This would appear to be the 'straw which broke the camel's back'!
Email to Stuart Prior from Paulo Rebelo
29th April 2008
Processo/16 - VOLUME XVIa.pdf P111 ]
Vol XVI p. 4241
From : Paulo Fernando Gaspar Rebelo
Date : 29th April 2008 12.39 pm
To : Prior Stuart
Subject : Witnesses' Questions
Dear Stuart,
In Portugal, the criminal investigation is conducted by the Polícia Judiciária, under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The competence to evaluate the interest and need for the performance of any criminal inquiry acts lies with these two entities, not with the witnesses.
In fact, according to Portuguese law (article 132, section 1, subsection a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure), whenever a witness summons is served, the witness is compelled to attend the authorities so that any action mentioned in the summons may take place.
Following the messages sent by the witnesses, I hereby inform you that both the PJ and the Public Prosecutor responsible for the investigation consider all the questions and doubts previously raised by the witnesses to have been properly answered.
Therefore, in this context and in a clear way, could the witnesses inform you, by noon tomorrow, if they will attend (or not attend) the re-enactment.
Thanks once again for your valuable cooperation.
Best regards
Paulo Rebelo
CSIC