WAS GONCALO AMARAL DOOMED BEFORE HE EVEN STARTED

[xtina]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/madeleinemccann/11068928/Secret-Madeleine-McCann-report-finds-competing-British-forces-hampered-inquiry.html


Secret Madeleine McCann report finds competing British forces hampered inquiry



In the first instance the parents should be your Number One suspects. In most cases in the first few golden hours as you collect evidence you can then rule them in or out.

“And that was one of the huge flaws in this, that people didn't focus on clearing the ground beneath their feet in those chaotic first few hours that led into the haphazard first few weeks.

“When I carried out the scoping review there was no evidence that some of the critical information and the analysis of which could have led to intelligence and to leads had been followed up.”

One of Mr Gamble’s recommendations in his report was the establishment of a national centre for missing children which could combine the resources of the best experts and technology.

However, this has not been set up and therefore the British authorities are no better equipped to deal with a similar situation than they were in 2007, Mr Gamble warns.

However, despite the failings Mr Gamble remains confident that Madeleine's case will be solved.

“Someone knows … I genuinely believe in my lifetime we will find out what happened. Relationships, loyalties change, and at some stage some person will come forward.”


43

[John]

In the first instance the parents should be your Number One suspects. In most cases in the first few golden hours as you collect evidence you can then rule them in or out.

The problem in this case is that Jane Tanner claimed to have seen a man carrying a toddler away from the apartment and so changed the focus of the investigation. DCI Redwood of Scotland Yard announced last year that this man was probably an innocent tourist and so unconnected to the disappearance thus for all intents and purposes consigning Tanner's sighting of an abductor to the dustbin.

One can only but speculate what would have happened had Tanner not reported this sighting when she did?

[pathfinder73]

From The truth of the lie...


This witness statement from  the couple, S.G.  and K.G., is taken by the English police on May 16th, thirteen days after Madeleine's disappearance. That information, very important for the progress of  the investigation, was never sent to the Portuguese police. When the Portuguese investigators learn about similar events  that allegedly took place during a holiday in Greece - without, however, obtaining reliable witness statements -, they tell the English police, who, even at this point, refrain from revealing what they know on the subject. It will only be after my removal from  the investigation, in October 2007, that this statement will finally be sent  to the Portuguese police.  Why did the British keep it secret for more than six months?

[Carana]

The problem in this case is that Jane Tanner claimed to have seen a man carrying a toddler away from the apartment and so changed the focus of the investigation. DCI Redwood of Scotland Yard announced last year that this man was probably an innocent tourist and so unconnected to the disappearance thus for all intents and purposes consigning Tanner's sighting of an abductor to the dustbin.

One can only but speculate what would have happened had Tanner not reported this sighting when she did?

Did Amaral ever find JT to be credible?

[ShiningInLuz]

Personally, I think he was and also the enquiry was doomed right from the start.

I have no comment to make on Amaral's ability or integrity.  I have no comment to make on the decision by the Tapas group to invite the media to what turned out to be a feeding frenzy.

I can see only two alternatives, and both were doomed.

1) Investigate under the Portuguese judicial secrecy laws (with no media).  That would have got nowhere, whether Madeleine was missing, abducted or the parents were involved.  That route was Tannerman not published, Smithman not published, lots of other critical information not published.  Whatever the incident was.

2) Get the media involved and stoke up reams of leads the JP could not handle.  Leading to UK 'experts' galore getting dragged in, generating more vast volumes of info.  Some of this may be pertinent.  I'd guess much of it is not.

I'd love to know what Joana Morais thinks on this.  It looks to me as if the Portuguese judicial secrecy laws (plus related ones) originate in the dictatorship days and have not been updated since.  The Madeleine incident should have prompted an overhaul.  As far as I am aware it has not.

Ditto, it looks like BritPol should have updated the way it intervenes in cases in foreign countries.  Sadly, I am not seeing that either.

[Carana]

Personally, I think he was and also the enquiry was doomed right from the start.

I have no comment to make on Amaral's ability or integrity.  I have no comment to make on the decision by the Tapas group to invite the media to what turned out to be a feeding frenzy.

