Has the discrepancy been discussed before - "did Kate enter by the front door"?

[Robittybob1]

where did I read the PJ check RM's translations for errors?  You say "If there was no written record how would anyone know there had been a translation error?"  Does that then imply there were other written notes to which the PJ referred to?
For how were the PJ going to check RM's translations if there were no other notes?

[Brietta]

where did I read the PJ check RM's translations for errors?  You say "If there was no written record how would anyone know there had been a translation error?"  Does that then imply there were other written notes to which the PJ referred to?
For how were the PJ going to check RM's translations if there were no other notes?

By the time they were checking Murat out the initial hectic task of getting people interviewed would have calmed down a bit so my speculation would be they could have prioritised asking pertinent questions of those Murat had interpreted for who were still around, or maybe the questioning officer who may well have written something down?
I don't know where but I believe I've seen somewhere that his work was of an acceptable standard.

[jassi]

Why did Gerry give a second statement ?  Was it requested or did he volunteer?

[Robittybob1]

By the time they were checking Murat out the initial hectic task of getting people interviewed would have calmed down a bit so my speculation would be they could have prioritised asking pertinent questions of those Murat had interpreted for who were still around, or maybe the questioning officer who may well have written something down?
I don't know where but I believe I've seen somewhere that his work was of an acceptable standard.

I spent time looking for that too today but no luck so far. 

[Carana]

'ere you go then Rob:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1569143/Madeleine-McCann-Possible-translation-errors.html

That is good for a laugh. Whatever the article is about its major purpose is nothing to do with errors in  the translation of documents

I has a question:

If there was no written record how would anyone know there had been a translation error? least of all some Wapping or Fleet Street journo.

Errors: It is hardly an earth shattering revelation that there will be some. What's an acceptable level? was that level exceeded?
The trick is knowing whether the errors were significant.

Agreed.


When things don't make sense to me, I find it useful to try to determine the context of a situation.

At first, I didn't really realise that the local PJ had to more or less make do with totally inadequate resources (in every sense) they could muster. And that's not a criticism before some people fly at my throat - I'm sure a lot of officers did the very best they could in challenging circumstances.

More specifically, yes, errors are bound to happen in chaotic circumstances. The worst being a refusal to accept that any may have occurred... and that can lead down a slippery path.

[Carana]

By the time they were checking Murat out the initial hectic task of getting people interviewed would have calmed down a bit so my speculation would be they could have prioritised asking pertinent questions of those Murat had interpreted for who were still around, or maybe the questioning officer who may well have written something down?
I don't know where but I believe I've seen somewhere that his work was of an acceptable standard.

He'd done occasional interpreting work for the UK police and they found him to be of an acceptable level. Something to do with a problem involving Portuguese workers in a UK chicken (?) factory, from my now vague recollection.

A quick google hasn't been of much help. I found this, but TinEye isn't being cooperative today to date these:

Hockering Fotografías e imágenes de stock | Getty Images
www.gettyimages.es/fotos/hockering

Translate this page
Police stand outside an address in Hockering Norfolk the former home of Briton Robert Murat interviewed. ED. Wokers during the cull at Witford Lodge Farm in Hockering Norfolk. ED. Culled chickens are removed from Witford Lodge Farm in Hockering Norfolk. ED. The lorry containing culled chickens leaves Witford Lodge ...
https://www.gettyimages.es/fotos/hockering?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=hockering

[pathfinder73]

Why did Gerry give a second statement ?  Was it requested or did he volunteer?

Requested but Kate never had a second interview like Gerry on 10 May. She got preferential treatment (Gerry was allowed to sit in on 4 May)  and then refused to answer questions in September.

10 May 2007
"I sat in the waiting area for eight hours before I was told that it was now too late for me to be interviewed and I should go home and come back the next day.

Alan Pike was concerned about my wellbeing and asked for my rescheduled interview to be postponed for a few days. The PJ couldn’t have considered it all that important: it was 6 September before I was interviewed again." KM

[Carana]

where did I read the PJ check RM's translations for errors?  You say "If there was no written record how would anyone know there had been a translation error?"  Does that then imply there were other written notes to which the PJ referred to?
For how were the PJ going to check RM's translations if there were no other notes?

With no record, written or AV-recorded, any interpreter could have said anything they chose to and no one would have been any the wiser at the time.

Re Murat - when I've come across details that made me want to check back as to who the interpreter was, none have been related to him. So far, anyway.

Ironically, he may well have been one of the best in the early days. He didn't just have a working knowledge of both languages, he was fluent in both and would have been one of the few able to understand colloquial language and accents.

[faithlilly]

He'd done occasional interpreting work for the UK police and they found him to be of an acceptable level. Something to do with a problem involving Portuguese workers in a UK chicken (?) factory, from my now vague recollection.

A quick google hasn't been of much help. I found this, but TinEye isn't being cooperative today to date these:

Hockering Fotografías e imágenes de stock | Getty Images
www.gettyimages.es/fotos/hockering

Translate this page
Police stand outside an address in Hockering Norfolk the former home of Briton Robert Murat interviewed. ED. Wokers during the cull at Witford Lodge Farm in Hockering Norfolk. ED. Culled chickens are removed from Witford Lodge Farm in Hockering Norfolk. ED. The lorry containing culled chickens leaves Witford Lodge ...
https://www.gettyimages.es/fotos/hockering?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=hockering

If you believe that mistakes were made you must also agree that those mistakes could have helped as well as unfairly implicated the McCanns ? Questions not asked, incompetent forensics, Gerry being allowed to sit in on Kate's first interview, these could have all skewed the case in the McCanns favour.

[slartibartfast]

With no record, written or AV-recorded, any interpreter could have said anything they chose to and no one would have been any the wiser at the time.

Re Murat - when I've come across details that made me want to check back as to who the interpreter was, none have been related to him. So far, anyway.

Ironically, he may well have been one of the best in the early days. He didn't just have a working knowledge of both languages, he was fluent in both and would have been one of the few able to understand colloquial language and accents.

Beware that is around the libel line, not sure which side yet.

[Carana]

If you believe that mistakes were made you must also agree that those mistakes could have helped as well as unfairly implicated the McCanns ? Questions not asked, incompetent forensics, Gerry being allowed to sit in on Kate's first interview, these could have all skewed the case in the McCanns favour.

Who was responsible for those decisions?

[Carana]

Beware that is around the libel line, not sure which side yet.

I don't think so.

Objectively, any interpreter could deliberately misinterpret if they had a vested interest in doing so if nothing is recorded. That's not libellous, it's just a possibility that could be valid in any case anywhere in the world.

My only comment about Murat is precisely that I'd never found anything odd. So that's hardly libellous, either.

[pathfinder73]

Did they also delete McCann mobile records?

[Carana]

Did they also delete McCann mobile records?

Not that I'm aware of.

[faithlilly]

Who was responsible for those decisions?

It doesn't really matter who was responsible for those decisions the point I'm making is that those decisions could have helped the McCanns evade justice as readily as put them wrongly in the frame. That's simply common sense.