Madeleine McCann: Kate And Gerry’s Blood, Threat And Tears
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
THE SUN front page: “KATE’S AGONY – CONFESS & YOU’RE OUT IN A YEAR.”
“Deal of blood, threat and tears.” Kate McCann is being interviewed by police. This is a “highly-charged confrontation, Portuguese officers citing forensic evidence told the GP she would receive a jail sentence of between two and three years if she signed a confession.”
Kate McCann is “horrified”. Says she: “How dare you?”
A source tells the paper: “The police were trying to get Kate to say she had amnesia or was in shock or had a breakdown. They said if she signed the confession she’d serve a year and that her husband would not be charged and could go home. It was effectively emotional blackmail.”
“SHOCKED” Gerry McCann has been named as a formal suspect.
THE SUN SAYS: “But the allegations made yesterday against Madeleine’s distraught mother Kate are astonishing and, in places, farcical. A suspicious page of the Bible left open? A call to a priest on the day of Maddie’s disappearance? Not exactly a smoking gun.”
Do all crimes involve a smoking gun?
The Sun concludes: “The Sun desperately wants justice for Maddie. But the greatest pity is that she is the one person who seems to have been forgotten in this mess of incompetence.”
And the Press continue to watch the parents.
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “MADELEINE: DEATH ON MUM’S BIBLE.”
THE WORLD’S GREATEST NEWSPAPER writes of “THE DAY THE JEERING STARTED”.
“Just two days ago Kate McCann, 39, was regarded almost universally as a victim who had suffered unimaginable agony. Families everywhere shared her heartbreak at losing her beautiful daughter. But it was clear yesterday, as the GP arrived to be formally named as a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance, that much of that sympathy has now gone.”
The crowd outside the police station – 400-strong – goes into a “frenzy” when Kate McCann arrives. “There were whistles, then jeers and boos before some in the crowd began to shout insults. ‘Whore… daughter of a whore,’ some yelled in Portuguese.”
The Express translates.
A local man says: “They will find this more and more because in Portugal harming a child is the worst thing…The Portuguese people took them to their hearts and now we feel cheated. It will not be nice in Portugal for them now.”
Kate is “cool and collected”.
DAILY MAIL front page: “THE ACCUSED. Portuguese police’s staggering grilling of Madeleine mother.
• Why was her blood in your car?
• Did you drug her that night?
• Confess and get just two years.”
DAILY STAR front page: “YOU KILLED MADDIE.”
DAILY MIRROR front page: “MADELEINE SENSATION. We have found her blood in the boot of your hire car.. DID YOU KILL HER BY ACCIDENT?” This is “what police asked Kate McCann during 16-hour grilling”.
THE GUARDIAN front page: “Mother, victim…suspect: police target Kate McCann.”
THE TELEGRAPH: “Kate and Gerry McCann named as suspects,” says the headline.
“Mr McCann stared straight ahead as his suspect status was announced and refused to answer questions from awaiting journalists. A crowd which had been attending a concert in the town square earlier listened to the announcement and several people gasped audibly.”
In “Villagers back Madeleine McCann’s parents”, the paper journeys to Rothey, Leicestershire, the McCanns’ home town. Michelle Canilleri, who lives in Rothley, shares with the world: “I can’t believe it. This is such a shock. They have got the wrong people. No way in the world would either Kate or Gerry harm any of their children.”
THE INDEPENDENT front page: “FROM ANGUISHED PARENT, TO GRIEVING MOTHER, TO SUSPECT.”
“Shortly before 11am, Mrs McCann’s spokeswoman, Justine McGuinness, revealed that the 39-year-old GP was being made an arguida – official suspect – in the case. And then she uttered the six short words which will be inconceivable to some who have followed this case and a confirmation of long-held suspicions to others. ‘Kate fears she will be charged,’ Ms McGuinness said.”
THE TIMES front page: A picture of the McCanns meeting the Pope.
Madeleine McCann The Public Spectacle
Posted: 8th, September 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,454) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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September 8th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Because as far as I am concerned, that is the only evidence, CORRect?? and also the smell of corpse..BUt c’mon HOW CAN u possibly prove that..
September 8th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Elizabeth 459, harsh. lol
Yeah, that would have been suspicious, huh?
