THE sons of back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin have been descibed as "victims" by police.
Detectives questioned John and Anne Darwin's sons Mark, 32, and Anthony, 29, about their father's dissappearance, but said they were only spoken to as witnesses and are not under suspicion.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "Both sons of John and Anne Darwin, Mark and Anthony, were interviewed on Saturday as witnesses to the inquiry.
"The result of these lengthy interviews was that there was nothing to suggest they are anything other than witnesses and, of course, victims in the case."
Mr and Mrs Darwin have appeared separately before Hartlepool Magistrates on deception charges.
Their sons insisted they knew nothing of their parents' alleged deception.
In a statement, Mark, from Finchley, north London, and Anthony, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, said they disowned their mother and father.
Their parents were remanded in custody last week and will appear before Hartlepool magistrates again on January 11.
John Darwin, 57, is charged with dishonestly obtaining £25,000 and making an untrue statement to procure a passport.
Anne Darwin is accused of dishonestly obtaining a £25,000 life insurance payment and a policy worth £137,000.
She moved to Panama eight weeks ago after selling the couple's seven-bedroom seafront home in Seaton Carew.
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