Madeleine McCann: Torture, A Witness, Robert Murat’s Innocence And Richard Branson Investigates
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann.
SUNDAY MAIL front page: “MADDIE POLICE TORTURE TRIAL.”
As reported by Anorak on June 11 (see Madeleine McCann And Amaral Policing): “Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral has been accused of concealing evidence that the mother of eight-year-old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in the Algarve three years ago, was tortured by police into confessing she had killed her daughter, whose body was never found.”
Is this the British Press discrediting the Portuguese police? Should they leave our Kate and Gerry alone? (Do the Portuguese police have a PR?)
“Lies, beatings, secret trials: the dark side of police handling Madeleine case” – If the Portuguese police do have a PR, they should get a new one.
“Madeleine: Hair in McCann Renault: ‘It could be anyone’s’” - British forensic experts have concluded the fragments said to be Madeleine’s could belong to any number of people who had come into contact with the silver Renault Scenic.
THE OBSERVER: “Maddy police: we blundered.” Remember Robert Murat?
Says a source said to be from within the Portuguese police force: “British police and crime experts also suggested that Murat fitted the profile to have been behind a kidnapping. But the Lisbon investigators were from the start unsettled about the lack of any motive. Months later, there is nothing to suggest he was involved.”
But, er, Robert Murat remains a suspect.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: “Hope for McCanns as law on secrecy is eased.”
Plans are afoot to change the rules in Portugal. The “new law means that all suspects and third parties, including the media, will have access to police documents in any investigation - unless the public prosecutor decides that secrecy will benefit the inquiry or protect the rights of the accused.”
And the police can make their views known to the public, too.
And: the McCanns have announced an £80,000 advertising campaign to help find Madeleine.
SUNDAY EXPRESS: “MADELEINE MYSTERY - POLICE TO ACT OUT MADDIE TRAGEDY”.
No longer a criminal case. It is now a tragedy. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says a tragedy is a “branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual.”
Yes, dignified. Who knew?
DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY front page: “MADDIE. The missing journey.”
Where did she go?
SUNDAY TIMES front page: “Branson gives cash to defend McCanns.”
Sir Richard Branson is giving £100,000 to create a “fighting fund” to help the parents of Madeleine McCann to clear their names.
A source close to Branson says: “Sir Richard wants to ensure the McCanns get access to the best legal advice. He has a good instinct on these things.”
The Virgin Sniffer will crack the case. Or will his PR and marketing departments get there first.
But is Branson right? Let’s take a look at the survey…
“According to a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times, only 20% of respondents believe that the McCanns are completely innocent. Nearly half (48%) believe that they could have been responsible for their daughter’s death, even if it was an accident; 32% were unsure. A total of 40% said that the McCanns’ high-profile campaign had made them suspicious, but 50% said that it had not.”
Tasteful stuff. But we need another poll to find out what happened to Madeleine McCann.
Times Columnist India Knight is a McCann junkie. “I want to stop reading, listening, watching, Googling, amateur sleuthing; I nauseate myself with my own prurience. My appetite for commentary – which is all that’s left, in the absence of hard facts – has been sated many times over. But I can’t stop.”
She craves information. But there isn’t any. Unless you listen to sources”…
“Police leaks, gossip and a clash of cultures close in on McCanns” - Yesterday the police spokesman Olegario de Sousa quit “in dismay” at the daily leaks to the press.
Those Portuguese police leaks only add to the speculation and the pain. Thanks goodness for the clarity and sensitivity provided by the Times.
As the Times notes: “Maria do Sameiro Oliveira, a psychologist who does criminal profiling for the police, said she found it strange ‘how they function so much as a unit, always holding hands rigidly’ and pointed out that normally in cases of child disappearances, ‘the mother and father start to diverge, one wants to continue the search, the other not’. She added: “They show little evidence of suffering. They are very formal.”
You should not be influence by Ms Oliveria’s words. When responding to the Times’ survey, make your judgement. Make up your own survey.
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: “The McCanns: Unbelievable truth or unimaginable nightmare?”
