Amaral's Hypothesis - credible or not?

[jassi]

His cousin.  One of the people who owns The Ocean Club.  Symington, was it?

A rather distant cousin, I believe, several generations of separation.

[stephen25000]

A rather distant cousin, I believe, several generations of separation.

 

[new_observer]

Yes - it was British journalists.   I thought everyone knew that.

This could be Lorri Campbell! Date of her report to the police was 6th May. So it is documented.

But is this REALLY correct, Benice?
For discover the one and only truth you may have to read Amarals book a bit more intently 
In the first part of chapter 7 he describes, that he himself was THE MAN, who perceives R.Murat in the morning of 11th May as a suspicious-looking character.
After a very long and stressful night (with a lot interviews/meetings until 2'oclock in the morning plus bury his dead dog also in the same night) he drove the direct way from Olhão to PDL - to check the crime-area.
Curiously no one saw him wandering alone through the streets next to OC (for sure there weren't  any reporters or officers at that time).
Suddenly he spotted a strange looking man with his mother, in front of their house.
A bit later he saw this man talking to a GNR-officer.
Apparently this guy was R. Murat.
After this "observation" Amaral immediately phoned his team to alert them about R.Murat.


However this whole story is quite strange, because R.Murat had been in Portimão that morning.
He did translation-jobs for the PJ-Inspector Pedro Varanda (DW for example).


So - what do you think about this episode?
IMO this story is rubbish - Amaral just wanted (at all cost) express his competence as a first-class investigator.
The whole description in this chapter is untrustworthy and full of pathos - from the nightly funeral of his dog (between 3-4 o'clock) till his random detection of R.Murat in the next morning. Incredible!

[Mr Gray]

This could be Lorri Campbell! Date of her report to the police was 6th May. So it is documented.

But is this REALLY correct, Benice?
For discover the one and only truth you may have to read Amarals book a bit more intently 
In the first part of chapter 7 he describes, that he himself was THE MAN, who perceives R.Murat in the morning of 11th May as a suspicious-looking character.
After a very long and stressful night (with a lot interviews/meetings until 2'oclock in the morning plus bury his dead dog also in the same night) he drove the direct way from Olhão to PDL - to check the crime-area.
Curiously no one saw him wandering alone through the streets next to OC (for sure there weren't  any reporters or officers at that time).
Suddenly he spotted a strange looking man with his mother, in front of their house.
A bit later he saw this man talking to a GNR-officer.
Apparently this guy was R. Murat.
After this "observation" Amaral immediately phoned his team to alert them about R.Murat.


However this whole story is quite strange, because R.Murat had been in Portimão that morning.
He did translation-jobs for the PJ-Inspector Pedro Varanda (DW for example).


So - what do you think about this episode?
IMO this story is rubbish - Amaral just wanted (at all cost) express his competence as a first-class investigator.
The whole description in this chapter is untrustworthy and full of pathos - from the nightly funeral of his dog (between 3-4 o'clock) till his random detection of R.Murat in the next morning. Incredible!

amaral has been proven in court to lie...his word cannot be trusted IMO

[Mr Gray]

He was an interpreter first and foremost.  It was only later that he became a suspect so your clowns remark is both wrong and contemptible.

you stated that amaral wanted to keep him as an interpreter to keep tabs on him....so amaral suspected him but allowed him to remain as an interpreter...

[Eleanor]

I think that Amaral needed Robert Murat to be involved because he knew that The McCanns couldn't have pulled off his Thesis without local help.

[Mr Gray]

I think that Amaral needed Robert Murat to be involved because he knew that The McCanns couldn't have pulled off his Thesis without local help.

oh yes..his Thesis

[new_observer]

The interview with Dianne Webster was conducted in Robert Murat's presence on 11th May 2007.  This was the day after Gonçalo Amaral observed Murat arriving at his mothers villa in Praia da Luz (10th May).  Amaral writes in his book that following the observation he instructed that Murat continue to act as an interpreter in order to keep tabs on him.

So I'm afraid that it is your post that is 'rubbish' as you put it so succinctly being a 'newbie'.

Sorry John, but Amaral describes 2 days.
Chapter 7 starts in the night after the statement of Jane Tanner.
This statement was on 10th May.
The next day he describes his visit in PDL. Therefore he wrote about the event at May 11th, when he allegedly saw Robert Murat.

[John]

Sorry John, but Amaral describes 2 days.
Chapter 7 starts in the night after the statement of Jane Tanner.
This statement was on 10th May.
The next day he describes his visit in PDL. Therefore he wrote about the event at May 11th, when he allegedly saw Robert Murat.

