Robert Murat wins libel case against national daily Correio da Manhã

[Carana]

Amaral could have written a book to defend his honour in a different way. And no one would have batted an eyelid.

He could have explained the general situation, his efforts, the lack of a protocol, training, how difficult it all was, bla, bla, WITHOUT his conclusion.

He didn't. He chose to assert that this little girl was dead. Not just in his book, nor just in the TV documentary with which he is closely asociated, but also in his extensive promo tour of interviews.

[John]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?


Robert Murat wins slander case as Kate McCann visits Luz
by Brendan de Beer, in General · 09-05-2013 10:23:00 · 2 Comments

A Lisbon court has ruled national daily Correio da Manhã pay a total of 15,000 euros to Robert Murat who was dragged into the case of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann after volunteering to act as a translator between Portuguese authorities and the McCanns.




In its judgement, the court found that publishing false allegations such as “Robert Murat is a predator who visits sites containing sexual violence” was not in the public interests and infringed upon his rights.
The newspaper frequently quoted anonymous police sources and alleged leaks by investigators in their coverage of the case to substantiate its claims.
“This is the 33-year old Englishman police believe dragged little Maddie from the bed in which she was sleeping up to the house where he lives with his mother”, the newspaper wrote in May 2007 shortly after Mr Murat was declared a person of interest or arguido and questioned by police in a marathon 19-hour-long interrogation session in Portimão.


http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

[Eleanor]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

It's the Fascist mind set.  He had been getting away with this sort of carry on for years, and never thought anyone would question him.

All in my opinion, of course,

[icabodcrane]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

I really don't understand  ...  in what way, specifically,  will Murat winning a libel case against a Portuguese newspaper,  affect the McCann's libel case against  Amaral  ?   

[AnneGuedes]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

John, the prosecutor didn't "decide to drop the investigation", he had to because of RM's arguido status that had already been extended twice, the maximum. RM wasn't made arguido because of this convict who told those ugly things about him and influenced the UK profilers for whom he was the ideal predator, it was mainly because ROB, RM and FP stated he was around on the 3rd of May night whereas he pretended to be with his mum. I'm not saying ROB etc. were lying, I think they confused RM with another guy, also fluent in English and Portuguese, and also with glasses.

[ferryman]

You cant be defamed by the police

Try telling that to former cop Amaral.   If a policeman makes a comment in public or writes something for a newspaper wrongly alleging that a person has committed a crime then they leave themselves open to a libel suit.  That is why any reputable police officer will only say such things under the judicial authority and protection of a court.  I am not sure about Portugal but in the UK Counsel are so protected against libel suits in the same way when they allege something in court.

April 26, 2008 - 09:00

If Maddie: Inspector will disclose the whole puzzle of the night of May 3
Mystery also in film

What really happened the night of May 3, in Praia da Luz, where Madeleine McCann disappeared, one of the passages will be more 'explosive' of the book that the inspector's PJ Gonçalo Amaral is you want to write and, later, transformed into documentary.

The CM knows that the researcher of PJ - who coordinated the case in the first months and is now about to leave the police after having applied for retirement (see support) - already has almost finished the book. As the CM revealed yesterday will have the title 'the Truth Lie'.

The contents have already been examined by a publisher, which also proposed the publication in English. According to BC source said next of Gonçalo Amaral, "yet there is no date certain for the launch," but, apparently, will only be after the lifting of the secrecy of justice in the investigation process still ongoing at the Ministry of Public Portimao.

On the intention to rebuild the media event on film, should proceed in documentary style, and also there is already producing interested. "Will clarify all the lie that has been created and calling into question the institutions that investigated and are linked to the case," revealed the CM the same source, who already desfolhou passages from future publication.

PORMENORES DETAILS

SEGREDO SECRECY

The publication of the controversial book should only happen after the lifting of the secrecy of justice."The intention is to restore the truth of what happened that night and did not find problems to the author," explained the 'CM' source close to Gonçalo Amaral.

