Summers & Swan - A new book - Looking For Madeleine

[Angelo222]

It is a book written to reflect the time of 2015 when against all the odds Madeleine McCann's case has been reopened by the authorities in Portugal and here.

The book written eight years ago reflects that time.  It unfortunately highlights an investigation which failed to uphold the principles you consider important in investigative journalism and which I consider paramount in policing and that is to keep all options open.

The theory was followed ... not the evidence.  The chief investigator saw everything through the prism of his own prejudices and experience ... both seriously flawed.

That Summers and Swan are even handed authors is reflected in the slight manner in which this incompetence is reported ... I wonder if they now in retrospect regret not actually doing the hatchet job they could have.

I think the hatchet is firmly embedded in the book.

[Angelo222]

I was of the opinion you believe that book has already been written. 

No..   The real and truthful story of Madrid and all that occurred both during the time of her disappearance and later, has still to be penned.

[Brietta]

No..   The real and truthful story of Madrid and all that occurred both during the time of her disappearance and later, has still to be penned.

I always thought you were too intelligent to be taken in by all that conspiracy stuff, Angelo.  I think we have all met types like Mr Amaral who think the world owes them a living; they can't get on with their lives because they are busy looking over their shoulders to blame someone else for their own ineptitude.  It is a type.

I agree with you that a definitive book is yet to be penned; I don't know that could be done without access to the present investigation files, so it won't be anytime soon; but when it is I think the Amaral investigation will figure largely due to its incompetence and missed opportunities.

[Benice]

'You are in a foreign country and you know that a policeman who is already an Arguido suspected of being involved in the torture of the mother in his last missing child case is trying to frame you .'


So when did the mccanns first know about the Cipriano case then ?

and of course Amaral didn't torture Cipriano.

I'm sure their Portuguese lawyer hadn't missed the fact that Amaral had been made an arguido on 4th May - suspected of being involved in the torture of the defenceless mother of a missing child whilst in his custody.

Can you think of any reason why he wouldn't know - or why he would not take steps to ensure his client - also the mother of a missing child was made aware of this fact regarding the policeman who was the lead investigator in both cases?

He would have been failing in his duty to his client not to advise Kate to exercise her right not to answer questions and she would have been mad not to heed his advice. 

[Brietta]

I'm sure their Portuguese lawyer hadn't missed the fact that Amaral had been made an arguido on 4th May - suspected of being involved in the torture of the defenceless mother of a missing child whilst in his custody.

Can you think of any reason why he wouldn't know - or why he would not take steps to ensure his client - also the mother of a missing child was made aware of this fact regarding the policeman who was the lead investigator in both cases?

He would have been failing in his duty to his client not to advise Kate to exercise her right not to answer questions and she would have been mad not to heed his advice.

I can never understand why the 48 questions is an issue.

Apart from the fact that the McCanns had already spent several gruelling hours being questioned ... it is an extremely mind bending study in irrationality to ignore the fact that they were made arguido\a specifically so that they had the right to refuse to answer under Portuguese law.

[faithlilly]

I'm sure their Portuguese lawyer hadn't missed the fact that Amaral had been made an arguido on 4th May - suspected of being involved in the torture of the defenceless mother of a missing child whilst in his custody.

Can you think of any reason why he wouldn't know - or why he would not take steps to ensure his client - also the mother of a missing child was made aware of this fact regarding the policeman who was the lead investigator in both cases?

He would have been failing in his duty to his client not to advise Kate to exercise her right not to answer questions and she would have been mad not to heed his advice.

Are you insinuating that Gerry was 'mad' for not heeding the same advice ?

[Angelo222]

I always thought you were too intelligent to be taken in by all that conspiracy stuff, Angelo.  I think we have all met types like Mr Amaral who think the world owes them a living; they can't get on with their lives because they are busy looking over their shoulders to blame someone else for their own ineptitude.  It is a type.

I agree with you that a definitive book is yet to be penned; I don't know that could be done without access to the present investigation files, so it won't be anytime soon; but when it is I think the Amaral investigation will figure largely due to its incompetence and missed opportunities.

