I think people sometimes forget that although Portugal and England have had much in common over the centuries that they are two entirely different cultures with beliefs and Laws to match.
Snip.
IMO the language barrier and the different customs worked
against the McCanns every step of the way.
For example:
Saying 'we let her down' was seen as suspicious - because apparently they thought this meant 'we have let her die'. No-one in this country would make that mistake.
Calling for a priest was seen as suspicious as apparently that is something you only do in PT when someone has died - but which is a normal part of pastoral care in this country when parishioners are in need of comfort.
The Star chart - which as we all know in this country is a way of encouraging and rewarding children - was apparently regarded as a medical chart or a punishment chart in PT who obviously did not understand its purpose.
The differences in culture and language definitely (albeit inevitably) muddied the waters throughout this case and always to the disadvantage of the McCanns IMO.