In the UK, and, I suspect, in many other places, a "suspect" is a simple description of a person who could be implicated in a crime and who has not been "cleared". Anyone can be a suspect. It is relatively unimportant that you are considered a suspect until you are charged with an offence and your legal rights are unaffected by whether the police regard you as a suspect or not.

In Portugal, it appears that, if the police designate you as an aguido, your legal rights do change. You are subject to certain restrictions, and you are entitled to build a defence to possible charges, which (I understand) you are not allowed to do if you are not an aguido. Presumably, to do so would be seen as obstructive in some way. If "aguido" has a particular status in the criminal law, then surely a person may only be designated such under specific circumstances. What are those circumstances and how are they met in this case?

The McCanns have been the subject of blunt criticism and suggestions of the most serious kind of crime you can commit, all over the world. They need to be able to answer those accusations, if they can; and outside Portugal, they are free to do so.

TYWD