Whilst strictly speaking off-topic, the McCanns were arguidos when they returned to the UK, and remained so until the case was archived.
And to get back on topic, I'm finding it easier just to wait a shortish time to see if an appeal is launched with the SC. It would appear at the moment that Gonçalo Amaral has a much freer hand than normal to pursue his ventures, so the McCanns need to think carefully about whether an appeal is worth it or not.
Am I right in thinking the original award was only made against Amaral, and not the book publishers, TVI, and the DVD publishers (if they were actually involved in the trial)? Seems odd that Amaral got singled out, since the TVI 'documentary' struck me as inflicting much more significant damage.
I have mixed feeling about whether an appeal by the McCanns is worth it or not.
As much as I hate injustice - It seems to me that our two countries are not just poles apart when it comes to the subject of Libel,- we're not even on the same planet.
Although I can understand PT wanting to emphasize the importance of Freedom of Expression since becoming a democracy, that particular principle appears to have taken on such major - almost god-like proportions - that IMO it has become detrimental to the principles of the right to the presumption of innocence and also the right not to have your reputation trashed and your character assassinated by all and sundry.
Furthermore - I do not understand why a judicial system would not see anything wrong in allowing a panel of 3 judges to include a judge who had already found in favour of Amaral in a previous case on the same subject.
But there again I don't understand why a policeman who was made an arguido - suspected of wrong-doing in his previous and only other missing child case was allowed to be in charge of another case - while that matter was unresolved..
Neither do I understand why a woman who a court found to have been the victim of torture during interrogation by officers of the PJ should still be in prison while the perpetrators of her torture remain at large.
I can't see any of the above being allowed in the UK.
With such major differences in the attitudes and culture which prevail between our two countries when it comes to Libel - I find it difficult to believe that the McCanns will achieve justice in Portugal.
If the case had been held in this country the McCanns would have won hands down.
AIMHO