The human interest angle and a time to look back over week of speculation.
NEWS OF THE WORLD: “MADDIE: THE SECRET WITNESS – TV boss holds vital clue to mystery.”
Jeremy Wilkins is the man whose “bombshell testimony could clear the McCanns”.
And: “Jeremy Wilkins’ evidence blows holes in the police theory that Gerry and Kate killed four-year-old Madeleine.”
Wilkins is said to be the man who spoke to Gerry McCann for up to 15 minutes outside the holiday apartments — “moments after checking on his children for the last time.”
A pal says: “He is entirely convinced of Kate and Gerry’s innocence. He believes they are a decent family caught up in an unimaginable nightmare.”
With Wilkin’s certainly and Richard Branson’s sense of smell, the McCanns may be placed once more above suspicion.
All the Madeleine McCann Faction Here…
Posted: 16th, September 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (655) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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September 16th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
And now its unbelievably claimed that Gerry was on the phone for 15 minutes to a newspaper editor on his way to allegedly checking on his daughter!
So, Simon, which is it? 1-2 minutes to the apartment, 5-10 minutes, or is there a completely new angle here as to why was a Midlands hospital doctor on the phone to a national newspaper editor BEFORE his daughter was reported missing?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I have not made myself clear - Last paragraph on post 329. What I intended on saying was that the italian press broadcast that there was a possibility of an abduction as suggested and suspected by the parents, not that the abduction was by her parents!!!!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
331 - Suits me…about flying Virgin I mean.
As for difference of opinions…that’s what this site is all about.
The McCann’s are NOT innocent though are they? They confessed to having left 3 toddlers alone in a room. That needs no proving as the McCann’s would have their daughter today if they weren’t so negligent.
Do you have kids?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Concerning the whole, “Gerry/Kate McCann could have dissected their daughter” or cut her apart or something similar. Unless this was a planned murder, I really don’t believe that. Doctors in medical school aren’t allowed to examine/operate on cadavers that they are related to in most places, in fact they do checks to make sure, as people think it would be far too traumatic (even for a doctor).
My own mother has done some similar things throughout her career, embalming, reconstructing bodies after disasters and such, etc. and I know if any of her family members were involved, it would be too traumatic for her to do that kind of “hands on” work.
That isn’t to disprove that the McCanns could be involved with the death of their daughter, I have no idea. But I doubt that they could take part in “disposing” of the body unless they were always quite callous towards their daughter or had planned to murder her ahead of time.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Would it really take “1 to 2 minutes” to do that journey (a) when its dark and (b) when you’ve had at least 4 bottles of wine?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
213 Stevo
No, I don’t share your views. Thanks for letting me know you wont be flying Virgin - that way I can choose to fly them, with the comfort of knowing you wont be on board.
“potential child killers” Well most of us drive cars and therefor are ‘potential’ child killers.
Maybe they are potentialy innocent too and should be considered as such until ‘proven’ guilty. I know that is a radical concept and hard for most people on here to grasp.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
326 - I was thinking, if they are God fearing Catholics missing a child, that’s what they’d do. I was also thinking, I’d go straight to church in all that media spotlight if I had a role to play, and an image to keep. So either way, church it is!
September 16th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Interesting that there seem to be quite a few ex-pats, including myself, posting on the forum. I think that this case has shocked us all.
I so want to believe the McCanns are innocent, as I have posted many times before. It would shake my faith in human nature if they are in any way involved. Obviously leaving their children unattended and the door open makes them involved, but if they had a hand in the death, and in disposing of the remains of their daughter, makes one question one’s own judgement with regards to the character of an individual.
I don’t know if any other posters have thought along the same lines as me but I thought that if I had met them on holiday, on a flight or at the beach, I would possibly have struck up a conversation with them as they appear to be the most normal and trustworthy people ever and the fact that they have twins in their family; well so do I.
