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

[jassi]

The Court Case is about much more than just the search.  Besides, I expect that even the sceptics would want a body found if Madeleine is dead.  In fact that is what they want more than anything else.

In the event of a death, it is always helpful to have a body - it sort of tidies things up and helps to draw a conclusion to events.

[Eleanor]

In the event of a death, it is always helpful to have a body - it sort of tidies things up and helps to draw a conclusion to events.

This could depend on the reaction to such an event.

[jassi]

I would have thought that the discovery of a body would bring a feeling of relief to most people, even if  some might have their hopes dashed.

I'm sure that the family of Claudia, the missing woman from York would desperately wish her to be alive, but if her body was found, they would at least be able to move on from their present position.

[Eleanor]

I would have thought that the discovery of a body would bring a feeling of relief to most people, even if  some might have their hopes dashed.

I'm sure that the family of Claudia, the missing woman from York would desperately wish her to be alive, but if her body was found, they would at least be able to move on from their present position.

Sometimes Hope can be best.

[Cariad]

I would have thought that the discovery of a body would bring a feeling of relief to most people, even if  some might have their hopes dashed.

I'm sure that the family of Claudia, the missing woman from York would desperately wish her to be alive, but if her body was found, they would at least be able to move on from their present position.

Precisely.

I'm an atheist, yet even I see the respectful disposal of a persons last remains as important and having somewhere to visit can help with grief.

[xtina]

no wonder G.A....regrets using the Birmingham lab...

still very vocal IMO ...because h has nothing to hide


As to DNA evidence that was discovered in the McCanns’ rental car, Amaral was adamant that this could have been more thoroughly tested. While initial findings on blood were deemed inconclusive, Amaral explains hair samples were simply not followed up as British lab technicians claimed it was impossible to test hair samples without roots.
“It is possible, and even at the time it was possible!” Amaral insisted.
“These hair samples are in Portugal! They were returned in Portugal and they are in the files. It’s simple! All the public ministry has to do is take the hairs and send them to a European laboratory, or anywhere where these kinds of exams are done without roots.”


- See more at: http://portugalresident.com/madeleine-latest-raising-yet-more-questions#sthash.fPRJAiFt.dpuf

[Eleanor]

no wonder G.A....regrets using the Birmingham lab...

still very vocal IMO ...because h has nothing to hide


As to DNA evidence that was discovered in the McCanns’ rental car, Amaral was adamant that this could have been more thoroughly tested. While initial findings on blood were deemed inconclusive, Amaral explains hair samples were simply not followed up as British lab technicians claimed it was impossible to test hair samples without roots.
“It is possible, and even at the time it was possible!” Amaral insisted.
“These hair samples are in Portugal! They were returned in Portugal and they are in the files. It’s simple! All the public ministry has to do is take the hairs and send them to a European laboratory, or anywhere where these kinds of exams are done without roots.”


- See more at: http://portugalresident.com/madeleine-latest-raising-yet-more-questions#sthash.fPRJAiFt.dpuf

Oh Goody.  So we can expect The PJ to do this soon, can we?

By the way, there cannot have been any CUT hairs of Madeleine in the car.  But Sean did have a haircut around that time.  And we all know how difficult it is to get rid of those.

[Carana]

I would have thought that the discovery of a body would bring a feeling of relief to most people, even if  some might have their hopes dashed.

I'm sure that the family of Claudia, the missing woman from York would desperately wish her to be alive, but if her body was found, they would at least be able to move on from their present position.

I agree with that. Even if your worst fears turn out to be true, at least you know.

[Eleanor]

I agree with that. Even if your worst fears turn out to be true, at least you know.

I don't know.  Nothing like this has ever happened to me.

[Carana]

no wonder G.A....regrets using the Birmingham lab...

still very vocal IMO ...because h has nothing to hide


As to DNA evidence that was discovered in the McCanns’ rental car, Amaral was adamant that this could have been more thoroughly tested. While initial findings on blood were deemed inconclusive, Amaral explains hair samples were simply not followed up as British lab technicians claimed it was impossible to test hair samples without roots.
“It is possible, and even at the time it was possible!” Amaral insisted.
“These hair samples are in Portugal! They were returned in Portugal and they are in the files. It’s simple! All the public ministry has to do is take the hairs and send them to a European laboratory, or anywhere where these kinds of exams are done without roots.”


