A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since MM vanished from the safety of her bed in 2007 and probably thousands have been investigated and eliminated from the inquiry over the intervening period between then and now in 2023.
Scotland Yard started off their investigation by checking out known burglars and crossing them off the list.
So that removed that line if inquiry concerning them; and they kept on looking.
They also checked out a sexual predator who was very active in the Agarve.
Scotland Yard Searches for Local Intruder in MM Case
Scotland yard’s priority now is to establish the identity of this man, saying these offenses are very serious and no one has been charged in connection with them. We also need to eliminate this man from our inquiries and ascertain whether these offenses are linked to MM's disappearance."
Authorities are appealing for information on a tanned and dark haired intruder wanted in relation to the Madeleine McCann case.
abcnews.go.com
It must be extraordinarily difficult for investigators conducting an inquiry to eliminate a suspect who refuses to speak to them.
Snip
German prosecutors and London’s Scotland Yard are following up hundreds of “pieces of information” since CB was identified as a suspect, the paper says.
“Mr B is remaining silent on the allegation at this time on the advice of his defense counsel,” his attorney, FF, told the UK paper, calling it “quite common in criminal proceedings.”
“It is the duty of the state to prove that a suspect committed a crime. No accused person has to prove his innocence to the investigating authorities,” the lawyer insisted.
“Silence on an accusation never constitutes admission of the crime. After we have examined the files, we will see how to proceed,” FF told the UK Times.
The imprisoned rapist who is the prime suspect in the disappearance of 3-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann is refusing to cooperate with investigators, his attorney says. Christian Brückner &#…
nypost.com
Perfectly right and proper and legal
But surely very time consuming in a legal system such as Germany's where it is the duty of the prosecution to investigate not only guilt but any circumstances which may exonerate the suspect.