I think the fact that they are quite possibly involved in the disappearance of their daughter shows us that people are never what they outwardly seem. In the UK, we have an unofficial system of trust that doesn’t exist here in Italy. Leaving a spare key with a neighbour, the postman leaving a parcel with a neighbour, driving around town without your driving licence or insurance documents, let alone without identification, going to the police on the off chance that your lost handbag may have been handed in are all things we take for granted in the UK. I can assure you that in Italy, the general feeling, at least from my experience, is that you assume the worst and trust no-one.
Maybe we should adopt some of the Italian mentality in this case. Incidentally, in Italy, the coverage on the news is fairly factual in the sense that Madeleine’s disappearance was covered suggesting the possibility of an abduction by her parents, the parents being made ‘arguidos’ and the fact that her body might possibly never be found. No views from ‘experts’ Tom, Dick or Harry about DNA evidence, etc, nor have Team McCann managed to manipulate the Italian media yet. Considering that the Italian broadcasting giant, Mediaset, is owned by one of the most powerful men in Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, ex prime minister, - well I guess everyone knows their limitations, even the McCanns.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
284 - The journey was a 60 meter walk along the pool, out of the complex gate, 60 meters up the road, through a 3 foot high gate and up the stairs to the door.
It would take between 1 and 2 minutes to walk the 120 meters to the apartment, not 5-10 minutes. It is clear that they did make this journey
You are spinning the story. Misinformation is not helpful.
The upstairs neighbour has subsequently denied stating that she heard Maddie crying. It is now unclear whether she did or not. The facts here are now uncertain.
The pictures though make it very clear that the apartment was in a very vulnerable spot. It would appear thar a vehice could be parked less than 20 meters from either door. Very easy to get the the apartment, grab a child and make a quick getaway. Maddie never stood a chance.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
254, Stevo,
I don’t expect the “ok clever clogs, find a body” was quite the way they would have put it.
More like the Express clever clogs wrote a headline to fit the space: “Show us the body!”.
More likely the parents’ lawyer would have said they refused to believe she was dead without being shown her body.
Quite how that squares with finding her DNA and fluids which came from a dead body, I don’t know. The police will have to make their case…or not.
Since the dogs reacted to a scent on the beach, I guess she was buried temporarily in the sand, and after that is anyone’s guess, as you say.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
324 - If the parents routinely sedated their kids then they’d think nothing of it. But I do take your point on board that if they did kill her accidentally then they’d be beside themselves with guilt etc. That’s the only thing that makes me give them any credit for the abduction theory. I have no idea how you could be so callous as to kill a child and be able to function after that. But…who says they are functioning? They could be taking pills to cover up! Kate looks like she’s been on Prozac since day 1.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
321 - I was just curious to know if the McCann’s had started to live a more normal life instead of being confined behind the media camped outside.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
(289) Impressed- very nice and cheeky, in both ways!
(300) Ian Willis- Perhaps Kate McCann has some innate fear that her children would be taken, caused by the sensationalist media reports most people hear and fear. Maybe that is why Gerry wanted to leave the kids alone, as he deemed the place safe and wanted to relax his wife’s fears. I’m sure some would say she is educated and that couldn’t possibly be the case, etc. but we really don’t know. It is just a suggestion, I’m sure others could dream up something better. Although, with this new, quite silly, media campaign to “save face”, I’m sure such a story would have been leaked a long time ago.
(305) Moderation- Thank you! I didn’t know that fact, so if she was seen playing and healthy at 6:30, that closes the timelines a bit more (those blasted timelines!). I should go confirm it now that I know what to look for, but I suspect I’ll have to trawl through the Belgium waiter’s story. I’ll just trust you for now; I’m not saying that in a disrespectful way, I do appreciate you confirming it and I’m sure you’re right, just think people should be careful about what they read and take on. I’ll look for it in a bit, right now I get sidetracked and before I know it I’m behind on 40 comments.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
254 Stevo
Just because someone dissects bodies for a living does not mean they could easily dispose of their own child. Have you ever watched Dexter?
I just can’t see how if Madeleine died accidentally at the hands of her parents, they could be so callous and clever as to cover it up so well. Most parents would be besides themselves with guilt and fess up straight away surely?
