The McCann v Gonçalo Amaral libel trial as it happens.

[Lyall]

Oh, do let's be sensible.  If only. Either Madeleine was abducted, or her parents were directly responsible for her disappearance.
Is there some other scenario that I have missed?

At least two more.

Danny Collins - in the only book ever published in the UK on the case - suggests one.

Some kind of hoax is another.

[icabodcrane]

Oh, do let's be sensible.  If only. Either Madeleine was abducted, or her parents were directly responsible for her disappearance.
Is there some other scenario that I have missed?

Yes

The one where,  even  IF  Madeleine was abducted,  her parents are still directly responsible    ...  because if they hadn't sashayed carefree down the road that night,  leaving three infants under the age of four alone and defenceless in an unlocked apartment  ....   

[AnneGuedes]

Anne, where are you?

Please tell us more about the trial - I couldn't go to Lisbon, too much work.

I'm about to finish Emma Loach's statement.

[AnneGuedes]

Mr Amaral never accused no one, it wasn't his job. Accusation is the privilege of the Public Ministery.
If you slap a child who's throwing a tantrum and the child falls and breaks his/her crown, it is definitively an accident, because the intention wasn't to make the child fall and break his/her crown.

[icabodcrane]

I'm about to finish Emma Loach's statement.

oh well done Anne

Can't thank you enough for all your efforts. This  forum has become  'the'   place to look for first-hand honest reporting,  thanks to you   

The number of  'guests'  viewing us this past  couple of days is testimony to that 

[AnneGuedes]

Yes

The one where,  even  IF  Madeleine was abducted,  her parents are still directly responsible    ...  because if they hadn't sashayed carefree down the road that night,  leaving three infants under the age of four alone and defenceless in an unlocked apartment  ....

I don't agree with that, Icabodcrane. The parents had no reason at all to fear an abduction from bed. But... they had all reasons to fear their adored Madeleine wouldn't get asleep because she knew her parents were going out at night. And, if Madeleine couldn't sleep because she was scared to be alone, what would this "adventurous" girl, as depicted by father Seddon, do ? This is the crucial matter for the McCanns.

[Chinagirl]

There is ample proof of how Amaral's theory that Madeleine died in the apartment, that the parents know this, that they covered up the death by faking an abduction has spawned a widespread hate-the-McCanns industry.  A glance at Twitter's #McCann, the Controversy FB page, and one or two forums dedicated to this case offer abundant proof.  One of these sites even refer to Amaral as their "night in shinning armer" ........

[Carana]

The reason they wanted the court case to be private is because they don't know if Madeleine is dead or alive?


So Amaral thinks she could be alive?

Sounds like the defence lawyer is trying to tone the whole thing down.

[John]

I notice that Gonçalo Amaral didn't speak to the Press outside the court but Kate McCann did briefly.  This is something which wouldn't happen in the UK during a live court case so I assume Portugal has different rules?  Surely this is frowned upon?

Maybe Anne can enlighten us?    >@@(*&)

[AnneGuedes]

I notice that Gonçalo Amaral didn't speak to the Press outside the court but Kate McCann did briefly.  This is something which wouldn't happen in the UK during a live court case so I assume Portugal has different rules?  Surely this is frowned upon?

Maybe Anne can enlighten us?    >@@(*&)

During a live court the plaintiff and the defendant aren't supposed to speak to the press, even if, like Mrs McCann, they don't answer to questions. The lawyers themselves are limited by a reserve duty.
The old penal code, in such a trial, didn't allow the plaintiff and the defendant to give evidence to the court, but now they can. It seems they will not.

[John]

Just a short update.  Anne advises that there were four witnesses heard today so will get a copy of the evidence up asap.

Alan Pike, Melchior Gomes (who signed the AG report), Alipio Ribeiro (who kicked Amaral out) and Claudia Nogueira (from Lift Consulting, who spinned the McCann image for two years in Portugal), all witnesses for the prosecution.

[DCI]

Just a short update.  Anne advises that there were four witnesses heard today so will get a copy of the evidence up asap.

Alan Pyke, Melchior Gomes (who signed the AG report), Alipio Ribeiro (who kicked Amaral out) and Claudia Nogueira (from Lift Consulting, who spinned the McCann image for two years in Portugal), all witnesses for the prosecution.

Alan Pike a witness for the prosecution?

Alipio Ribeiro was dismissed after 10 minutes in court!

[Lyall]

Plaintiffs I think 

[DCI]

Plaintiffs I think 

all witnesses for the prosecution, John says!

[AnneGuedes]

Alipio Ribeiro was dismissed after 10 minutes in court!

Do you know why, DCI ?