I see what you mean, the wording is poor...to quote from the book...

Chapter 7

The Murat Case

On May 10th, the crisis unit's meeting goes on until 2'oclock in the morning.

I receive a phone call from Sofia, who insists on my going home.


What Amaral was trying to explain was that the crisis meeting started on the 10th but continued into the 11th.  It was the 11th when he went down to Luz at 8am and reported seeing Robert Murat a short time later.  So your observation is that Amaral couldn't have seen Murat shortly after 8am if he was acting as interpreter in Diane Webster's interview from 11.30am. 

Am I missing something here because I fail to see why not?

[pegasus]

so you have a suspect in a serious case acting as an interpreter...what a load of clowns

and don't forget allowing cueing during a witness interview.

[John]

Amaral states in the book that after seeing Murat in Luz early on the 11th May, he telephoned the office in Portimão and instructed them to keep tabs on Murat by continuing his work as an interpreter.  No doubt they telephoned Murat and called him in for the Webster interview.

Luz to Portimão is a 33 km - 28 minute trip by car on the motorway or 26km - 30 minute trip via Odiáxere.

One has to remember that there was much urgency at that time.  Amaral relates that for all they knew Murat could have been holding the girl in one of his houses.  They were desperate to keep tabs on him by all accounts.

[new_observer]

I see what you mean, the wording is poor...to quote from the book...

Chapter 7

The Murat Case

On May 10th, the crisis unit's meeting goes on until 2'oclock in the morning.

I receive a phone call from Sofia, who insists on my going home.


What Amaral was trying to explain was that the crisis meeting started on the 10th but continued into the 11th.  It was the 11th when he went down to Luz at 8am and reported seeing Robert Murat a short time later.  So your observation is that Amaral couldn't have seen Murat shortly after 8am if he was acting as interpreter in Diane Webster's interview from 11.30am. 

Am I missing something here because I fail to see why not?

I think the whole story is absolutely strange. Meetings till 2 o'clock, back home late in the night, bury the dog, talking to his wife, etc. - did he even went to bed this night?
I don't know how much time Amaral needs from Olhão to Luz, but surely more than a few minutes (its about 100 KM away). So his morning start at about 8 o'clock. When did he arrive in Luz? He was walking around, and saw Murat several times. Murats translation-job started at 11.30h, so at what time has Murat arrived in Portimao?
For me this episode is quite unreliable.
After Amaral detect Murat, he had a call with his team?
At what time he did this call? Nevertheless Murat made the translation-work?
No, John - i don't believe this. But of course his loyalists will do so..

[new_observer]

Amaral states in the book that after seeing Murat in Luz early on the 11th May, he telephoned the office in Portimão and instructed them to keep tabs on Murat by continuing his work as an interpreter.  No doubt they telephoned Murat and called him in for the Webster interview.

Luz to Portimão is a 33 km - 28 minute trip by car on the motorway or 26km - 30 minute trip via Odiáxere.

One has to remember that there was much urgency at that time.  Amaral relates that for all they knew Murat could have been holding the girl in one of his houses.  They were desperate to keep tabs on him by all accounts.

Amaral was working in Portimao, but he lived in Olhão at that time

[Eleanor]

I think the whole story is absolutely strange. Meetings till 2 o'clock, back home late in the night, bury the dog, talking to his wife, etc. - did he even went to bed this night?
I don't know how much time Amaral needs from Olhão to Luz, but surely more than a few minutes (its about 100 KM away). So his morning start at about 8 o'clock. When did he arrive in Luz? He was walking around, and saw Murat several times. Murats translation-job started at 11.30h, so at what time has Murat arrived in Portimao?
For me this episode is quite unreliable.
After Amaral detect Murat, he had a call with his team?
At what time he did this call? Nevertheless Murat made the translation-work?
No, John - i don't believe this. But of course his loyalists will do so..

What a very good spot.  Well done.

[Mr Gray]

I see what you mean, the wording is poor...to quote from the book...

Chapter 7

The Murat Case

On May 10th, the crisis unit's meeting goes on until 2'oclock in the morning.

I receive a phone call from Sofia, who insists on my going home.


What Amaral was trying to explain was that the crisis meeting started on the 10th but continued into the 11th.  It was the 11th when he went down to Luz at 8am and reported seeing Robert Murat a short time later.  So your observation is that Amaral couldn't have seen Murat shortly after 8am if he was acting as interpreter in Diane Webster's interview from 11.30am. 

Am I missing something here because I fail to see why not?

john makes a good point here...nothing particularly wrong with the wording his interpretation was wrong...just as posters take the words of the mccanns...misinterpret and new myths are born