McCann v Gonçalo Amaral libel hearing witness Manuel Catarino.
Important Notice
Readers are warned that this court Report is not a verbatim account of events but is merely a summary.
As the content is sourced via a third party and although checks are made, the forum cannot guarantee
its veracity. All reports are made in good faith.
Libel trial McCann v Gonçalo Amaral - Day 7 Witness No 4
The testimony as it happened...
(08.10.2013, 2:25pm) Manuel Catarino is Editor in Chief of the Portuguese daily, the Morning Mail (Correio da Manhã) and a journalist familiar with criminal processes. He authored "A culpa dos McCann” ("The guilt of the McCanns") with a preface by Francisco Moita Flores, that contains an interview by the criminologist José Manuel Anes, who reviewed the PJ investigation.
The Judge asks whether the witness knows what this trial is about.
MC replies that he was involved in various journalistic works on this issue.
The Judge asks him when.
MC in 2008.
The Judge asks if the witness' relations with Gonçalo Amaral are only professional or if they are friends.
MC says they are professional, but he knows Gonçalo Amaral personally.
The Judge asks whether MC knows the McCanns.
MC says "no".
1) Defence lawyers
a)Gonçalo Amaral's lawyer, Dr Santos de Oliveira, is the first to question the witness.
SO – As a journalist, you will have followed this Madeleine McCann process. When?
MC From Day One.
SO – How were you aware of the criminal process when the McCanns were made arguidos?
MC explains his knowledge originated in the news Reports, he didn't receive information directly, he coordinated the work of the journalists and reviewed the information they sent him.
SO – Have you got the DVD (provided by the Public Ministry)?
MC says "yes".
SO – Have you read GA's book?
MC says he did.
SO – Was there a decrease in interest following the publication of the book?
MC thinks that the attention was greater when the McCanns were in the Algarve.
SO – But was there a decrease because of the book?
MC says he can't answer that.
SO – As a redaction coordinator, have you instructed not to publish more on this case because the news had lost interest?
MC No, a newspaper doesn't abandon cases. What counts are relevant points and this is decided every single day.