Scotland Yard about to commence digs in and around Praia da Luz.

[Wonderfulspam]

I wonder if these will be before or after they find the body?

If the Met are going to make any arrests at all, they will have to be in the UK as they have no jurisdiction to do so in Portugal. Are we being given some hidden message or just sloppy journalism ?

It's the Sun, further more it's Antonella, on that basis I think it's safe to assume it's just sloppy journalism.

[pegasus]

Some newspaper reports suggest that the ground surveys (presumably using dogs as well as radar etc) and possible digs are not necessarily to find actual remains.
So the question arises, can a dog locate a burial site where remains are no longer present?
In a missing person case in Texas, at the location which perp stated was burial location, even though the remains were no longer there, two dogs both signalled  http://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1101233.html
 

[Wonderfulspam]

Some newspaper reports suggest that the ground surveys (presumably using dogs as well as radar etc) and possible digs are not necessarily to find actual remains.
So the question arises, can a dog locate a burial site where remains are no longer present?In a missing person case in Texas, at the location which perp stated was burial location, even though the remains were no longer there, two dogs both signalled  http://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1101233.html
 

Eugene Zapata comes to mind.

[pathfinder73]

Some newspaper reports suggest that the ground surveys (presumably using dogs as well as radar etc) and possible digs are not necessarily to find actual remains.
So the question arises, can a dog locate a burial site where remains are no longer present?
In a missing person case in Texas, at the location which perp stated was burial location, even though the remains were no longer there, two dogs both signalled  http://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1101233.html
 

Good find.

"In July 1994, appellant, who appeared casual and nonchalant, met with police officers to discuss Maria's disappearance.
On November 9, 2001, police officers took two dogs trained to detect the scent of cadavers to the location where appellant said that he and his wife had dumped Maria's body.   The two cadaver dogs and their handlers worked the area independently of one another so that they would not influence each other.   Both dogs alerted within five or six feet of one another, at the spot that appellant had indicated he had placed the body.   Although an excavation was performed, no remains were found."

If she was buried temporarily close to the church and moved again the dogs may find the spot.

[pegasus]

That nightmare IMO was result of the place having just been being highlighted in Krugel's confidential report and IMO it does not incriminate the witness at all to have or to mention it to PJ.

[Wonderfulspam]

Danie Krügel
http://www.mccannfiles.com/id304.html

[Wonderfulspam]

you are quite at liberty to post exactly what you think on the forum...you wont offend me...I couldn't care less what you think. What I do know is that I have a lot of support on this forum

Yeah, you're my favourite member n'all dave 

[Brietta]

I was just pointing out what A/C Mark Rowley said according to the beeb.
I don't give a toss about the rest.

Point taken.

But although you seem to be disinterested in what seems to be the double standards which apply to secrecy laws and the press in Portugal, I am not. 
I prefer to get information from official sources rather than dubious quotes from alleged official sources reported by some anonymous person. 

We have seen where that has taken us in the past. 

So I make no apology when it is assumed NSY can gag the press and when threats are issued that failure to do so will have the stated consequences of stopping NSY investigating. 

Portugal has had seven years to sort out the failures of the initial investigation. 

Why do they appear to be threatening to throw a spanner into the works to prevent NSY doing the job which should have been done then?

[jassi]

Point taken.

But although you seem to be disinterested in what seems to be the double standards which apply to secrecy laws and the press in Portugal, I am not. 
I prefer to get information from official sources rather than dubious quotes from alleged official sources reported by some anonymous person. 

We have seen where that has taken us in the past. 

So I make no apology when it is assumed NSY can gag the press and when threats are issued that failure to do so will have the stated consequences of stopping NSY investigating. 

Portugal has had seven years to sort out the failures of the initial investigation. 

Why do they appear to be threatening to throw a spanner into the works to prevent NSY doing the job which should have been done then?

Do we know this to be so, or is it just something else reported in the papers?

[pegasus]

Krugel highlighted two areas partway up the hill. In one of those areas he says he found a pink blanket. His confidential report was communicated to the PJ and the parents very shortly before DC trip IMO. 

[Wonderfulspam]

Point taken.

But although you seem to be disinterested in what seems to be the double standards which apply to secrecy laws and the press in Portugal, I am not. 
I prefer to get information from official sources rather than dubious quotes from alleged official sources reported by some anonymous person. 

We have seen where that has taken us in the past. 

So I make no apology when it is assumed NSY can gag the press and when threats are issued that failure to do so will have the stated consequences of stopping NSY investigating. 

Portugal has had seven years to sort out the failures of the initial investigation. 

Why do they appear to be threatening to throw a spanner into the works to prevent NSY doing the job which should have been done then?

Wouldn't it be soooo much better for all concerned if the Portuguese AG allowed the British media to film all the excavations, every moment of them, in HD.

They could get Ant n Dec to present a highlights package in the evenings.

That really would be the best thing to do wouldn't it.

[jassi]

Wouldn't it be soooo much better for all concerned if the Portuguese AG allowed the British media to film all the excavations, every moment of them, in HD.

They could get Ant n Dec to present a highlights package in the evenings.

That really would be the best thing to do wouldn't it.

I suppose if they used Tony Robinson, they'd only have  3 days for the dig, so Ant & Dec it had better be 

[Brietta]

Do we know this to be so, or is it just something else reported in the papers?

If it is included in an official statement from NSY I'm assuming it is accurate. 
Just as I am taking on board the official statement that many requests in the Letters of Request have been refused.

So it is all determined by the source of the statement reported in the press, does it not?

[Brietta]

Wouldn't it be soooo much better for all concerned if the Portuguese AG allowed the British media to film all the excavations, every moment of them, in HD.

They could get Ant n Dec to present a highlights package in the evenings.

That really would be the best thing to do wouldn't it.

The media is intrusive.

We have all watched reports where the crime scene is under a tent to prevent such intrusion. 
The long lens is a fact of life whether to be deplored or applauded probably depends on whether you are the victim or the spectator.

There is no doubt that Madeleine McCann's case has caught the public interest, and although discrete actions are appropriate, it will all be down to the lead policing authority who are the PJ.

One wonders if they even know who Ant and Dec are, but you could forward the suggestion to them.

The way this is being presently handled probably makes your choice quite appropriate.

[John]

Reposted.

Members will be aware of the current developments in Praia da Luz, Portugal, where Scotland Yard have received permission to extend the dig sites previously identified by Gonçalo Amaral and his team.  Specialist recovery dogs and ground penetrating radar will both be used in this latest search.

As promised, we will be speaking with Martin Grime soon so if there are any general questions you would like us to put to him in relation to EVRD or CSI dogs please send Mr Moderator a personal message.

This is a unique opportunity so please avail of it.