The tapas group and the 'reconstitution' that was never to take place.

[John]

There is nothing wrong in questioning the parents in depth -  and right at the beginning so that they could be ruled in or out.     

Maybe if Amaral had actually met the McCanns and spoken to them himself, he would  have been in a better position to judge/assess them.   Why he didn't do that is incomprehensible to me.

IMO the attempted trial by media - based on leaks from the PJ was a disgraceful way to treat them, and showed  a cynical contempt by the PJ for their own secrecy laws - which they simply used as weapon, knowing that the McCanns had no way of rebutting the dreadful allegations being made.

Also I've no doubt that finding out that Amaral was an arguido himself, suspected of being involved in the torture of a defenceless woman, in his last (and only) missing child case  -  hardly inspired either the McCanns or their friends to have confidence in him.     Quite the opposite in fact.   And who could blame them?

He should never have been let near the case. imo.

It wasn't his job to speak to them Benice.   In the UK Superintendents don't interview suspects. 

The arguido status was no impediment to Gonçalo Amaral working as normal otherwise he would have been suspended.  If every police officer in Portugal who has a complaint lodged against them were suspended there would be pitiful few of them to patrol the streets.

[Alfred R Jones]

Nobody saw an abductor, at least that was DCI Redwood told us so the PJ were correct to pursue all options.

That is not relevant to the point I was making.

[Alfred R Jones]

It's the only case I've ever heard of where people have decided immediately what crime was committed, employed private investigators to carry out a parallel investigation and refused to help the police with their enquiries.

Give over with the "refusing to help the police with their enquiries" crap, thanks.

[John]

That is not relevant to the point I was making.

Yes it is.   You suggested the PJ should have been looking for an abductor instead of interrogating the tapas-9.  I merely pointed out that nobody saw any abductor so all bets were valid including investigating the group itself and Robert Murat.

[stephen25000]

Give over with the "refusing to help the police with their enquiries" crap, thanks.

Alfred, they did not fully cooperate.

their 'tweedledum and tweedledee' said everything.

They had contempt for the local police.

[Alfred R Jones]

Yes it is.   You suggested the PJ should have been looking for an abductor instead of interrogating the tapas-9.  I merely pointed out that nobody saw any abductor so all bets were valid including investigating the group itself and Robert Murat.

No I did not suggest that - I said that in the opinions of the McCanns, their friends and Gez Wilkins, Madeleine was taken in an abduction and I am therefore wanting to know - what merit would any of THEM see in a police reconstruction of THEIR OWN movements as far as helping to find Madeleine was concerned?

[misty]

I've often wondered what direction the investigation would have taken had Amaral & Almeida not been coordinating affairs.
Did the Portuguese not have a team of specialist detectives who could have appointed to this unique & sensitive case when it quickly became clear Madeleine wasn't going to be found? Maybe a reconstitution would have been requested almost immediately rather than dithering for 5 months & more.

[John]

No I did not suggest that - I said that in the opinions of the McCanns, their friends and Gez Wilkins, Madeleine was taken in an abduction and I am therefore wanting to know - what merit would any of THEM see in a police reconstruction of THEIR OWN movements as far as helping to find Madeleine was concerned?

They were not detectives so it was not their call.   The point of the reconstitution was to rule them out but as the Attorney General so succinctly declared in his final report, the parents lost that opportunity because of the behaviour of their friends.

[stephen25000]

No I did not suggest that - I said that in the opinions of the McCanns, their friends and Gez Wilkins, Madeleine was taken in an abduction and I am therefore wanting to know - what merit would any of THEM see in a police reconstruction of THEIR OWN movements as far as helping to find Madeleine was concerned?

Since when were the mccanns coordinating the investigation ?

[Alfred R Jones]

They were not detectives so it was not their call.   The point of the reconstitution was to rule them out but as the Attorney General so succinctly declared in his final report, the parents lost that opportunity because of the behaviour of their friends.

Again you are failing to grasp the point or stubbornly refusing to see this "reconstitution" from the point of view of the 10 or more people asked to take part who firmly believed that Madeleine was abducted and that they themselves played no part in the disappearance.  Why did (for example) Dianne Webster need to rule herself out?  Or Gez Wilkins? 

[G-Unit]

Give over with the "refusing to help the police with their enquiries" crap, thanks.

What a nasty comment, but not surprising. Refusing to do a reconstitution = refusing to help the police with their enquiries.

[John]

Again you are failing to grasp the point or stubbornly refusing to see this "reconstitution" from the point of view of the 10 or more people asked to take part who firmly believed that Madeleine was abducted and that they themselves played no part in the disappearance.  Why did (for example) Dianne Webster need to rule herself out?  Or Gez Wilkins?

Why indeed Alf?   When the evidence failed to support stranger abduction the PJ were entitled to pursue other possibilities.

The other point I find curious is why Gerry McCann considered fleeing the country when he realised the PJ were going to designate him and Kate as arguidos.  For an intelligent person did he so completely fail to comprehend the status that he considered such a move?

[Alfred R Jones]

What a nasty comment, but not surprising. Refusing to do a reconstitution = refusing to help the police with their enquiries.

What a nasty comment?  Do behave.  I would call blatant lies "nasty comments".

You said:

It's the only case I've ever heard of where people have decided immediately what crime was committed, employed private investigators to carry out a parallel investigation and refused to help the police with their enquiries.

Now, provide evidence that the McCanns REFUSED to do a reconstitution.  Furthermore provide evidence that the McCanns refused to help the police with their enquiries.   

[Alfred R Jones]

Why indeed Alf?   When the evidence failed to support stranger abduction the PJ were entitled to pursue other possibilities.

The other point I find curious is why Gerry McCann considered fleeing the country when he realised the PJ were going to designate him and Kate as arguidos.  For an intelligent person did he so completely fail to comprehend the status that he considered such a move?

So Dianne Webster and Gez Wilkins needed to rule themselves out of the investigation did they, despite the fact that very obviously had nothing to do with the disappearance (unless maybe you think there's a chance that they did...?)

[stephen25000]

So Dianne Webster and Gez Wilkins needed to rule themselves out of the investigation did they, despite the fact that very obviously had nothing to do with the disappearance (unless maybe you think there's a chance that they did...?)

Weren't they potential witnesses for the investigation and for corroboration of the mccanns version of events ?