Is it any wonder that initial investigators arrived at the conclusions they did?

[The General]

Kate was questioned for two hours then there was a fifteen minute break.
She  was questioned for a further two and three quarter hours followed by a two hour break.
She was questioned for another hour and then sent home.

Twelve hours later questioning resumed after she was made arguida, but she refused to answer on the advice of her lawyer. Three and a half hours later it was finished.

Total hours being questioned; nine and a quarter over two days.

That's a grueller, to be sure. I've spent more time waiting in A&E.
Just think, she could've got out of there quicker if she'd have answered the questions.

[G-Unit]

That's a grueller, to be sure. I've spent more time waiting in A&E.
Just think, she could've got out of there quicker if she'd have answered the questions.

Me too. On the other hand she saved the PJ all that typing to get her answers down.

[The General]

Me too. On the other hand she saved the PJ all that typing to get her answers down.

I still believe the PJ's pressing ahead through the whole question set, despite the obvious refusal to cooperate, was tactical.
Why didn't Kate's crack legal counsel tell her to refuse  to take part in any form? As arguido are you bound legally to stay and listen to the questions?

[Mr Gray]

I still believe the PJ's pressing ahead through the whole question set, despite the obvious refusal to cooperate, was tactical.
Why didn't Kate's crack legal counsel tell her to refuse  to take part in any form? As arguido are you bound legally to stay and listen to the questions?

Prior to being taken to the police station Kate was a witness not an arguido and legally obliged to answer any questiond

[The General]

Prior to being taken to the police station Kate was a witness not an arguido and legally obliged to answer any questiond

Or not, as in this case. So she was legally required to sit there? Gotchya

[Mr Gray]

Or not, as in this case. So she was legally required to sit there? Gotchya

Until she was declared, arguido as a witness she was legally obliged to answer questions... And therefore attend the police station

[The General]

Until she was declared, arguido as a witness she was legally obliged to answer questions... And therefore attend the police station

So it was a Mexican Stand Off that developed, as opposed to being pre-arranged. The PJ wouldn't have been aware of how Kate was going to answer, if at all, but would have had a strategy in place for dealing with o tratamento silencioso.
There must have been negotiations in the background up and down the chain. Once it became obvious that Kate was going full Marcel Marceau, someone would have been making decisions, talking to other parties regarding the next move. Hence the time it took.

[G-Unit]

I still believe the PJ's pressing ahead through the whole question set, despite the obvious refusal to cooperate, was tactical.
Why didn't Kate's crack legal counsel tell her to refuse  to take part in any form? As arguido are you bound legally to stay and listen to the questions?

In the UK you are told; "You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court."

I don't know if the same rule applies in Portugal, but if it does then Kate McCann would have been hampered by being unable to rely on the answers to any of the questions asked of her on 7th September.

[Vertigo Swirl]

In the UK you are told; "You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court."

I don't know if the same rule applies in Portugal, but if it does then Kate McCann would have been hampered by being unable to rely on the answers to any of the questions asked of her on 7th September.

Most of the questions were designed to give thr police ammunition that they could use against her in court, should that day ever have arisen.  So, far better not to play their game.  IMO.

[The General]

Most of the questions were designed to give thr police ammunition that they could use against her in court, should that day ever have arisen.  So, far better not to play their game.  IMO.

Isn't that the purpose of every formal police interview for suspects?

[Mr Gray]

Isn't that the purpose of every formal police interview for suspects?

Precisely... These questions were nothing to do with progressing the search

[Lace]

That's a grueller, to be sure. I've spent more time waiting in A&E.
Just think, she could've got out of there quicker if she'd have answered the questions.

You make be questioned for five hours sound like a walk in the park.  Kate was advised not to answer the questions, it was obvious they were trying to frame her.  The Officers told her that a witness had seen Kate and Gerry with a large black bag,  they had Madeleine's DNA and they knew she was lying.  After that I wouldn't have been told twice to say nothing.  If they had arrested her,  then no one would be looking for Madeleine, as it would have been Kate did it,  case solved.

[The General]

Precisely... These questions were nothing to do with progressing the search

I disagree; progressing (or indeed cessation of) the search would be a natural output. The facts would be established, or, conversely, a story spun and quickly investigated and debunked. Answering the questions will give you a definitive either way, either rule the 'suspect' out, or rule them in.

[The General]

You make be questioned for five hours sound like a walk in the park.  Kate was advised not to answer the questions, it was obvious they were trying to frame her. The Officers told her that a witness had seen Kate and Gerry with a large black bag,  they had Madeleine's DNA and they knew she was lying.  After that I wouldn't have been told twice to say nothing.  If they had arrested her,  then no one would be looking for Madeleine, as it would have been Kate did it,  case solved.

How? How did the brief know what they were trying to frame her before the questions were asked?

[Mr Gray]

I disagree; progressing (or indeed cessation of) the search would be a natural output. The facts would be established, or, conversely, a story spun and quickly investigated and debunked. Answering the questions will give you a definitive either way, either rule the 'suspect' out, or rule them in.

i disagree...an innoccuous answer that could be interpreted as not innoccuous could have led to arrest...imprisonment on remand and the end of the search