Former Portuguese detective Gonçalo Amaral wins appeal in damages trial.

[lordpookles]

Like Lord Archer, you mean 

But this is where the injustice lies imo... No one knows and unless there is some evidence of which there is very little imo they have a right to a good name... The issue of leaving the children alone - no one is disputing that was a wrong decision or did not happen... But all the other insinuations are simply not fair...

[Carana]

Are you serious ?

He postulated a thesis, and at no time said the mccanns killed Madeleine.

I didn't say that he'd accused them of killing her. He did, however, accuse them of criminal activity associated with her disappearance.

[stephen25000]

But at the very least he is insinuating and speculating that they are responsible for the demise of their daughter... So if they gave the children sleeping medication this is what killed Madeliene... Hence the McCanns were responsible although he does not claim her death was intentional...

I disagree on that.

He did not say they were responsible for her demise.

His thesis was she had an accident from which she did not recover.

[Angelo222]

I didn't say that he'd accused them of killing her. He did, however, accuse them of criminal activity associated with her disappearance.

Which they failed to disprove despite being given the opportunity and invited to do so by the original investigation.

[stephen25000]

But this is where the injustice lies imo... No one knows and unless there is some evidence of which there is very little imo they have a right to a good name... The issue of leaving the children alone - no one is disputing that was a wrong decision or did not happen... But all the other insinuations are simply not fair...

Well some appear to be excusing leaving children alone, as than have done it themselves.

[Lace]

I disagree on that.

He did not say they were responsible for her demise.

His thesis was she had an accident from which she did not recover.

He says the McCann's give Madeleine Calpol,  and that she woke and fell from the sofa because she was groggy,  that's more or less saying the McCann's were responsible for her death, without actually coming out and saying it.

He also gives an example of another child who was murdered by their parents,  why?

[Eleanor]

Well some appear to be excusing leaving children alone, as than have done it themselves.

What The McCanns did wasn't illegal.  And nor was what I did either.

[lordpookles]

I disagree on that.

He did not say they were responsible for her demise.

His thesis was she had an accident from which she did not recover.

Ok thanks for the clarification, but I think by inference if they covered up the death of their daughter they must have done something illegal or highly unethical concerning Madeliene to want to do so... I have not read the book for what it is worth, just snippets here and there - took the lazy route and watched the documentary...

[lordpookles]

Well some appear to be excusing leaving children alone, as than have done it themselves.

Yeah, I don't agree with that and others from an older generation may consider this common practice, but in the present I think most consider this irresponsible. I do. In the interests of giving the McCanns the benefit of the doubt I think I can put this down to a really bad decision... We have all made them...

[stephen25000]

He says the McCann's give Madeleine Calpol,  and that she woke and fell from the sofa because she was groggy,  that's more or less saying the McCann's were responsible for her death, without actually coming out and saying it.

He also gives an example of another child who was murdered by their parents,  why?

Was Calpol in the apartment ?

Did they give their children Calpol ?

Why do parents give their children Calpol ?

I asked one of my students that question a while ago.

His answer, in reference to him and his two younger brothers, 'to keep us quiet'.

[Carana]

I disagree on that.

He did not say they were responsible for her demise.

His thesis was she had an accident from which she did not recover.

That's not all he said, is it?

[Angelo222]

I haven't read the book from cover to cover either but what is not in doubt is that it was based on the police files now made public.  From the files Amaral and his colleagues formulated a thesis which they were prevented from investigating further. Amaral then took the decision to quit the police and publish that thesis.

[stephen25000]

That's not all he said, is it?

...and ?

Shall we also have a new thread with a meticulous examination of the mccanns and associates statements as well ?

[stephen25000]

I haven't read the book from cover to cover either but what is not in doubt is that it was based on the police files now made public.  From the files Amaral and his colleagues formulated a thesis which they were prevented from investigating further. Amaral then took the decision to quit the police and publish that thesis.

That is it in a nutshell.

[lordpookles]

A thesis, which is not proven and which tarnishes the good name of parents who have lost a child and he pays no recompense for that? If he had proof I would support his endeavours, but this sets a pretty shitty precedent don't you think? I don't think it is a question of whether the McCanns dunnit, but whether anyone feels comfortable living in a society where modern day witch hunts are allowed where hearsay and half established facts are offered as proof...