MORE FROM PORTUGAL

With thanks to those in Portugal who also follow the Madeleine Case.

Investigation. In view of the existence of new evidence, within days it will be decided who will investigate the disappearance of the English child. Portuguese police deny pressures and say, that despite the “close relationship”, they will run a parallel investigation to the Scotland Yard

by Alfredo Teixeira

The Judiciary Police (PJ) reopened the investigation concerning the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and they warrant that this time the parents of the girl who disappeared in Praia da Luz, Algarve, days before her fourth birthday, on May 3, 2007, are not suspects. To the DN the Portuguese police disclosed that there are “new evidence” about what has happened to the child while she slept together with her two twin siblings, in the apartment at the tourist resort. They do not disclose the existence of suspects and only reveal that internally, in the coming days, a team will be created to resume the investigation.

When, last week, on the 17th, the PJ hierarchy met with the Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Mark Rowley and DCI Andy Redwood, who heads the approximately 37 agents working in the British investigation, the decision to request the reopening of the investigation to the Public Ministry (MP) was communicated.

The Portuguese police denies any pressure from the English, stressing that they did not cooperate directly with the Scotland Yard investigation. However, information gathered by the English police, mainly related to the past of some people that were referenced in the case files, would have complemented the analysis by the investigation team in Portugal.

“There were elements gathered that have to do with events before the disappearance of the child and others after. Relating them with those contained in the process already archived have raised a more than reasonable doubt about what happened to the child,” said a source close to the investigation to the DN, adding that a in meeting with Gerry and Kate McCann, and the lawyers of the couple, the PJ asked “absolute silence” about the investigation.

At the headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police who have been working on the case for over a year [sic, for over two years], Scotland Yard said to have found new relevant information, based on the forty thousand documents and clues collected by the police forces from Portugal, UK and eight different companies of private detective and just a few days ago they showed e-fits of a suspect.

A source of the PJ that hasn't, however, worked for this process, does not set aside the divulgation of images of the same kind if appropriate. It acknowledges, however, the important of the work done by the Regional Section of Criminal Investigation and Prevention of the PJ from Porto, led by the coordinator Helena Monteiro. Notwithstanding the formal archival of the investigation, that team was on the field since March last year, searching for leads to follow and in order to fill any eventual gaps in the initial investigations.

That reanalysis task has “helped identify new evidence, which by imposing further investigation, meet the requirements set by article 279º no 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the reopening of the investigation.” said the PJ in a statement. “Similarly to what happens in all the cases of missing children, notwithstanding the formal archival of the investigation concerning her disappearance, and as was always publicly stated, the Judiciary Police continued to be attentive to any and all information likely to enable the understanding of the whereabouts of the minor Madeleine McCann, the circumstances in which her disappearance occurred and the identity of its author(s),” the PJ clarified. 

Also yesterday, a note from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) said that the Public Ministry (MP) decided to reopen the investigation. It was on July 21, 2008 that the PGR announced the archival of the process concerning the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and removed the status of arguidos from the parents of the English minor and Robert Murat, with the proviso that they could reopen the process at any time if “new elements of evidence” surfaced, evidence which they now claim to exist as the result of the identification of witnesses who were never heard.

Experience in missing people cases

With the investigation archived since July 2008, it was the National Direction of the PJ who, in March 2011 [sic, 2012], assigned to a team of investigators from the North Directorship the task to re-analyse the whole wide range of information in the process, with the objective of identifying information whose further understanding could be revealed useful and possible. Leading the group of four inspectors was the coordinator Helena Monteiro, with experience in missing people cases, namely the young lady from Lamego, Carina Ferreira, whose body was found after a month of searches at the bottom of a ravine near a motorway. Helena Monteiro has worked, among other areas of investigation, in the fight against violent criminality.

Diário de Notícias, October 25, 2013, paper edition

A PORTUGUESE VIEW

By Rui Calafete

It is a process that has dragged on for too long, it is a good tool for "spin" to stifle other topics from the media agenda and is one of the greatest hoaxes of which we hear for a long time.

There are so many missing children in the world, so many children who are trafficked and enslaved, but it seems that only this child, specifically, mobilizes the attention of some powers.

I consider a shame these advances and retreats - now the Public Ministry will reopen this process - some e-fits are released for the front pages of sensationalist tabloids and those parents who strike me as extremely cold persons return to the limelight.

Everyone saw that this spectacle has become a circus, everyone has in their opinion a view about the case and all also have a suspicion of what happened. Mine is identical to the majority of the Portuguese, but I do not want to share it.

The British government and the Scotland Yard became heavily involved, perhaps, as never before with any other child, because the press assessor of the parents was part of the communications team of Downing Street.

This case is tiring, has beards, it just fools those who wish to be fooled, but remains afloat. It is in all respects disgraceful the time that the media loses with it, but it sells. That is the secret of the renewed interest. 