September 8th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I wonder if it’s possible for the blood they found in the car to have been planted in the car?? I wonder if the police just want this case done and over with and maybe, possibly planted some old blood in the car..what do you guys think
September 8th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Julio, I’m not saying you’re wrong here exactly, but I would point out that the police — the ones who ARE aware of the hard forensic evidence — are the ones who made them official suspects, not I.
We’re speculating as to why that might be.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
And he’s also being sincere in this instance - about feeling grateful he didn’t lose the twins, too - if it’s true they sedated all three of the children.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
All they have ever cared about is clearing their name. They have been too composed throughout this P.R. exercise. They know more than they are letting on.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
*is better than saving none
September 8th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Abi, that’s unreasonable. You may “feel” as bad as you want, but what he said makes sense in this instance.
I BELIEVE you’d feel horrible… who wouldn’t… BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL.
It’s about the children.
And however horrible it is whatever happened to Madeleine, it obviously is better for the twins that it didn’t happen to them.
So Gerry is right here. Completely. And your point is emotional, not logical, and its wrong morally too.
Saving what you can of your family is saving none. I’m not saying Gerry did save any per se. What I’m saying is it’s ludicrous to criticize the guy for being grateful two of his three kids are okay.
Simply ludicrous.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Mary Sunshine, while I agree with you about American jurisdiction over its citizens, John Mark Carr said he committed a crime against Jon Benet Ramsay in America… so the example doesn’t apply.
At all.
It’s not like the Thais would have tried him for a crime against an American in America, is it?
September 8th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Elizabeth, I have no more knowledge about this than you but I would speculate that Portugal wouldn’t “give up” jurisdiction. I’m sure they would prosecute.
I think this would be used in a case where the country was unwilling or unable to prosecute or Britain didn’t have an extradition treaty with the country.
So, say, if a British subject committed a crime against a fellow Brit in (or say off the coast of) Syria and returned home, Britain’s not going to send it’s subjects to Syria… they would try them in Britain.
With a friend and neighbour like Portugal, while they probably theoretically could try the McCann’s in Britain (any British lawyer’s with actual experience are welcome to pipe in here), I think it would be far more likely that if the McCann’s were on the Islands, the Portuguese would extradite and Britain would say, “Okay.”
If it comes to that. Which it hasn’t. They may be innocent. Which I don’t personally believe, but am open to new info.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Gerry McCann, 38, Madeleine’s father, said: “It could have been worse, we could have lost the twins too. There were three children in the room. That’s the worst nightmare.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1845268.ece
What an odd thing to say. I personally would see losing 3 children as bad as losing 1, I just would feel as dreadful whatever. I think. I’m pretty sure in fact.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
I think the Police know a lot more than we are even aware. But unfortunately, I also feel there is not ENOUGH evidence that will allow them to press charges. Therefore, Mccanns will be able to go home and move on w/ their lives. We don’t know for sure if they are responsible. But if they did committ this crime, I highly doubt they will EVER have peace in their lives..One thing for sure is that this whole time they have believed that Madeleine has been missing, but in the last three days they have showed NO emotions about the possibility that she may actually Be DEAD!!! They are more concerned about proving the police wrong and going back home. I just hope the twins are well taken care of and that if Madeleine is deceased…that they recover her body and her remains be put at rest. I’m sure she’s an angel in heaven.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I’m sorry to buck the trend but it just doesn’t seem right to be pointing
the finger of guilt at the McCanns in this way. Of course you can make
up lots of stories and these can sound convincing if you want
them to. But we haven’t a clue what the hard forensic evidence is.
Everything is heresay - either in the media or in these types of
discussions. I agree that the McCanns and their extended family and friends have behaved a bit oddly, but everyone is different. The most important thing of course is that a young child is missing, and unfortunately I do fear the worst.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
just stay away from the gerbil jokes. prisoners and gerbils don’t mesh too well!
it’s the gerbils i worry about though.. ;-0
TTFN
September 8th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
445 - yeah, along with the Portuguese Tourist Authority.
The travel industry there has got to be suffering from this. Perception becomes reality and people change vacation plans if they think there’s trouble. I’d say, that’s the understatement of the hour.
Speaking of the hour - nearly 5PM - Happy Hour is starting.
Cheers…..
September 8th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
lol, i found it whilst looking for information on the european prisoner exchange system
September 8th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
446 - Gross. Who are you suggesting should have one of those?
September 8th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
maybe this will clear it up a little since portugal is in the eu
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=69+European+Prisoner
September 8th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
They’ve already gotten slaughtered with the cost of the investigation. If the McCann’s turn out to be guilty, maybe Portugal should sue them for costs! (That might be a good use for that fund).
