What's more important? Finding Maddie or a conviction?

[John]

By going after the perpetrator you endanger a live captive.  If we were sure she was dead it wouldn't matter but we don't know.  If I were her parents I would be wanting to encourage someone to speak out without fear of the consequences.

Getting Madeleine back should be the priority and not a collar.

[jassi]

By going after the perpetrator you endanger a live captive.  If we were sure she was dead it wouldn't matter but we don't know.  If I were her parents I would be wanting to encourage someone to speak out without fear of the consequences.

Getting Madeleine back should be the priority and not a collar.

Given that there has been no sign of her since she disappeared, just where would you start?

[John]

Given that there has been no sign of her since she disappeared, just where would you start?

A massive publicity campaign involving a big reward for information plus a guarantee of anonymity and a further undertaking that anyone providing information which leads to Madeleine being recovered would not be prosecuted.  My fear however is that they have left it much too late.

[Carana]

A massive publicity campaign involving a big reward for information plus a guarantee of anonymity and a further undertaking that anyone providing information which leads to Madeleine being recovered would not be prosecuted.  My fear however is that they have left it much too late.

Does the concept of amnesty exist in PT law?

[John]

Does the concept of amnesty exist in PT law?

Good question, I would think it does in some form or other.  In fact Article 127/128 of the /Portuguese Penal Code give effect to amnesty within the criminal procedure.

[jassi]

A massive publicity campaign involving a big reward for information plus a guarantee of anonymity and a further undertaking that anyone providing information which leads to Madeleine being recovered would not be prosecuted.  My fear however is that they have left it much too late.

The McCanns undertook a massive publicity campaign - result zilch - no genuine sightings, no informers, no nothing.

[Carana]

Good question, I would think it does in some form or other.  In fact Article 127/128 of the /Portuguese Penal Code give effect to amnesty within the criminal procedure.

Well done for finding that.

The massive publicity campaign has taken place, a large reward was offered in the past (whether that was a good idea or not). Amnesty for information might be a step, but I would have thought that it would depend on the circumstances of the individual. There might be a difference between someone not coming forward due to working without a valid work permit and someone wanted for rape or violent burglaries, for example.

An interesting article on cold cases says that people coming forward with new information is more successful in solving them than DNA is. I don't know how whether that is always true or whether it simply was in the context of the scope of that particular study.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140306-cold-cases-murder-csi-forensic-science/

Jim Gamble said a long time ago that people do change allegiances over time, which makes sense. A family member dies, a couple splits up, a former partner in crime or violent spouse is safely in jail...

On the other hand, omertà might be strong in small communities.

DNA might also provide a breakthrough, e.g., if some of these hairs lead to a suspect, that might also help take things forward.

[sadie]

A massive publicity campaign involving a big reward for information plus a guarantee of anonymity and a further undertaking that anyone providing information which leads to Madeleine being recovered would not be prosecuted.  My fear however is that they have left it much too late.

Do that, John, and any perp could take a child, subject the child to all sorts of abuse for their own satisfaction for years  .... then get off scot free.

Ready to do it all over again with another child.


Much as we all want Madeleine back, I dont think that is the right answer.  This man has to be arrested and go thru due process.

[Mr Gray]

A massive publicity campaign involving a big reward for information plus a guarantee of anonymity and a further undertaking that anyone providing information which leads to Madeleine being recovered would not be prosecuted.  My fear however is that they have left it much too late.

The McCanns cannot offer this...only the Portuguese judicial system could...would they agree?

[Carana]

Do that, John, and any perp could take a child, subject the child to all sorts of abuse for their own satisfaction for years  .... then get off scot free.

Ready to do it all over again with another child.


Much as we all want Madeleine back, I dont think that is the right answer.  This man has to be arrested and go thru due process.

I don't think anyone is saying that the perp should get off scott-free, are they? I understood the question to be how to encourage someone who may have information to come forward.

[sadie]

A massive publicity campaign involving a big reward for information plus a guarantee of anonymity and a further undertaking that anyone providing information which leads to Madeleine being recovered would not be prosecuted.   My fear however is that they have left it much too late.

Well I took it that John meant that.  His post doesn't exclude the perp.  Maybe he meant it to.

[Carana]

Well I took it that John meant that.  His post doesn't exclude the perp.  Maybe he meant it to.

Ah. OK. I didn't understand it that way. Perhaps John will clarify.

[misty]

It may well be that somebody has already provided the new investigation with information which could lead to a solution of this case. However, the testimony of one individual would hardly be enough to result in a conviction, especially in Portugal, and would need to be backed up by cast-iron evidence.
Sadly, I feel the apparent lack of urgency on the part of both police forces means that finding a living Madeleine is no longer a priority.

[Carana]

It may well be that somebody has already provided the new investigation with information which could lead to a solution of this case. However, the testimony of one individual would hardly be enough to result in a conviction, especially in Portugal, and would need to be backed up by cast-iron evidence.
Sadly, I feel the apparent lack of urgency on the part of both police forces means that finding a living Madeleine is no longer a priority.

True, but don't forget that two of the little Dutroux girls were eventually found alive. If the initial investigation had been more efficient, the first two might have been as well, poor little mites.