The McCann v Gonçalo Amaral libel trial as it happens.

[Admin]

The hearing due to take place in Lisbon later this morning has been postponed while judge considers legal arguments on behalf of the plaintiffs.

[Sherlock Holmes]

The hearing due to take place in Lisbon later this morning has been postponed while judge considers legal arguments on behalf of the plaintiffs.

Thanks for the update, Admin.

Any idea for how long the postponement is supposed to be?

[colombosstogey]

Let's hope the McCann legal team have something very clever in store this week, because the facebook webmaster just claimed that it's the UK press who have hampered the search.

Yes I thought that was an eeeek moment lol...

[Cariad]

Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 5m
#mccann libel trial adjourned to date to be fixed after Goncalo Amaral's lawyers submitted more documents at last minute

https://twitter.com/JerryLawton

[jassi]

Are these the documents he was requested to supply at an earlier session, or something entirely different?

I though the trial was essentially over and it was just a case of summing up and announcing a decision, but obviously not.

[Victoria]

Bog standard delaying tactics. Reeks of desperation on Amaral's part.

I'm just waiting for the claims that he's finally revealing his Ace! 

[colombosstogey]

Bog standard delaying tactics. Reeks of desperation on Amaral's part.

I'm just waiting for the claims that he's finally revealing his Ace! 

  you deduced all of the above because of the delay? I read it was the plaintiff requesting, and then I read its because there are 3 days of mourning for the footballer, so everything is shut....hey ho here we go again.

3 things lol, just like 3 burglars...next........

[stephen25000]

Bog standard delaying tactics. Reeks of desperation on Amaral's part.

I'm just waiting for the claims that he's finally revealing his Ace! 

The only desperation visible has been the mccanns court case falling apart.

[Estuarine]

The only desperation visible has been the mccanns court case falling apart.

Tend to agree. There also appears to be a correlation between when things aren't going too well and the increase in "silly traffic" in the press. Dead tractor drivers, robbers, plumbers, Scandawegians, spy planes, lookylikeys to name but a few.

[Eleanor]

The only desperation visible has been the mccanns court case falling apart.

You cannot possibly know this.  Two entirely different types of witnesses.  But to me The Judge was much more sceptical about Amaral's witnesses.  All good buddies bar one, and even he had a dubious interest.

Personally, I have no idea of what the final outcome will be.  But in the end it is all to do with whether or not Amaral had a right to say what he did, repeatedly.

[stephen25000]

You cannot possibly know this.  Two entirely different types of witnesses.  But to me The Judge was much more sceptical about Amaral's witnesses.  All good buddies bar one, and even he had a dubious interest.

Personally, I have no idea of what the final outcome will be.  But in the end it is all to do with whether or not Amaral had a right to say what he did, repeatedly.

So why were the Mccanns so desperate to make witness statements ?

As to the outcome of the case, it won't be the end.

Then come the appeals.

[Estuarine]

You cannot possibly know this.  Two entirely different types of witnesses.  But to me The Judge was much more sceptical about Amaral's witnesses.  All good buddies bar one, and even he had a dubious interest.

Personally, I have no idea of what the final outcome will be.  But in the end it is all to do with whether or not Amaral had a right to say what he did, repeatedly.

As I understand it the Supreme Court in Portugal has already ruled Dr Amaral had that right and had not infringed the McCann's rights when the McCann's failed in their final bid to have his book banned from sale. You may or may not trawl around the international press but there are suggestions there that the McCann's tried to settle out of court but the defendants wouldn't have any of it. Hence the delay from Jan 2013 to Sept 2013. Odd action for a plaintiff surely?

[Eleanor]

So why were the Mccanns so desperate to make witness statements ?

As to the outcome of the case, it won't be the end.

Then come the appeals.

Who said that The McCanns were desperate?  Amaral appears to be the one who is using delaying tactics again.

[stephen25000]

Who said that The McCanns were desperate?  Amaral appears to be the one who is using delaying tactics again.

Well other links/reports have stated the plaintiffs as wanting a delay.

So take your choice. Bearing in mind of course the mccanns or Amaral never intended to be witnesses at the start.

[jassi]

Who said that The McCanns were desperate?  Amaral appears to be the one who is using delaying tactics again.

I think you might find that that is not true.
I have heard that  there is some legal query, related to Madeleine being a Ward of Court which is awaiting clarification.