Memory and stress

[AnneGuedes]

Wasnt the Portuguese read back to them in English before they ratified/signed?

@Benice, Gerrys first statement is a poor example to use to argue that front and back door could have been mixed up in translation as he could not have possibly said he used the patio door seeing as he said he used his key to enter the flat as it was locked and those patio doors are not unlockable from the outside. Anyway....

Of course it was, and slowly and repeated in order to make sure. Besides, the interviewing police officer would very likely have understood the original English statement even if s/he didn't admit it.
What Carana forgets is that the interpreter is signing as well and is juridically responsible. No interpreter will risk to be professionally discredited.

Yes, Redblossom, those door-windows, as they are called in Portuguese, aren't lockable with a key. Mr McCann even mentioned twice the key in relation to the entry door (when he entered and then when his wife entered).

[AnneGuedes]

Only Gerry's initial statement stated that he and Kate had entered via the front (ie. the long way). This after little sleep, someone of undetermined experience having been brought in to interpret, and stress also for the PJ station.

It doesn't even make sense as - in the same statement - Gerry stated that Matt Oldfield had gone to check via the patio door.

In the same statement??? It makes no sense. I honestly believe that the police officer got it mixed up and it wasn't challenged at the time.

Kate never stated that she'd entered via the front door. Neither did Oldfield.

Mrs McCann, yes, didn't say she entered through the door-window. Since she and Mr McCann had the same interpreter, it's far fetched to imagine a loss in translation in Mr McCann's case.
Now, yes, the short sleep and the desolation might explain the illogical mention of Mr Oldfield entering through the door-window.
Read the statements of people having stayed in the G5A and you'll see that nobody used the door-window as a door nor thought of having the choice between a short and a long way between the resort and the flat.

[Rachel Granada]

It's not the kind of point a case is going to hinge on. At least, not in the real world. Maybe it would be pivotal in a low-budget TV cop show, or in the even less authentic world of Amaral's brain, but not in reality.

Probably a mistranslation, or simply a mis-remembering as a result of the stress of the situation. certainly not worth considering in any detail.

Welcome to the forum, Victoria.

[Redblossom]

Of course it was, and slowly and repeated in order to make sure. Besides, the interviewing police officer would very likely have understood the original English statement even if s/he didn't admit it.
What Carana forgets is that the interpreter is signing as well and is juridically responsible. No interpreter will risk to be professionally discredited.

Yes, Redblossom, those door-windows, as they are called in Portuguese, aren't lockable with a key. Mr McCann even mentioned twice the key in relation to the entry door (when he entered and then when his wife entered).

Thanks! but Carana and others will argue they were without sleep and stressed so probably didnt listen properly to the translation read out before signing....if that was the case they could have asked the statements to be taken the day after, if they were not up to it, just like Kate Mccann got out of her second interview a week later

It seems to me that anything that is pointed out as not right is excused by any reason....including the alledged mix up of which door Gerry was talking about, when its impossible for such a mix  up to occur as I already posted.....and wouldnt the last time Gerry saw Madeleine be etched in his brain? Did he really not remember if he went in from the front door or the back door? Also if both of them have told us after the first couple days they stopped usng the front door for checks so not to wake the kids, why would he imagine he did just that in his first statement? On the Thursday? Anyway......

[stephen25000]

It's not the kind of point a case is going to hinge on. At least, not in the real world. Maybe it would be pivotal in a low-budget TV cop show, or in the even less authentic world of Amaral's brain, but not in reality.

Probably a mistranslation, or simply a mis-remembering as a result of the stress of the situation. certainly not worth considering in any detail.

Mmm.

Another representative from the Mccann supporters club.

[AnneGuedes]

The door issue hasn't much value out of a context that is full of open doors, in particular a certain bedroom one that, in spite of attempts to have it almost shut, is permanently more open than it should.
The window, that Icabodcrane qualified as the Columbo mistake, is much more interesting.

[Carana]

Of course it was, and slowly and repeated in order to make sure. Besides, the interviewing police officer would very likely have understood the original English statement even if s/he didn't admit it.
What Carana forgets is that the interpreter is signing as well and is juridically responsible. No interpreter will risk to be professionally discredited.