No conspiracy Brie.   We know that Correia was being funded and instructed by Metodo 3 on behalf of the McCanns.  We know that there was no possible reason for Correia to involve himself in the Cipriano case unless instructed to do so.  We know that Metodo 3 attempted to get Portuguese lawyer John Grade involved in an attempt to undermine Mr Amaral, a job which Correia latterly involved himself in.

Have I missed anything?

[Benice]

Are you insinuating that Gerry was 'mad' for not heeding the same advice ?

Not at all Faith -  as it was quite clear from the 48 questions that Kate was the target.    This was confirmed by the deal which was offered where -  if Kate admitted guilt then she would spend a couple of years in prison and Gerry could go home.

The PJ said they didn't do deals.   But then they would say that wouldn't they.

[Angelo222]

Not at all Faith -  as it was quite clear from the 48 questions that Kate was the target.    This was confirmed by the deal which was offered where -  if Kate admitted guilt then she would spend a couple of years in prison and Gerry could go home.

The PJ said they didn't do deals.   But then they would say that wouldn't they.

All police forces and all prosecutors do deals routinely.

[Angelo222]

I believe most of them had been answered before Angelo,   but it was her lawyer who guided Kate so it was the lawyers advice she took.

He must have thought the PJ were onto something then?

[Lyall]

It is a book written to reflect the time of 2015 when against all the odds Madeleine McCann's case has been reopened by the authorities in Portugal and here.

The book written eight years ago reflects that time.  It unfortunately highlights an investigation which failed to uphold the principles you consider important in investigative journalism and which I consider paramount in policing and that is to keep all options open.

The theory was followed ... not the evidence.  The chief investigator saw everything through the prism of his own prejudices and experience ... both seriously flawed.

That Summers and Swan are even handed authors is reflected in the slight manner in which this incompetence is reported ... I wonder if they now in retrospect regret not actually doing the hatchet job they could have.

&%+((£ The theory was followed, not the evidence?

They had no other evidence, Brietta.

[faithlilly]

Not at all Faith -  as it was quite clear from the 48 questions that Kate was the target.    This was confirmed by the deal which was offered where -  if Kate admitted guilt then she would spend a couple of years in prison and Gerry could go home.

The PJ said they didn't do deals.   But then they would say that wouldn't they.

Is it quite clear Kate was the target ? Reading their statements it would seem they were asked broadly the same questions. The only difference being Gerry answered them.

As to 'the deal' it would seem the McCanns' own lawyer denied one had been offered. From the Guardian :

'On this occasion the police officers were right to be angry. Like many things said about the McCann affair over the past days and months, the story was wrong. There was no offer of a plea bargain. It had all been "a misunderstanding", the McCann lawyer, Carlos Pinto de Abreu, explained the following day.'

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/17/mondaymediasection13

[Wonderfulspam]

Well,  aren't child gates supposed to be locked so that a child can't open it?   Otherwise what would be the point of a child gate?     Adults would be able to open it obviously.

Missing the point completely.

The book never even bothered to mention the existance of said child gate.. which Kate, Gerry & Dave confirm was closed & locked when Kate went in at 9.50 (not 10pm)....because it isn't accurate.

[Brietta]

&%+((£ The theory was followed, not the evidence?

They had no other evidence, Brietta.

Where did the PJ and SY initially source the information which enabled them to re-open Madeleine McCann's case ... from the case files.

There is no doubt they have built on that to progress the case to where it is now. 

Overlooked and ignored evidence was the key, and it was overlooked and ignored simply because it did not point to Mr Amaral's preferred suspects or support his theory.

[Wonderfulspam]

Where did the PJ and SY initially source the information which enabled them to re-open Madeleine McCann's case ... from the case files.

There is no doubt they have built on that to progress the case to where it is now. 

Overlooked and ignored evidence was the key, and it was overlooked and ignored simply because it did not point to Mr Amaral's preferred suspects or support his theory.

What evidence was that?

Phone pings.....Straw clutching with bus drivers, pig farmers & deceased smack heads.