The tapas group and the 'reconstitution' that was never to take place.

[Matthew Wyse]

A reconstruction would show up anomalies if there were any in the statements already given by the group members and anyone else who was there that night, a well tried and tested procedure in every police precinct.  It is interesting however that the group refused to take part in this exercise and that for me indicates that some of them have something to be worried about.

[Alice Purjorick]

A reconstruction would show up anomalies if there were any in the statements already given by the group members and anyone else who was there that night, a well tried and tested procedure in every police precinct.  It is interesting however that the group refused to take part in this exercise and that for me indicates that some of them have something to be worried about.

The world is full of people who will find a hundred reasons why a task should not be done rather than find the one reason why it should. 

[Matthew Wyse]

The world is full of people who will find a hundred reasons why a task should not be done rather than find the one reason why it should. 

The Portuguese attorney general stated that the parents had lost the opportunity to prove their innocence and that is good enough for me.

[Wonderfulspam]

A reconstruction would show up anomalies if there were any in the statements already given by the group members and anyone else who was there that night, a well tried and tested procedure in every police precinct.  It is interesting however that the group refused to take part in this exercise and that for me indicates that some of them have something to be worried about.

They were being framed by that b*stard Amaral & the other f*cking tossers of the PJ.

[Wonderfulspam]

The Portuguese attorney general stated that the parents had lost the opportunity to prove their innocence and that is good enough for me.

It was demonstrate not prove , apparently, either way, they didn't go back & cooperate, that's all they had to do.

But, obviously, there is absoloutely nothing even remotely suspicious about them not having done that, is there.

[Matthew Wyse]

It was demonstrate not prove , apparently, either way, they didn't go back & cooperate, that's all they had to do.

But, obviously, there is absoloutely nothing even remotely suspicious about them not having done that, is there.

To be brutally fair the parents didn't refuse to take part. at least that was what was communicated back to the police but then they knew it wouldn't happen in any event since most of the tapas group had already refused.  A cute bit of maneuvering imo.

[Alfred R Jones]

A reconstruction would show up anomalies if there were any in the statements already given by the group members and anyone else who was there that night, a well tried and tested procedure in every police precinct.  It is interesting however that the group refused to take part in this exercise and that for me indicates that some of them have something to be worried about.

Yes, indeed - I would have been worried too, to return to a country in which the police have a track record of corruption and torture,  to take part in what would clearly have been a farcical reconstruction, the sole purpose of which was to incriminate friends of mine who had just lost a child.  Please tell me how a reconstruction could have absolved the McCanns and their friends of any guilt?  Just try and explain it.

[Wonderfulspam]

Yes, indeed - I would have been worried too, to return to a country in which the police have a track record of corruption and torture,  to take part in what would clearly have been a farcical reconstruction, the sole purpose of which was to incriminate friends of mine who had just lost a child.  Please tell me how a reconstruction could have absolved the McCanns and their friends of any guilt?  Just try and explain it.

How would it have incriminated them, if they're innocent?

[Matthew Wyse]

Yes, indeed - I would have been worried too, to return to a country in which the police have a track record of corruption and torture,  to take part in what would clearly have been a farcical reconstruction, the sole purpose of which was to incriminate friends of mine who had just lost a child.  Please tell me how a reconstruction could have absolved the McCanns and their friends of any guilt?  Just try and explain it.

That's where you are wrong.  The Portuguese are no more incompetent or corrupt than your average British copper and the reason for a reconstruction was to clear up several issues which still remain unresolved even today.

[stephen25000]

Convention?  What an imagination you have.

Maybe you dont go nice places for dinner with your friends?

Of course they would discuss what happened



You are not for real Stephen

They cant have a glass of wine with their meal

They cant meet up with their friends for dinner and go over what happened without it being a Convention.  How silly you are sounding.



Do you have no social life ?

Potential suspects meeting up after a crime had occurred in a foreign country.

Get real sadie.

It's called collusion.

[stephen25000]

Well why don't you tell us how an accurate recon could take place?     Apart from Jez - what about Jane Tanner who  gave the time she left the table after Gerry as between 5 and 10 mins.  If she guessed the time wrongly, Gerry could have been back at the table before she'd left it.   What would happen then?

The PJ knew the chances of the group agreeing to return for a recon was minimal - because of the appalling  way they had been treated and after seeing their friends made arguidos.     They would have NO trust at all in the PJ - and who could blame them. 

Pure speculation on my part but IMO the PJ were banking on them not returning  - and breathed a huge sigh of relief when they didn't.    That meant they could shelve the case and offload the blame.   It was a face-saving operation IMO.     And it worked.

Just giving excuses for what they didn't do is insufficient.

There were no excuses.

[Alfred R Jones]

That's where you are wrong.  The Portuguese are no more incompetent or corrupt than your average British copper and the reason for a reconstruction was to clear up several issues which still remain unresolved even today.

I note you made no attempt at all to explain how a reconstruction would prove the McCanns & their friends innocence.  What issues do you think the reconstruction would have resolved?

[Wonderfulspam]

I note you made no attempt at all to explain how a reconstruction would prove the McCanns & their friends innocence.  What issues do you think the reconstruction would have resolved?

What issues do you think them not having cooperated has caused?

[Matthew Wyse]

I note you made no attempt at all to explain how a reconstruction would prove the McCanns & their friends innocence.  What issues do you think the reconstruction would have resolved?

Why should I?  A reconstruction's sole purpose is to establish what went on in the hours and minutes leading up to what may possibly have been a crime.  It's purpose is to identify anomalies as I stated earlier. Guilt or innocence is determined by many factors and not just by conducting a reconstruction. People who refuse to take part in a reconstruction and particularly one involving a disappeared child will always be viewed as worthy of further scrutiny.
 

[Anna]

Why should I?  A reconstruction's sole purpose is to establish what went on in the hours and minutes leading up to what may possibly have been a crime.  It's purpose is to identify anomalies as I stated earlier. Guilt or innocence is determined by many factors and not just by conducting a reconstruction. People who refuse to take part in a reconstruction and particularly one involving a disappeared child will always be viewed as worthy of further scrutiny.

Jez couldn’t make it and I wonder how many of the OC staff couldn’t make it.
 It would be waste of time unless everyone was present for the reconstruction.
The replies to the requests of the OC staff, had not all been checked out at the time of the reconstruction, cancellation.
I can’t blame anyone for avoiding a return , to be torn to bits by their press and interrogated even further by PJ.
I can not understand why it could not have been done sooner when most were still there and things were clearer in their minds.