that she is dead, but we don’t have enough evidence that we can get a warrant for our suspect in Germany for the murder of Madeleine McCann.”
It comes after the McCann's earlier said they “want evidence” proving their daughter is no longer alive - because they still have 'fervent hope' that Madeleine will come home.
Their official spokesperson Clarence Mitchell said: “German police say they are assuming that Madeleine is dead but they have no proof.
“British police are keeping an open mind and Portuguese police are reacting with caution too.
“So Kate and Gerry still fervently hope that Madeleine will be found alive despite everything that appears to be happening."
'HUGE WAY TO GO'
A top detective once hired by the family also believes she may still be alive.
Former cop Dave Edgar warned people not to "jump to conclusions about the guilt of the new suspect” currently in custody.
The retired detective told The Sun there is still no “hard evidence” the youngster has actually been killed.
And he said at the moment, there is a "huge way" to go from Christian B being named as a suspect to him being prosecuted.
“Secondly, this case is still without a body. And without a body, there is no evidence Madeleine was murdered," he said.
“Without a body, there is still a great deal of hope for the McCanns their daughter is still alive."
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Prime Suspect Christian B has served two thirds of the time and had applied for early release from his drugs sentence, with a decision on his parole expected early next week.
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Madeleine went missing from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007.
And 13 years on, Met Police officials continue to treat her disappearance as a 'missing persons inquiry'.