Yes, Redblossom, those door-windows, as they are called in Portuguese, aren't lockable with a key. Mr McCann even mentioned twice the key in relation to the entry door (when he entered and then when his wife entered).

- How do you know exactly what was read back and how carefully? Could you be making an assumption based on what you would have done?

- Were any of them professionally trained interpreters? (Some people may be very good without professional training, but mistakes in their interpreting skills wouldn't affect their careers if their normal line of work was in a different area.)

- Is there a copy of what these "interpreters" actually had to sign in the files in terms of responsibility?

More importantly...

- Why on earth didn't the police officer notice the obvious glaring bizarre point of Gerry apparently stating that he'd entered via a locked door but that Matt had checked via the open patio door and clarify the point then and there?

[AnneGuedes]

- How do you know exactly what was read back and how carefully? Could you be making an assumption based on what you would have done?

Are you suggesting that Portuguese police officers are fools ?

[AnneGuedes]

- Were any of them professionally trained interpreters? (Some people may be very good without professional training, but mistakes in their interpreting skills wouldn't affect their careers if their normal line of work was in a different area.)

- Is there a copy of what these "interpreters" actually had to sign in the files in terms of responsibility?

I already told you, Carana, if doubt devores you, to ask in a paper letter to the PJ of Portimão whether the determined interpreters were professionals or not. I'm sure you'll get a reply. Besides they will send you a copy of the form that they do have to sign.

I seem to remember that I even offered to translate the letter ! Still valid !

[Luz]

Gosh - I always thought JFK had been shot ....

According to Marinho Pinto, he faked it to obtain votes for his brother.

[AnneGuedes]

- Why on earth didn't the police officer notice the obvious glaring bizarre point of Gerry apparently stating that he'd entered via a locked door but that Matt had checked via the open patio door and clarify the point then and there?

You don't seem to understand that, apart from the questioning on the identity, profession, and reason of presence in PDL etc., these witnesses weren't asked questions but listened to.

[Carana]

Thanks! but Carana and others will argue they were without sleep and stressed so probably didnt listen properly to the translation read out before signing....if that was the case they could have asked the statements to be taken the day after, if they were not up to it, just like Kate Mccann got out of her second interview a week later

It seems to me that anything that is pointed out as not right is excused by any reason....including the alledged mix up of which door Gerry was talking about, when its impossible for such a mix  up to occur as I already posted.....and wouldnt the last time Gerry saw Madeleine be etched in his brain? Did he really not remember if he went in from the front door or the back door? Also if both of them have told us after the first couple days they stopped usng the front door for checks so not to wake the kids, why would he imagine he did just that in his first statement? On the Thursday? Anyway......

That's not quite how I understand the situation in context.

The priority seems to have been to get the ball rolling to find the child.

- Yes, I do expect that the parents were exhausted, panicked and all the rest of it.

- Some "interpreter" of unknown experience was called in at short notice. She no doubt did her best, but that doesn't mean that she was competent for the task.

- What resources did Portimão police station have at its disposal on 4 May? It isn't clear how much training or experience the officers in question would have had in interview techniques to deal with such situations.

When these factors are added together, I find that there is ample room for misunderstandings.

[Carana]

You don't seem to understand that, apart from the questioning on the identity, profession, and reason of presence in PDL etc., these witnesses weren't asked questions but listened to.

What makes you think that?

[Victoria]

Welcome to the forum, Victoria.

Thank you, Rachel!

[Redblossom]

That's not quite how I understand the situation in context.

The priority seems to have been to get the ball rolling to find the child.

- Yes, I do expect that the parents were exhausted, panicked and all the rest of it.

- Some "interpreter" of unknown experience was called in at short notice. She no doubt did her best, but that doesn't mean that she was competent for the task.

- What resources did Portimão police station have at its disposal on 4 May? It isn't clear how much training or experience the officers in question would have had in interview techniques to deal with such situations.

When these factors are added together, I find that there is ample room for misunderstandings.

You are casting doubt on the interpreters and the PJs experience when Im sure the Mccanns were not the first in history in Portugal to be foreigners and end up in a police station, wheres your evidence to do so? Thats all you do, cast doubt on anyone and everythng to apologise for the Mccanns and others...exactly what kate mccann has done  her book, cast aspersions and complain and blame on so many innocent people