I can see only two alternatives, and both were doomed.

1) Investigate under the Portuguese judicial secrecy laws (with no media).  That would have got nowhere, whether Madeleine was missing, abducted or the parents were involved.  That route was Tannerman not published, Smithman not published, lots of other critical information not published.  Whatever the incident was.

2) Get the media involved and stoke up reams of leads the JP could not handle.  Leading to UK 'experts' galore getting dragged in, generating more vast volumes of info.  Some of this may be pertinent.  I'd guess much of it is not.

I'd love to know what Joana Morais thinks on this.  It looks to me as if the Portuguese judicial secrecy laws (plus related ones) originate in the dictatorship days and have not been updated since.  The Madeleine incident should have prompted an overhaul.  As far as I am aware it has not.

Ditto, it looks like BritPol should have updated the way it intervenes in cases in foreign countries.  Sadly, I am not seeing that either.

I don't think that the Algarve PJ had the resources to deal with the case. In that, I would include not only material means (which eventually appeared) but also training, protocols, prior experience...

[misty]

I posted this on another thread but perhaps it is more relevant here.

"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."
 

[Carana]

I posted this on another thread but perhaps it is more relevant here.

"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."

I don't recall seeing that post of yours, Misty, so apologies.

If someone like Rebelo had been in charge from very early on, I suspect that the investigation might have been far more efficient. I doubt that he had much experience in a major missing child investigation either, but he doesn't appear to be the sort of chap to have had an ego issue in bringing in or accepting relevant expertise.

In a way, I don't find the fiasco to be all Amaral's fault. He should have been "promoted" to deal with another very prestigious case elsewhere at the first opportunity. As it was, he was left to somehow muddle through on the back of his only other somewhat dubious success of the genre.

[mercury]

if Amaral was not doomed from the start then the british press /mccanns/ mccann trolls/ mccann hired guns/lawyers etc made sure he was when they did a hatchet job on him

Hasnt worked much for people who can think for themselves

Sime cry oh hes a convicted criminal, like hes a rapist or murderer, makes their argument look very silly

Others cry about his personal financial troubles and they make him guilty of something more, like hes the only policeman or human to have such

boring

[xtina]

Did Amaral ever find JT to be credible?

seems not

Although the Portuguese police did not publicise the sighting and instead made the parents suspects in the case, once their investigation closed the McCanns arranged for a sketch to be drawn showing the man Miss Tanner had seen.

[mercury]

seems not

Although the Portuguese police did not publicise the sighting and instead made the parents suspects in the case, once their investigation closed the McCanns arranged for a sketch to be drawn showing the man Miss Tanner had seen.

 Tanners pic was issued oct/nov 2007 iirc

Case was shelved by July 08.

so not true

[xtina]

Tanners pic was issued oct/nov 2007 iirc

Case was shelved by July 08.

so not true

http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.301/15419/0/

[Carana]

if Amaral was not doomed from the start then the british press /mccanns/ mccann trolls/ mccann hired guns/lawyers etc made sure he was when they did a hatchet job on him

Hasnt worked much for people who can think for themselves

Sime cry oh hes a convicted criminal, like hes a rapist or murderer, makes their argument look very silly

Others cry about his personal financial troubles and they make him guilty of something more, like hes the only policeman or human to have such

boring

He was embroiled in a torture case concerning the mother of the only other missing child case he appears to have ever been involved in. Hence, my earlier comment that it might have been better if he'd been whisked off to handle a high-profile case of a different nature elsewhere at the earliest opportunity.

[stephen25000]

He was embroiled in a torture case concerning the mother of the only other missing child case he appears to have ever been involved in. Hence, my earlier comment that it might have been better if he'd been whisked off to handle a high-profile case of a different nature elsewhere at the earliest opportunity.

Can you remind us what was the role of Amaral in this case, before his removal after complaining of interference in this case ?

[mercury]

http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.301/15419/0/

IIRC Tanners photo was released  oct 07
Sorry xtina not sure what you are saying