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Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Jack Aitchison

Madeleine McCann case 'could be solved in one week if vital DNA evidence is re-tested'

It's one of the world's most famous missing persons cases, but the disappearance of Madeleine McCann could see a major breakthrough, according to a leading forensics expert.

Dr Mark Perlin believes that the case could be cracked in just one week, if crucial DNA samples were re-tested.

He has now reportedly offered to take another look at 18 "inconclusive" samples from the case using new techniques - which were used to identify 9/11 victims - to find out what happened to Maddie.

Dr Perlin says the tests, used by his Pittsburgh lab Cybernetics, "would take us one to two weeks, depending on the data, after we receive it to provide some initial preliminary report," as the Daily Star reports.

Kate and Gerry McCann, with a poster of missing daughter Madeleine (PA)

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After Maddie's disappearance in 2007, Portuguese police initially sent findings to be examined by the UK's Forensic Science Service (FSS).

However Dr Perlin believes his team possesses a computer programme that can analyse much more complex data - with the results having the possibility to blow the case wide open.

Madeleine McCann vanished from an apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007.

She was on holiday with her family at the time of her disappearance.

Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, left her sleeping with her other siblings while they had dinner at a restaurant.

Madeleine McCann vanished from her bed at a resort in Portugal in 2007 (PA)

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A recent Netflix documentary has put the missing girl back in the spotlight as her parents still search for answers about how she hasn't been seen in nearly 12 years.

A top British detective, Colin Sutton, has backed Dr Perlin's call - describing it as a real "game changer".

He previously told Nine's podcast investigation that if data cannot be interpreted correctly then there may be "tremendous injustice - of guilty people not being convicted, or innocent people staying in prison.

"What is needed is an objective and accurate interpretation that can scientifically resolve the DNA."

So far the Met Police are yet to directly respond to Dr Perlin's offer, according to reports.

A Met Police spokeswoman said: "The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remains ongoing. We are not providing a running commentary."

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