Would a guilty person have kept the case alive for 6 years?

[Luz]

I understand you perfectly. Your English is infinitely better than my Portuguese 

Just to be clear, I have no problem whatsoever with the Portuguese police looking into the McCanns. In fact I would have a problem if they hadn't. I think there are many instances where the McCanns have not helped themselves. Should things have been done differently previously? Definitely, but the clock cannot be wound back. At least some of the questions posed here are ones only the McCanns can answer as they relate to their actions and thoughts.

Missing children is always difficult to investigate because family and friends have to be investigated. Like I said I have no problem with that, but what other leads were investigated and with what zeal. My method is to look at the mechanics of the crime (or event if preferred) and test hypotheses against it. What did a killer have to do if she died that night. What physical evidence is there to support that hypothesis? What evidence is there that she was abducted? What physical evidence is there to support that hypothesis? Then test both hypotheses and review them. You might at least get to the truth of what happened that way.

In answer to your question I would co-operate up to a point. I would want legal representation, but of my choice. I know the consequences of poor legal representation too well to take a chance. I operate a zero strikes policy. That means I give one chance of co-operation. If that is blown then forget it, you have to regain my trust and that will not be easy.

One other point, were the McCanns fluent in Portuguese? Was the quality of interpreting guaranteed to be up to standard. How could they have been imprisoned pre-emptively without being charged?

In answer to your question of what I'd do, I would co-operate, but with safeguards. I would make sure that I was properly represented in all interviews, which would have to be recorded. Effective safeguards prevent injustice on both sides. It stops miscarriages of justice and it prevents spurious accusations of police malpractice. I want a system that makes my work redundant.

In all the interviews with the police they were always represented by the best of the best lawyers. Those lawyers, that I think are no longer working for them, when questioned by the press, still defend them. They had UK Ambassadors and Councils all the time nosing inside the PJ and advising them not to expose the parents.
Never in the history of Portuguese-British relations had a crime been so covered up by the British authorities.

[Mr Gray]

I understand you perfectly. Your English is infinitely better than my Portuguese 

Just to be clear, I have no problem whatsoever with the Portuguese police looking into the McCanns. In fact I would have a problem if they hadn't. I think there are many instances where the McCanns have not helped themselves. Should things have been done differently previously? Definitely, but the clock cannot be wound back. At least some of the questions posed here are ones only the McCanns can answer as they relate to their actions and thoughts.

Missing children is always difficult to investigate because family and friends have to be investigated. Like I said I have no problem with that, but what other leads were investigated and with what zeal. My method is to look at the mechanics of the crime (or event if preferred) and test hypotheses against it. What did a killer have to do if she died that night. What physical evidence is there to support that hypothesis? What evidence is there that she was abducted? What physical evidence is there to support that hypothesis? Then test both hypotheses and review them. You might at least get to the truth of what happened that way.

In answer to your question I would co-operate up to a point. I would want legal representation, but of my choice. I know the consequences of poor legal representation too well to take a chance. I operate a zero strikes policy. That means I give one chance of co-operation. If that is blown then forget it, you have to regain my trust and that will not be easy.

One other point, were the McCanns fluent in Portuguese? Was the quality of interpreting guaranteed to be up to standard. How could they have been imprisoned pre-emptively without being charged?

In answer to your question of what I'd do, I would co-operate, but with safeguards. I would make sure that I was properly represented in all interviews, which would have to be recorded. Effective safeguards prevent injustice on both sides. It stops miscarriages of justice and it prevents spurious accusations of police malpractice. I want a system that makes my work redundant.

one of the problems, as I uunderstand, is that the pj did not carry out a proper forensic analysis of the crime scene so the fact that they found no evidence of an abductor may be down to their own incompetence rather than no abductor. no forensic suits were worn, and instead of sending the whole of the sheets for analysis as they should have done they took samples..thus other forensics may have been lost

[jassi]

one of the problems, as I uunderstand, is that the pj did not carry out a proper forensic analysis of the crime scene so the fact that they found no evidence of an abductor may be down to their own incompetence rather than no abductor. no forensic suits were worn, and instead of sending the whole of the sheets for analysis as they should have done they took samples..thus other forensics may have been lost

As I recall, a number of people had been in and out of the apartment long before the police arrived, so the scene would have already been forensically  compromised.
Additionally, it may not have been immediately appreciated that it should be a crime scene, as it originally would have been a case of a missing child, not an alleged abduction.

[Rachel Granada]

Never mind Luz. At least they pay their mortgage, taxes, and haven't committed fraud against family.
Gerry doesn't beat Kate up, or threaten to kill her.

They wouldn't have to make fruitless plane travels just to appear in Court House, if the Court got their act together, and stopped wasting time, on stupid excuses! Do they ask you to pay for anything, NO, so keep your beak out 

Neither Kate nor Gerry McCann have any convictions either.... unlike Amaral.

[faithlilly]

I understand you perfectly. Your English is infinitely better than my Portuguese 

Just to be clear, I have no problem whatsoever with the Portuguese police looking into the McCanns. In fact I would have a problem if they hadn't. I think there are many instances where the McCanns have not helped themselves. Should things have been done differently previously? Definitely, but the clock cannot be wound back. At least some of the questions posed here are ones only the McCanns can answer as they relate to their actions and thoughts.

Missing children is always difficult to investigate because family and friends have to be investigated. Like I said I have no problem with that, but what other leads were investigated and with what zeal. My method is to look at the mechanics of the crime (or event if preferred) and test hypotheses against it. What did a killer have to do if she died that night. What physical evidence is there to support that hypothesis? What evidence is there that she was abducted? What physical evidence is there to support that hypothesis? Then test both hypotheses and review them. You might at least get to the truth of what happened that way.

