Thank to themccannfiles for the resume below.
The truth about the libel trial recent postponements.
By Nigel Moore
17 June 2014
Yesterday, outside the Palace of Justice, in Lisbon, following the postponement of court proceedings, the 'furious' McCanns raged:
Gerry McCann: "This is the fourth time that this has happened, when we've travelled to Portugal."
Kate McCann: "...this has happened now about four times, as Gerry said this can't be seen as anything but blatant and cynical."
So, no ambiguity there.
Needless to say, the tabloid media were not slow in picking up the McCann baton and running with it. Gary O'Shea (The Sun) was typical of most of the coverage: 'The parents of Madeleine McCann spoke out yesterday after an ex-cop deliberately delayed his libel trial for the FOURTH time.'
But what is the truth?
On 12 September 2013 Kate McCann attended, for no obvious reason, other than to deliver an 'emotional' statement outside the court for the waiting media.
- There was no postponement.
The following day 13 September 2013 Kate McCann attended, as an observer, with her mother who was due to appear as a witness.
- Proceedings were halted at lunch time after the judge failed to return due to a personal issue.
On 27 September 2013 Gerry McCann attended court, with sister Trish Cameron, even though he was not due to appear as a witness.
- Postponed due to illness of Gonçalo Amaral's lawyer's son.
On 02 October 2013 Gerry McCann once again travelled from the UK in the hope of being admitted to the process as a witness, thus allowing him to give evidence. However, the judge decided she would not rule on whether he could give evidence until after October 16.
Kate's mother, Susan Healy, also made the trip, for her second time, but was not allowed to give evidence due to a blunder by the McCanns' lawyer, Isabel Duarte.
On 07 January 2014 the impending libel trial was postponed as Gonçalo Amaral's lawyer filed a request for the court to evaluate the McCann couple's legitimacy to file a lawsuit in their daughter's name, as she is a Ward of Court in the UK. He did not ask for any postponement. It was the judge that issued a 15-day deadline for him to submit the relevant documentation.
Afterwards, Isabel Duarte filed a document related to Mr Alan Pike, and asked for a postponement of the session. The McCanns did not travel.
And?
That's it.
- One half-day postponement due to a personal issue relating to the judge.
- One postponement due to the illness of Vitor Santos de Oliveira's son who required hospital treatment.
- One occasion when Kate's mother, Susan Healy, was not heard due to a blunder by the McCanns' lawyer, Isabel Duarte but proceedings were not postponed, as Trish Cameron was heard.
- One postponement at the request of the McCanns' lawyer, Isabel Duarte, when the McCanns did not travel.
In total: Kate travelled once. Gerry travelled twice.
On no occasion were they due to be heard as witnesses - it was their decision to travel.
On no occasion were they denied their 'day in court' due to the postponement of proceedings.
So the insinuation that Gonçalo Amaral has manipulated the postponement of the trial for the 'FOURTH time' is patently wrong, lapped up without question by the mainstream media.
The truth is, this is the FIRST time (get that, Mr O'Shea?) that a decision by Gonçalo Amaral has directly affected the proceedings.
But then, why tell the truth when you can sell stories?
[Edited by
Moderator]
