Madeleine McCann’s parents are the “innocent victims of a heinous crime” and the police must focus on finding the four-year-old girl, the family’s new spokesman said Tuesday.

Former BBC journalist, Clarence Mitchell said he quit his government job to help Gerry and Kate McCann, because he is convinced they are innocent and could never harm their own children.

“I have done so because I feel so strongly that they are innocent victims of a heinous crime that I am prepared to forgo my career in government service to assist them,” Mitchell said in a statement read out at the family’s residence in Rothley, Leicestershire.

As both parents stood by his side, Mitchell said the attention must “move away from the rampant, unfounded and inaccurate speculation of recent days” and return on the main objective of this investigation: finding Madeleine.

He criticized the reports which pointed the finger at the parents for “accidentally killing” the toddler, saying they are “ludicrous” and “nonsensical” speculations that “would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.”

The case is currently being examined by a Portuguese judge, Pedro Daniel dos Anjos Frias, who rejected the prosecutors’ request to recall Kate McCann for a new round of questioning, as the Correio Da Manha newspaper reported.

Madeleine’s parents have been named formal suspects in her disappearance ten days ago and could face trial if the judge decides to press charges against them. It seems the McCanns are already preparing the defence with their lawyers.

The numerous campaigns launched by the couple did not provide the expected outcome and Madeleine’s whereabouts or fate are still unknown. Even so, the parents refused to give up and said “there is no evidence to suggest that Madeleine is dead” and the search must continue at all costs.

Media said those publicity campaigns left a large hole in the family’s budget and the McCanns had difficulties in paying their lawyers along with other legal fees. But help continues to come in for the aggrieved parents and billionaire Richard Branson pledged to donate 100,000 pounds to a fund that will help Kate and Gerry pay their legal expenses.

Branson made an appeal to all parties involved in this case to increase their efforts and continue the hunt to find the four-year-old.

“In the midst of all of this speculation and rumor, we must remember there is a family in pain and a little four-year-old girl is still missing,” the boss of Virgin Group was quoted as saying by Reuters.