In answer to your question I would co-operate up to a point. I would want legal representation, but of my choice. I know the consequences of poor legal representation too well to take a chance. I operate a zero strikes policy. That means I give one chance of co-operation. If that is blown then forget it, you have to regain my trust and that will not be easy.

One other point, were the McCanns fluent in Portuguese? Was the quality of interpreting guaranteed to be up to standard. How could they have been imprisoned pre-emptively without being charged?

In answer to your question of what I'd do, I would co-operate, but with safeguards. I would make sure that I was properly represented in all interviews, which would have to be recorded. Effective safeguards prevent injustice on both sides. It stops miscarriages of justice and it prevents spurious accusations of police malpractice. I want a system that makes my work redundant.

Lest we forget, the McCanns had a lawyer with them that was fluent, I would assume, in both Portuguese and English. Surely if the transcripts of the interviews did not match what his clients had said their lawyer would have complained ?

[Benita]

Once again, what has Amaral got to do with the disappearance of Madeleine Beth McCann?!!!

what a a stupid thing to post are you for real  8-)(--)
he has a lot to do with the aftermath,acussing her parents of keeping her body in a fridge and no concrete proof or do you know something we don't  >@@(*&)

[Jacinta]

Would keep this whole case going for over 6 years if not to find their daughter?

Seriously, they have pushed, petitioned and asked for help from many quarters. They have never let it fade away.

The petition was for a Review -the hope was a Re-opening of the investigation into Madeleines Abduction.

Are these the actions of guilty people?

If it were me and I had gotten away with a serious crime, probably not immediately, but at the right time I would let it fade and leave the country. Not keep on about it for six years

And please don't insult the intelligence of people on this forum by the usual  "they dun it for the money" posts as that is total nonsense.

Have to go out now Ill leave you with it. Cheerio.

When the McCann's first started the abduction story I don't think they expected anyone to disbelieve them. When the internet became awash with questions and speculations they continued  their original line with added emphasis and explanations to counter the speculation. They delivered documentaries and voluntarily gave themselves to chat shows and interviews to explain their side and ultimately sued anyone who  questioned their version of events. All in all, and in my humble opinion, they have ridden the wave they started. This has been a fight to save their reputations, not a fight for Madeleine.

Fading away became an impossible option once they started that wave.

Only my personal thoughts and nothing to back them.

[Wonderfulspam]

When the McCann's first started the abduction story I don't think they expected anyone to disbelieve them. When the internet became awash with questions and speculations they continued  their original line with added emphasis and explanations to counter the speculation. They delivered documentaries and voluntarily gave themselves to chat shows and interviews to explain their side and ultimately sued anyone who  questioned their version of events. All in all, and in my humble opinion, they have ridden the wave they started. This has been a fight to save their reputations, not a fight for Madeleine.

Fading away became an impossible option once they started that wave.

Only my personal thoughts and nothing to back them.

Good call.

[C.Edwards]

When the McCann's first started the abduction story I don't think they expected anyone to disbelieve them. When the internet became awash with questions and speculations they continued  their original line with added emphasis and explanations to counter the speculation. They delivered documentaries and voluntarily gave themselves to chat shows and interviews to explain their side and ultimately sued anyone who  questioned their version of events. All in all, and in my humble opinion, they have ridden the wave they started. This has been a fight to save their reputations, not a fight for Madeleine.

Fading away became an impossible option once they started that wave.

Only my personal thoughts and nothing to back them.

Tiger by its tail...

[LagosBen]

When the McCann's first started the abduction story I don't think they expected anyone to disbelieve them. When the internet became awash with questions and speculations they continued  their original line with added emphasis and explanations to counter the speculation. They delivered documentaries and voluntarily gave themselves to chat shows and interviews to explain their side and ultimately sued anyone who  questioned their version of events. All in all, and in my humble opinion, they have ridden the wave they started. This has been a fight to save their reputations, not a fight for Madeleine.

Fading away became an impossible option once they started that wave.

Only my personal thoughts and nothing to back them.

For over six years? Nope I don't buy it. They could have let it fade away easily after the case was archived.

[jassi]

I don't think they are the type of person who can.

[LagosBen]

I don't think they are the type of person who can.

What ALL of them? McCanns, family, friends all and sundry involved with the family from day one?
And not one has slipped up?

 

[jassi]

What ALL of them? McCanns, family, friends all and sundry involved with the family from day one?
And not one has slipped up?

 

In all probability, if the McCanns had chosen to fade into obscurity, we would never have heard another peep out of family or friends. As it is the remainder of the Tapas group have maintained a very low profile over the years.

[LagosBen]

In all probability, if the McCanns had chosen to fade into obscurity, we would never have heard another peep out of family or friends. As it is the remainder of the Tapas group have maintained a very low profile over the years.

Weird- Do you honestly think that a group of normal people, no past history for bad behaviours. Not daft, medically trained - suddenly went into crime masters mode after an accident. In a strange place yet they managed to be cunning enough to cover up an accident, fool the GNR/PJ/MW Staff, TV and Press and manage to hide a body in the space of a short time?

Seriously?  8-)(--)

It would have been easier to admit to an accident happening   and making themselves look innocent about it don't you think?

[jassi]

Weird- Do you honestly think that a group of normal people, no past history for bad behaviours. Not daft, medically trained - suddenly went into crime masters mode after an accident. In a strange place yet they managed to be cunning enough to cover up an accident, fool the GNR/PJ/MW Staff, TV and Press and manage to hide a body in the space of a short time?

Seriously?  8-)(--)

It would have been easier to admit to an accident happening   and making themselves look innocent about it don't you think?

Indeed it would, but I don't think they are the type who are willing to admit mistakes - it might be due to their medical training, or it may just be a personality trait.