Was Gonçalo Amaral fair game given the content of his book?

[Cariad]

If Amaral had suggested that Madeleine died - possibly at the hands of a paedaphile who the PJ knew was targetting and attacking British families in their holiday accommodation (which they did know about)  - then you might have a point.     However, his thesis does not even come close to what DCI Redwood has said.    Amaral blamed the parents - and did not entertain the idea that any crime by an intruder had been committed.

Actually, he just suggested that she might not have been alive when she left the apartment. I don't think he attributed the death to any individual.

[Benice]

Actually, he just suggested that she might not have been alive when she left the apartment. I don't think he attributed the death to any individual.

I didn't mean to suggest that he did (sorry my wording could have been clearer).   However his heavy hints re calpol - and accidental falls left very little to the imagination IMO.    IIRC at no time does he suggest that Madeleine may have died at the hands of an intruder inside the apartment.

Any suggestion that Andy Redwood is now agreeing with Amaral and is similarly 'pointing the finger' at the McCanns is ludicrous IMO.

[John]

I do apologise.  There were posts on this thread posted earlier today which should have been removed on sight but I missed them on the first pass, happens sometimes.  It is always best to report such posts as they are then automatically brought to the attention of the editors and the moderators.  With the best will in the word we can't read everything all of the time.

If it offends  >> Report it!  TY

[Estuarine]

It seems to me one important fact has been over-looked and that is the fact that the Portuguese Attorney-General DID decide to-open the case.

What the Oporto PJ picked up during their review of this case nobody outside knows for certain but I put it to you that it must have been something substantial for the PAG to even consider a re-opening.

As it is I cannot see how he would have done it without the backing of the Portuguese Government given the potential political embarrassment and the fact that it went ahead raises the suggestion 'We have our doubts'.

I cannot see either how the current investigation is following a different line of line unless those involved had credible grounds for so doing.  Whatever Amaral's credibility is now on the line.

Dr Amaral was removed from the case nine months before the process was archived. The process only lasted 14 months. By the time the process was archived, in terms of the investigation, Dr Amaral was yesterday's man. Why should his credibility now be on the line?

[Mr Gray]

Dr Amaral was removed from the case nine months before the process was archived. The process only lasted 14 months. By the time the process was archived, in terms of the investigation, Dr Amaral was yesterday's man. Why should his credibility now be on the line?

Because he wrote a book about an ongoing case that is potentially libellous and he failed to carry out a proper investigation causing the OJ to be mocked by the british press

[Estuarine]

Because he wrote a book about an ongoing case that is potentially libellous and he failed to carry out a proper investigation causing the OJ to be mocked by the british press

Correct me if I am wrong but the book was published after the case was archived. The old libel saw is not relevant to the discussion. The British press and several posters on here continue to mock the Portuguese police nearly seven years after Amaral was removed. What happens to him now has no relevance to the current investigation. He is what he is but the bulk of the original investigation was done without him. Do you seriously believe that after he was given the elbow the PJ did not review his work? He is yesterdays man but some posters keep him bobbing up like a Kelly Doll.

[Estuarine]

Why was the case re-opened if there were NO doubts about his handling of the case and his own' theory'?

As it is Attorney Generals do not review cases never mind re-open them on a mere whim.

Amaral had been given the bums rush nine months before the case was archived. Are you trying to tell me that the case would not have had a full review before archiving? If so tell it to the Marines this Sailor will not believe it.

[ferryman]

I do apologise.  There were posts on this thread posted earlier today which should have been removed on sight but I missed them on the first pass, happens sometimes.  It is always best to report such posts as they are then automatically brought to the attention of the editors and the moderators.  With the best will in the word we can't read everything all of the time.

If it offends  >> Report it!  TY

Quite disappointed.

A post I made yesterday, the proof of which has been demonstrated countless times, seems to have been removed.  I explained my reason for not, yet again, (on that occasion) producing the evidence.  I was posting from the library and pushed for time.

I said that Amaral has the habit of putting libellous statements into the mouths of others that others never said.

Here is a classic example (though far from the only one).

The penultimate sentence and paragraph of Harrison's third and final report:

I am currently of the opinion on the available information and statistical datasets that if death has occurred, that it is possible that Madeleine McCann’s body has been disposed into the sea at Praia da Luz. (See my second report entitled “NPIA OP TASK Search Doc Beach and Marine”).


And what Amaral claims Harrison said in his book:



After a week of intense work, Harrison presents the results of his study to my coordinating group. Even if we were expecting it, his conclusions confirm our worst fears. The most plausible scenario is the following: there is no doubt that Madeleine is dead, and her body is hidden somewhere in the area around Praia da Luz. He praises the quality of the work carried out by the Portuguese authorities in trying to find the little girl alive. According to him, the time has come to redirect the searches in order to find, this time, a body hidden in the surrounding area. 


So which is it?

Madeleine definitely dead and her concealed remains in and around Praia da Luz?

Or Madeleine possibly dead, and if dead, her body most likely jettisoned into the sea?

The other classic is Amaral's claim that Prior said, in England, people have been arrested on less evidence than the PJ had against Kate and Gerry.

We can't state definitely that Prior didn't say that, and that he didn't ring the FSS to berate them on the PJ's powers of arrest.

But if he did, the Moon is made of green cheese, Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy are both real and I am the Queen of Sheba ...

[jassi]

But if he did, the Moon is made of green cheese, Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy are both real and I am the Queen of Sheebah ...

You may well be, for all we know   

Whoever you are, you are clearly one of these Amaral obsessives.

[jassi]

The injunction on Amaral's book was lifted because the judges felt it violated Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, the right to freedom of speech and expression, not because it was deemed not libellous.

As to the delays of the libel trial that has been principally due to the defence.

Can we have facts please not fiction?

This forum would grind to a halt if only facts were allowed 

[ferryman]

You may well be, for all we know   

Whoever you are, you are clearly one of these Amaral obsessives.

And another example: according to Amaral, Kate sacked one of the Leicestershire Police liaison officers who asked her where her daughter was.

Where is the evidence from the files?

[ferryman]

The injunction on Amaral's book was lifted because the judges felt it violated Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, the right to freedom of speech and expression, not because it was deemed not libellous.

As to the delays of the libel trial that has been principally due to the defence.

Can we have facts please not fiction?

That is right.

The dispute over the injunction had nothing to do with libel.

[jassi]

Amaral's defence is that it's all on the police files.  Excuse me but where's the evidence?

Perhaps you should address your question to the judge.

[jassi]

The judge who seems to have taken a dim view of some of the defence's comments..

Some of them  do stretch credibility. A No 2 who claims he never read the book nor watched the documentary.  A businessman who didn't read a million+ contract before he signed it  Ouch.

What does it matter?
The judge will decide in the fullness of time.

[Estuarine]

http://www.mccannfiles.com/id344.html

It becomes tedious posting this every few days because no one reads it and as a consequence they make it up as they go along.
Like jassi says it will all come out eventually.