- See more at: http://portugalresident.com/madeleine-latest-raising-yet-more-questions#sthash.fPRJAiFt.dpuf

Erm. DNA was never his forte... Research into extracting nuclear DNA from hair shafts appears to be technically possible in some circumstances (albeit with a relatively low success rate), and research is advancing in that direction. Whether or not the techniques are now sufficiently mainstream commercialised routine tests remains to be seen (I haven't found anything to that effect - only that it is possible).

Even if certain specialised services can do so, it is likely to be very expensive. One or more of her hair fragments could have been in the car by virtue of the fact of simply moving family belongings in the car (clothing, toys, anything). What would be the point in spending limited funds to prove that even one of the many hair fragments in the car boot belonged to Madeleine?

I'd be more interested in the hairs in the apartment. But some of those seem to have disappeared somewhere between when the PT forensic team took photos and when the envelope arrived at the lab *.

Even then it would probably only be done if there was a specific suspect.


Reference:
Challenges in DNA Testing and Forensic Analysis of Hair Samples
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 8:42am

http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2013/04/challenges-dna-testing-and-forensic-analysis-hair-samples

*ETA: the lab being the PT one: the INML.

[Carana]

no wonder G.A....regrets using the Birmingham lab...

still very vocal IMO ...because h has nothing to hide


As to DNA evidence that was discovered in the McCanns’ rental car, Amaral was adamant that this could have been more thoroughly tested. While initial findings on blood were deemed inconclusive, Amaral explains hair samples were simply not followed up as British lab technicians claimed it was impossible to test hair samples without roots.
“It is possible, and even at the time it was possible!” Amaral insisted.
“These hair samples are in Portugal! They were returned in Portugal and they are in the files. It’s simple! All the public ministry has to do is take the hairs and send them to a European laboratory, or anywhere where these kinds of exams are done without roots.”


- See more at: http://portugalresident.com/madeleine-latest-raising-yet-more-questions#sthash.fPRJAiFt.dpuf

What indicates that the FSS had the means to test hair shafts for nuclear DNA back then? Where are such tests done even now in Europe? They might be as forensic science continues to advance, but I haven't found anything to that effect so far.

[Carana]

What next Carana?  That the FFS was also involved in the alleged UK Government cover-up?

It would seem so, at least in Amaral's mind. From his latest TV appearance just prior to Crimewatch:

“We have no doubts, and this was discussed even at the level of Portuguese justice, at the level of the Public Ministry, that there was an alteration at the English lab. The data was manipulated.
http://themaddiecasefiles.com/post287115.html?sid=9c467a92105129ddaa3bed94bd77a89f#p287115

[John]

It would seem so, at least in Amaral's mind. From his latest TV appearance just prior to Crimewatch:

“We have no doubts, and this was discussed even at the level of Portuguese justice, at the level of the Public Ministry, that there was an alteration at the English lab. The data was manipulated.
http://themaddiecasefiles.com/post287115.html?sid=9c467a92105129ddaa3bed94bd77a89f#p287115

Could that be why the FSS was killed off?  (sos about de pun)

[Carana]

Could that be why the FSS was killed off?  (sos about de pun)

No doubt, John. Amaral's somewhat original understanding of the DNA results and thus his conviction that they were manipulated clearly led to the closure of FSS.

He may still be working on why the UK didn't demand that the US government hand over satellite images of Gerry carrying his daughter down to the beach...

ETA: As someone took this post at face-value, I should clarify that it was tongue-in-cheek. 

[Carana]

FSS like other forensic units was closed down because of government problems with money not because they have been involved in any judicial shenanigans.  The whole forensic community was up in arms about the cutbacks at the time so to suggest that FSS was closed down because of this case is a very large red herring and an insult to the people worked there.

And what's this about the UK Government not asking for satellite pictures of PDL on 3rd May 2007?   What's wrong with the Portuguese Government asking instead.?   And what picture of Gerry carrying his daughter to the beach?  Would there be one? 

And finally have you any substantiation to back the above-mention allegations?

According to Amaral, he is the lone hero and everyone else is wrong. Whatever the topic is. I should no doubt have inserted an appropriate smiley, but I didn't find an adequate one. Maybe this one will do?