An aguido also has rights that another person does not have. This means that the stakes have been raised. An aguido is closer to being charged than any other person involved in the crime. And the consequences of being named an aguido are significant too, because the designation is made publicly. Police should not take this step lightly.

I accept that close family members are the first to be suspected, but they are still entitled to defend themselves.

Turning to the JonBenet case, her parents also came under strong suspicion. But no-one could prove they were guilty of her death, despite the many and varied theories that were dreamt up. I could dream one up right now implicating Kate McCann as JonBenet's killer, if I liked, and I could offer a suggestion that maybe John Ramsay was responsible for Maddie's disappearance too: why should the McCann's have a beautiful daughter if he couldn't .... or something like that. Totally preposterous, of course, and once in the public domain, highly perjorative.

All the material evidence in the JonBenet case indicated that someone else was the killer, not the parents at all. Only malicious newspapers and gossip-mongers chose to point the finger of blame at the mother and father. Let's not see the same thing happen again. If the McCanns have questions to answer, let them do so. But don't make up the answers for them.

If the police can't say they did it, nor can anyone else.

TYWD