I don’t believe the McCanns are completely innocent but I don’t think they killed Madeleine accidentally or on purpose. I get more of a sense that they know who has her, and involved in some kind of money making scam or similar. They have always seemed pretty confident she is alive. Guilt and denial over their negligence? Maybe, but I do feel they have appeared overly confident and together about their daughters disappearance. Odd.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
320 - Garth
That’s odd…on my page, strangequestions is 297 and I posted one on 299.
Not seen that happen before…
——————-
Mods and Admin
Probably the spammer taking something out, best to reply to names and not numbers, avoids confusion
September 16th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Portuguese papers yesterday said the silver Renault Scenic hire car travelled more than 1709 miles in just a few weeks.
But Gerry’s brother John claimed the mileage was due to trips between Faro Airport and the resort of Praia da Luz.
That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?
September 16th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
316 - Do you think that means something ? No sarcasm implied!
September 16th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
stevo
I know its late (well at least for me) but “strangequestions” was post 299
September 16th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Yup Stevo (315) there’s going to be a few bashing of heads around corners (not violently), but sort of the scenario ….. Hey .. you weren’t supposed to be here at this time, you should have been at the Tapas ….. Oi what are you doing peeking at the children’s rooms, I actually DID it at this time. Gerry will be sitting at the table, when he was supposedly in the alleway “sidetracking” Wilkens, and bang …. Ms Tanner walks right past them, when in actual fact , neither of them saw her at that particular time …… it could turn out the be the undoing of quite a few of them!
September 16th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
317 - Moderation
Was the service focussed on the McCann’s? I’m assuming the villagers there are almost 100% behind them?
…also, how do you know they went to church?
September 16th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
stevo… yes they did.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Did the McCann’s go to church this morning in Rothley?
September 16th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
313 - Julie
Agree with you totally. It’ll be funny if they do a Crimewatch reconstruction. It’ll take forever writing the script for one! Nobody seems to agree on the timings!
September 16th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Evening all,
as of about 10 mins ago there were zero comments on the Mail article, on which several of you have claimed to have posted, thereby substantiating that the mail is only exercising freedom of the press and not of the people.
And I din’t beleive in conspiracies!
September 16th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Stevo, I have said all along that there is a darn site more evidence contained in those files than we could possibly imagine. I don’t believe that the most crucial bits of evidence would have been even allowed to “slip through the cracks” as some of the evidence seems to have done. I believe it’s been a case of the PJ deliberately letting slip on a few little snippets as a form of a build-up to the final crunch. My personal opinion here is that there are a few more people, apart from the McCann’s themselves that are going to have to start answering some serious questions.
I would also love for the re-enactment for that night (with all parties involved) to take place ….. certain of them are going to look like bumbling idiots, there’s no way that they will be able to put themselves in two places at the same time. If the PJ request this to happen, there’s going to be quite a few red faces around the resort that night!
September 16th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
to 304: There is also the evidence collected from tracing their mobile phones (McCanns plus the Tapas9) and a connection to Spain, when one of Gerry McCann’s relatives has a house. Apparently the police can now establish where everybody was the first days after Madeleine went missing.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
302 - Garth
You need to check the numbers…I didn’t post on 297 - it was “strangequestions”
Also, Philomena isn’t Kate’s mother.
Sorry, and respectfully…I don’t want a personal argument but you make a lot of mistakes in your points and references.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
GARTH 309
I’ll give you 1000-1 that they don’t press charges. It simply isn’t going to happen. What on earth is that indicative of?
September 16th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Julie 298
I wonder what odds we’d get that they don’t press charges? 100-1?
September 16th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
303 - Spudgun
I know. I find this whole Madeleine case so bizarre where press reporting is concerned. It’s become more of a malaise than anything else. A very contagious malaise that seems to have affected everyone like the Diana story did. Unlike that situation though, the Madeleine story seems to have split everyone into a for or against group.
Time will tell and that’s what’s so compelling about this whole affair - we’re all waiting for the next “bombshell” news item.