REFORMA REFORM

Despite being about to pass the reform, adding 38 years of service - 26 in eight more police, military service plus 20% of subsidy - Gonçalo Amaral is in danger of being punished by the disciplinary publication of the book. Even in retirement, the inspector must comply with the regulation of the police disciplinary.
Rui Pando Gomes

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/portugal/misterio-tambem-em-filme

The contents have already been examined by a publisher, which also proposed the publication in English.

Written in April 2008, some 4 months before the case was archived.

Oh dear.

Dr Amaral has slipped on (yet another!) banana skin ...

[John]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

I really don't understand  ...  in what way, specifically,  will Murat winning a libel case against a Portuguese newspaper,  affect the McCann's libel case against  Amaral  ?

I never mentioned the McCanns Icabodcrane?   This win for Robert will not do Mr Amaral any favours in the long run and adds to his already damaged credibility.

Didn't some of the tapas 9 put Mr Murat in the frame too?  They might be next?

[ferryman]

Didn't some of the tapas 9 put Mr Murat in the frame too?  They might be next?

The McCanns' friends have never said anything more than that they saw Murat out and about on the night.

They have never suggested Murat is somehow implicated in Madeleine's disappearance.

And most important, they have never repeated anything outside the process (at least publicly)

[Chinagirl]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

$$$, John.  Despite deploring the intense media interest in this case which he erroneously blamed for hampering his investigation, he saw the world-wide interest as a God-given opportunity to cash in - and to restore his very tarnished reputation at the same time.  We can hope that he is about to face nemesis after his hubris ....

[AnneGuedes]

There's possibly more hubris in people (no, I will not use The word) who comfortably and securely hide behind pseudos than in Gonçalo Amaral who doesn't (but could have after all). So I wouldn't totally dismiss nemesis.. Unless Greek gods were pure mythology.

[John]

Why do you think Mr Amaral put his neck on the line Anne?

[ferryman]

It was my understanding that in Portugal freedom of speech trumped the individual's right not to be slandered and libelled so my question was whether this recent decision in favour of Murat might be taken as a promising sign from the McCanns' point of view?

I think that the reversal of  the ban on the book led people to believe this when that is not the case. As I understand the ban was overturned because the book had not yet been shown to be libellous as the case had not been heard. That ruling did not show that the book was not libellous.

That makes perfect sense Davel. 

What I find incomprehensible is that the McCanns were apparently not legally represented at the court case when the ban was overturned.     Can anyone confirm whether that is actually true please?  If it is  - I find that to be quite astonishing.

Benice, yes, it was what is known as an ex-parte judgment, meaning simply that one side to the dispute (the McCann side) was not represented.

Now, what some of a certain persuasion will tell you is that we, in UK, also have ex-parte judgments.

We do.

But always in situations (such as custody disputes over children) where the party on whose behalf an ex-parte judgment is made is deemed to be in peril and in need of rescue.

It would never, ever, happen in circumstances such as those that led to the overturning of the injunction on Amaral's book ...

[AnneGuedes]

Why do you think Mr Amaral put his neck on the line Anne?

I think it's related to marialvism.

[debunker]

Here is another article which I came across this evening referring to the successful libel action.  There can be no doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for Mr Amaral.

I cannot understand how a detective with such experience could have made such a bad error of judgment.  Can anyone suggest a motive for putting his whole life's work in jeopardy for the sake of a stupid hunch?

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/9710-correio-da-manha-pays-robert-murat-damages

I really don't understand  ...  in what way, specifically,  will Murat winning a libel case against a Portuguese newspaper,  affect the McCann's libel case against  Amaral  ?

I never mentioned the McCanns Icabodcrane?   This win for Robert will not do Mr Amaral any favours in the long run and adds to his already damaged credibility.

Didn't some of the tapas 9 put Mr Murat in the frame too?  They might be next?

Statements to the police are privileged- as long as they did not say it also to the papers.

[John]

Why do you think Mr Amaral put his neck on the line Anne?

I think it's related to marialvism.

Is that the Portuguese equivalent to what we in the UK refer to as elitism?