September 8th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
385 - the only thing I can add here is that the car was also used by Jane T and Russell O. So, is it possible that while the Mccanns were away, this couple drove the car and disposed of the body? It would be a hell of a lot easier than her own parents having to do it for obvious reasons.
To Elizabeth’s point - Russell O’B’s clothing should also have been checked by the cadaver dogs. What was he still doing there in late May? Offering moral support to the Mccanns….but whatelse??
Again, all stuff that the police investigation should have been covering. Time will tell whether they covered this angle or not.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
435 -”It says the case “may” be tried in Britain. I suppose the Portugese would have to agree to give up their jurisdiction, though? And why would they, if some of their evidence wouldn’t be admissable in a British court? It would also be like saying they are unable to give a fair trial to foreigner”
I think there would be huge costs involved too. That would be another part of the consideration process for the Portuguese to decide - can they afford to sustain those costs?? A small country, could get slaughtered in debt with a costly trial.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
If the ’scent of death’ lingers for several years, wouldn’t most doctors smell of death?
Like bank notes with traces of cocaine.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
438 - different laudry detergent
Maybe….and I already thought of this too so that’s why I am saying this….maybe she was holding her daughter, one last time. Wanted to not let go…as graphic as that might sound, she may have had the need to hold her and hug her decomposing body.
She holds and hugs cuddle cat, the thing that brings her closet to madeleine. I was reflecting that if she was involved in disposing the body, she may have held her and hugged her one last time…
Now, I am truly getting all choked up and teary eyed thinking about this. It’s just all so sad, no matter how you look at it. On some level, even if they are found guilty, I truly have pity on them for the hell that their lives have become. I guess that is what make me human. Being able to show compassion in the worst of circumstances…..I am glad I was raised with that quality - thanks to my own family’s nurturing and influence….
September 8th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
They should give the cadaver dogs a whiff of Russell O’Brien’s clothing.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
433 - That’s why I said earlier today that there could actually be two trials:
1) Criminal in Portugal
2) Civil in Britain.
Or maybe, just one trial in England if as Martin says, the British Courts have jurisdiction over the Portuguese courts if it is their nationals who are involved.
What Martin says just makes logical sense to me….not that the laws has to make sense. ….but I know that’s how we handle it over here.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Watching Gerry’s emergence from the police station last night was the first time I have doubted the guilt of the parents.
If the scent of death was detected on Kate’s clothing, and Gerry helped to dispose of the body, why has no scent of death been detected on any of his clothing?
September 8th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
436 - Correction:
But nevertheless, if the court is not a appropriate place to have a trial,
Meant to say “country” not “court”.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
326 & 426 Thanks Martin. I thought that there may be something to that effect which is why it was me who asked the original question today- see post #243.
I presumed that the Britsh Courts would have jurisdiction over a British National, abroad just like we do in the U.S. - same deal - and if there is a death of a U.S. citizen by another American citizen our court systems would have the right to extradite them back home here if they felt there was a valid reason. Attorneys can also make a motion to move it back if their client wants it moved and they feel it’s in their best interest..
Think of the recent case with John Mark Carr and Jon-Benet Ramsey. He WANTED to be extradited back to the U.S. so he set up this bogus confession that he had killed Jon-Benet, just to get the hell out of Thailand where he was under arrest for allegedly committing acts of pedophilia (man - why is human nature so perverse??!!! No armchair sleuth will ever figure that dude out. He needs an lobotomy first and foremost!) Although, the Jon-Benet Ramsey murder happened on U.S. soil. Which makes it different than a murder taking place in another country. But nevertheless, if the court is not a appropriate place to have a trial, extradition can happen to try it in the ‘home court’ - pun intended.
So much obliged for setting the record straight. And much impressed with your knowledge base too
September 8th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
434. Thanks for that reference.
It says the case “may” be tried in Britain. I suppose the Portugese would have to agree to give up their jurisdiction, though? And why would they, if some of their evidence wouldn’t be admissable in a British court? It would also be like saying they are unable to give a fair trial to foreigner.
September 8th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Anyway, before I eat and to help you out if you choose to come back here, you can read about the “Offences Against the Person Act” which shows that, yes indeed, British law gives the crown jurisdiction over its subjects who commit manslaughter or murder abroad.
Sections 9 and 10.