IT MUST BE CHRISTMAS!

Well, well, well! This is getting more like a Pantomime every day.   Today we read in the popular Press that the McCanns are to be kept abreast of all the information obtained by the Portuguese Police in their continuing enquiries into the alleged abduction of Madeleine.

How on Earth can those, who have themselves in the past  been suspects, now get the privilege of  being allowed to receive such important details that could well influence any trial or criminal proceedings in the future?    It is a bit like Jack the Ripper helping the Police to find himself!

We must return once again to the fact that had the parents not left the children unattended, no abduction or other crime would have occurred.

In fact, had the parents been Portuguese Nationals they would probably have been arrested, charged with neglect and their other two children taken into care.   Maybe this was something they were concerned about!

Let the Met and Portuguese get on with the job and keep the Parents away from the independent investigations that are being carried out.  Their own publicity, the use of private investigators and the like have achieved nothing, so why don't they keep a low profile and let the experts get on with the job.

We have spoken to many people including the Portuguese, and even a Portuguese Lawyer, but feel it would be improper to publish most of the comments we received.

CASE RE-OPENED BY PORTUGUESE

We see that due to substantial new evidence the Portuguese Police have decided to reopen the Madeleine McCann enquiry.  

This has apparently been welcomed by Kate and Gerry McCann.   Perhaps they will therefore desire to give the Police their utmost help and assistance to find their Daughter.  In which case there are many people who hope that Kate will now be willing to answer the questions she refused to answer during the previous enquiries of the Portuguese Police!   Or is that just a little too much to expect?

Perhaps the Portuguese will also wish to re-examine all the evidence, including the statements given by the rest of the McCann's party.

Thousands, perhaps millions of folk, await the next episode of this continuing drama.

MADELEINE BOOKS

Other than The Truth of the Lie by Goncarlo Amaral, other books have been penned regarding the mysterious disappearance of Madeleine McCann.  Here are three.

JUST SUPPOSE?

The Met Police in the recent Crimewatch Program, ruled out the person apparently seen by Jane Tanner, from their enquiries.

No other person, male or female, was seen in the area of the McCann's apartment carrying a child.   However there was a report of a tennis holdall missing that may have belonged to Gerry McCann.  What if the alleged abductor used such a bag to take a sleeping or drugged child from the property?  Who would know, or even suspect, what the bag contained?   The bag could also be used to hide an unconscious infant for a short time until it was convenient to remove it to a different place.

Such an item could be hidden in a cupboard, even whilst a search was going on in the vicinity, and later easily transported in the boot of a car.  Mere speculation?  Or yet another possible scenario?

A READER'S POST

This is a comment made by a reader and we consider it worthy of being a stand alone posting.

The folks who continue to refute the evidence and make excuses in any way possible for the "poor parents" are disturbing. It's almost as if they don't want to know the truth. They support "poor Kate and poor Gerry" to the point of near insanity. Any comments on blogs that rightly question the parents motivations, behaviour, parenting etc. are shot at as if they were being spoken about sacred cows! Kate has not answered many questions--how can an investigation be effective while she sits closed mouthed, about circumstances surrounding the "disappearance" of her own child. I really think that it is time for her to be arrested, perhaps then she would co-operate? Or does she, by virtue of her profession, her husbands profession, and their respective associates or contacts in 'high places" get a free pass on this? If she is not willing to answer the questions then how can she keep this vigilant "plea for help" in finding the child? Is there something wrong with her that we are not aware of? 

Another Reader commented

Watching the program "Aktenzeichen XY" in Germany (the equivalent of "Crimewatch") something struck me: Gerry McCann says if they could deliver a message to Madeleine, he'd say: "We would tell her how much we LOVED her". Why does not say "We would tell her how much we love her"??

What do you think?

DETECTIVE AMARAL'S BLOG AND BOOK

We make no comment apart from saying, here is Amaral's version and an English Translation of his book.

Whether it is legal to download it or not we shall leave it to you!

http://goncaloamaraltruthofthelie.blogspot.pt

WHITEWASH!

The BBC Crimewatch program last night left much to be desired.

It seems as if the UK Police are investigating a new Crime.  They are concentrating purely on the time lime and bringing into the equation suspects that have never been considered before.  The only good thing they have done is disproved the evidence of Jane Tanner and cleared the man she saw of any suspicion.

During the whole program ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION was made of the previous evidence and investigation carried out by the Portuguese Police.

What happened to the Tennis Bag?
What about the blood on the Apartment floor?
What about the signs of death discovered by the Uk Police Dogs in the apartment and the car.
What about some of the suspicious and unexplained car trips?
What about the twins managing to sleep through all the turmoil?
Why did the McCanns call the Press immediately?
Why are the rest of the Tapas group not featuring in any part of the program or investigation?

