Gonçalo Amaral explains what the current trial is all about.

[ferryman]

IMO it is Mr Amaral who will ultimately be applauded for his bravery

More accurately, supporters of Amaral's cowardice will mock the McCanns' bravery, just as they have from the outset.

Any idiot (with a modicum  of literacy) could cobble together a half-baked litany of poorly thought out and factually threadbare depictions purporting to represent an 'account' of events whose reality is far removed from the content of the book and (I gather) film ...

Courage has been shown by the victims of Amaral's half-truths and outright lies, Kate and Gerry McCann.

[stephen25000]

More accurately, supporters of Amaral's cowardice will mock the McCanns' bravery, just as they have from the outset.

Any idiot (with a modicum  of literacy) could cobble together a half-baked litany of poorly thought out and factually threadbare depictions purporting to represent an 'account' of events whose reality is far removed from the content of the book and (I gather) film ...

Courage has been shown by the victims of Amaral's half-truths and outright lies, Kate and Gerry McCann.

Your posts become more contemptible as time progresses.

[Eleanor]

I always have thought that The Video and The TV Interviews were much worse than The Book.  I suspect that if Amaral had stopped at The Book then this Trial would not have come to pass.

[Eleanor]

Your posts become more contemptible as time progresses.

In Your Opinion, presumably.

[Mr Gray]

So Amaral is pondering whether to launch his own lawsuit against the McCanns and others. Interesting.

is it six years now that amaral has been pondering about taking legal action....his problem is that with his criminal conviction many of the descriptions of him easily defensible

[Jean-Pierre]

IMO it is Mr Amaral who will ultimately be applauded for his bravery

Bravery?  you jest.

Having failed to make a legal case against the McCanns, and been humiliatingly removed from the case.  He saw his opportunity to get his revenge and make money at the same time.  Hence the Jag.  The hat.  The earring.  The parties. 

Now he is whining because he is facing a libel trial. 

And yes, it is a Libel Trial - no matter what his supporters claim.   

[Eleanor]

Bravery?  you jest.

Having failed to make a legal case against the McCanns, and been humiliatingly removed from the case.  He saw his opportunity to get his revenge and make money at the same time.  Hence the Jag.  The hat.  The earring.  The parties. 

Now he is whining because he is facing a libel trial. 

And yes, it is a Libel Trial - no matter what his supporters claim.   

No doubt this will remain an ongoing reason for, er, debate, for some time to come.

Libel? Defamation? Damage?  Whatever.

Personally, I think that Portugal has a problem with the definition of Free Speech, which is related to it's not so long ago fascist past.  So The Law obfuscates to keep the peasants happy, or confused.

But I expect that The Judge will know the difference between the right to free speech and the right to a reputation.

Mrs. Do As You Would Be Done By.  As my old Nana used to say.

[Mr Gray]

I don't think this post tells us anything we didn't already know. McCanns have to prove the book caused them damage...that is very easy. Contrary to other peoples thoughts they do not have to prove anything in amarals book is incorrect

[Eleanor]

There is no doubt that Amaral's position as the Coordinator of this investigation, even if only briefly, did carry more weight than any old hobbledy hoi looking to make a few bob.

The PJ would not allow him to do this while he still worked for them.  This should tell us something.

[pegasus]

More accurately, supporters of Amaral's cowardice will mock the McCanns' bravery, just as they have from the outset.

Any idiot (with a modicum  of literacy) could cobble together a half-baked litany of poorly thought out and factually threadbare depictions purporting to represent an 'account' of events whose reality is far removed from the content of the book and (I gather) film ...

Courage has been shown by the victims of Amaral's half-truths and outright lies, Kate and Gerry McCann.

On July 11 2007 GM was invited to and given a standing ovation at the Police Bravery Awards, by peeps including Prince Windsor and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
It is good to know that the "no stone unturned" search did not omit the Dorchester Hotel in London.
Mr Amaral was not invited - he would certainly have turned down the invitation anyway, as he was working on a very important missing child case at the time.

[Carana]

There is no doubt that Amaral's position as the Coordinator of this investigation, even if only briefly, did carry more weight than any old hobbledy hoi looking to make a few bob.

The PJ would not allow him to do this while he still worked for them.  This should tell us something.

Well, certainly in the court of public opinion as he was supposed to be a seasoned officer who was the head of the investigation - therefore his opinion would count more than the average João on a blog/forum soapbox.

His totally bizarre understanding of the dogs and forensics would pass over the heads of any casual reader who hadn't actually checked what the files actually stated.

ETA: to be fair to Amaral, he did state at some point that what he had stated was limited to what he had access to until he was taken off the case. Ok... and some of the clarification came later. However, if he hadn't read the files, how could he have known that, e.g., a later Martin Smith statement (after Amaral's departure) had only said that he was 60-80% sure based on the manner of carrying a child? (Amaral chose the 80% end of the spectrum, and then stated that Martin Smith was certain that it was Gerry, but never mind.)

He can't have it both ways. Or perhaps he can in Portugal. Who knows?

[Miss Taken Identity]

The book verdict has already been explained. Amaral fought on the grounds of freedom of expression and this was accepted.
The ban on the book was lifted. get over it.

It is the verdict of the book causing pain and suffering and isolation to the family (even though they cannot provide evidence of Maddies 'suffering' as they claim they do not know where she is!) and this is about Money...Let's all keep that in mind this is about Money for the McCanns- will they sue the 'abductors' if they are ever found? hmmm

[stephen25000]

The book verdict has already been explained. Amaral fought on the grounds of freedom of expression and this was accepted.
The ban on the book was lifted. get over it.

It is the verdict of the book causing pain and suffering and isolation to the family (even though they cannot provide evidence of Maddies 'suffering' as they claim they do not know where she is!) and this is about Money...Let's all keep that in mind this is about Money for the McCanns- will they sue the 'abductors' if they are ever found? hmmm

Good point.

However, as we already know, kate mccann has apparently 'forgiven' the abductor(s).

[Mr Gray]

The book verdict has already been explained. Amaral fought on the grounds of freedom of expression and this was accepted.
The ban on the book was lifted. get over it.

It is the verdict of the book causing pain and suffering and isolation to the family (even though they cannot provide evidence of Maddies 'suffering' as they claim they do not know where she is!) and this is about Money...Let's all keep that in mind this is about Money for the McCanns- will they sue the 'abductors' if they are ever found? hmmm

the book ban has been lifted on freedom of speech grounds....now we have the libel trial

[Miss Taken Identity]

Amaral libeled  the twins and Maddie? wow! how could he!! that is shocking- I mean shocking, I never knew he could go so low!

I hope they get a zillion pounds each....imagine a police man treating the good name of children so wickedly!

But wait.... the children are not suing Amaral for libel, they do not have  lawyers representing them, or expert doctors offering diagnosis.     Hmm... just the needy- greedy parents. ( The true victims in this whole case)