Why do some people fail to come forward to help?

[pegasus]

No physical torture that we know of, agreed.
But then Amaral, the head investigator / co-ordinator knew he was up on charges to do with torture.  He had to tread carefully.
Also the eyes of the world were on this case.

I have looked through the case to seek any incident of physical violence by police against a witness in this case.
I found only one incident.

Omitting to politely offer a witness a cup of tea or coffee.

A form of torture so cruel that even the Spanish Inquisition could not bring themselves to inflict it.

[Wonderfulspam]

I have looked through the case to seek any incident of physical violence by police against a witness in this case.
I found only one incident.

Omitting to politely offer a witness a cup of tea or coffee.

A form of torture so cruel that even the Spanish Inquisition could not bring themselves to inflict it.

 

[pegasus]

Sorry. Not one incident. Two incidents.
The second incident of violent torture by police against a witness in this case was actually inflicted in PDL on approx 9th May by a foreign (non-portuguese) police officer. I have seen a documentary about the Spanish Inquisition, seen the awful rack, and the chair, in use, but they pale into luxury compared with this technique: Slightly scaring a witness by making them think they will be driven to Spain

[Carana]

I have looked through the case to seek any incident of physical violence by police against a witness in this case.
I found only one incident.

Omitting to politely offer a witness a cup of tea or coffee.

A form of torture so cruel that even the Spanish Inquisition could not bring themselves to inflict it.

With the 24/7 international media spotlights on them, they could hardly bash people around as they did in the Cipriano and other cases, could they?

[slartibartfast]

With the 24/7 international media spotlights on them, they could hardly bash people around as they did in the Cipriano and other cases, could they?

So the PJ can't be trusted because they torture people and the evidence that the PJ routinely torture people is the fact that they didn't in this case because too many people were watching.

 8-)(--) 8-)(--)

[Mr Gray]

So the PJ can't be trusted because they torture people and the evidence that the PJ routinely torture people is the fact that they didn't in this case because too many people were watching.

 8-)(--) 8-)(--)

I think they knew they would not get away with it...

[Brietta]

from The Portugal News 20 March 2014   
“Looking into the activities of this particular individual was our primary line of investigation”, our police source said, adding: “It is all there in the police case files. You will see when it is made public.” 

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=3937.msg147890#msg147890 

If I thought my confidentiality would be breached if I made a statement in a criminal investigation and every my every word dissected on the internet, I would be appalled.

But I would still consider it my civic duty to come forward with any information I had. 

However if I thought I or my family might possibly be targeted by criminals as a result of such publicity I would be very reluctant to come forward and would think very carefully about doing so.

[John]

The fact that long term resident expat Jenny Murat felt it necessary to set up a missing child desk so that anyone with information could pass it on confidentially says much.

[jassi]

The fact that long term resident expat Jenny Murat felt it necessary to set up a missing child desk so that anyone with information could pass it on confidentially says much.

One doesn't know her motives, but it might partly  have been that she thought an English-speaking person might have been more approachable for British tourists that a member of the Portuguese police - at least initially.

[John]

One doesn't know her motives, but it might partly  have been that she thought an English-speaking person might have been more approachable for British tourists that a member of the Portuguese police - at least initially.

Jenny did make it clear that many in the village were scared to approach the police and in any event didn't trust them. 

As an aside, anyone know if Jenny's book which she was working on was ever published?