There are still so many questions to answer, not least of which is the casual attitude of the Parents.  The constant chasing for money and suing people left right and centre.

Why are they suing Detective Amaral who carried out the investigation to try and find their child, until he was thrown off the case.  Is the £2M they are claiming a real value for his publishing a book about the case?  Kate must have had equal upset whilst penning her own narrative.

Something is wrong, and something in the cupboard smells.  No doubt in time, with good and sensible Police work, the truth will out.   We look forward to that day!

PHOTO FIT, OR UNFIT?

Today's Media is awash with photofit pictures from the UK Police prior to the showing on TV of the reconstruction of the incidents of 3 May 2007 when Madeleine McCann was allegedly abducted.
The photofits show two different individuals each described as aged 20 - 40, average, height, average build, brown short(ish) hair, white skin.   Of course someone must presume that the offender, himself probably aware of the manhunt, has not attempted to change his looks for seven years!  How naieve can one be?  At least the description rules out half the World's male population!
Surely that same evening the streets were only walked by men, or that is so according to the media.  Could the crime not have been committed by a woman, who are experts at dealing with young children, and could make the perfect nap without arousing suspicion?
It is also noticed that the time line is now extended to 90 minutes, when previous statements suggested that the children were checked every half hour?
The story seems to have taken another twist and the past portuguese investigation has been swept to one side, as has the evidence gleaned from the UK police dogs which suggested that death had been present in the McCann's apartment and hire car.

Whilst the plot continues to thicken, let us continue to remember the two professional people who left three very young choldren, unattended, unsupervised and unprotected whilst they went out wining and dining with friends.

NO MATTER WHAT............. Just IF

IF the McCanns receive any damages from their claim against Goncalo Amaral
IF the McCanns receive any damages from their claim against His Publishers
IF the McCanns receive any damages from their claim against Other Media
IF the McCanns get Madeleine back alive or dead
IF the British Police do not achieve a positive result
IF it is proved there WAS an abduction
IF it is proved there was NO abduction
IF the Tapas group suddenly decide to break their silence
IF the missing tennis holdall is found

And IF Madeleine is never found..........

The only people one can blame , by their own admission, is the McCann Parents who left their three year old child, in the company of her two younger siblings, unprotected, unmanaged and unsupervised, whilst they went off wining and dining.

They should be the ones in the dock, not Amaral or any others.

Not only should Justice be done, it should be seen to be done!

ANYWHERE ELSE BUT HERE!

A few years ago a small child was allegedly abducted in Portugal and even after much investigation by the Portuguese Police, the theory they put forward was not agreed by the child's family or the British Government.   The case went on with the employment, by the parents, of Private Investigators from European Agencies, who all failed to find the perpetrator(s) of the crime.    Following appeals to the Uk Government the "crack" squad of the Metropolitan Police were put on the job.   As previously stated they have also been unable to solve the crime.

Now we hear that a reconstruction of the day of the incident and later days, all filmed in Spain(?) is to be shown on British Television.   It will also be shown in France, Germany and other European Countries, but NOT, REPEAT NOT in Portugal where it happened.   We would have thought that this would be the premier place to air the program!

Surely this is where the child was allegedly abducted, this was where the Tapas crowd left the children unattended. This was the place where cadaver was found in the apartment and in the hire car.  This where a tennis bag disappeared, this is where Kate McCann feels closest to her Daughter.  This is the place that Jane Tanner allegedly saw a man carrying a child like Maddie.  This is the place where the Tapas Crowd witnessed the happenings that evening.  This is the place where the Church became a place of solace for the Parents.  This is the place where the reconstruction would be best filmed and aired.

We also note that in the Lisbon case where ex Detective Amaral is being sued for £2million, the tapas Crowd are not in attendance and giving their support to the McCanns.  Surely they must have some opinion on the matter.  Or are they keeping, or being kept, quiet for other reasons?   Time will tell.

In the meantime do not criticise the Portuguese people without giving them the opportunity to see what the rest of us will be able to see.   The reconstruction needs to be seen by all, in every little detail, including the blood, the cadaver dogs and the body language which says so much.

WHY ?

Whilst the loss of a child is a very unpleasant experience for anyone, the case of Madeleine McCann seems to be turning into a merry go round.

Perfectly capable Portuguese Police Detectives were close to solving the case despite all the aggravation on the side being created by the Parents.  Then in step the UK Government who immediately start spending millions of pounds on their investigation and who, so far, have not come up with anything more than 40 "suspects" who for weeks now have still not been interviewed or dealt with.

When this is all over questions need to be asked as to why so much effort and financial and other resources have been put into this one case.   Will every alleged child abduction case in the future receive this treatment?  We doubt it!