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 10:01 pm
383 - “Nowhere on the Earth at 14.29 hrs, 3 may 2007 did the Sun have an altitude of 80 degrees,”
Unture. Somewhere on eath the sun is seen from dawn to dusk at exactly the same time, hence the fact that we have time zones.
September 16th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Could the waiter / waitress in the afternoon at tea time been playing with one of the other couple’s little girl, unknowingly? Though they would remember a face surely? And if M is the one on the CCTV then that would put an end to that speculation about something happening earlier in the afternoon…
September 16th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
A clip called “Gerry McCann denies using sedatives”
youtube.com/watch?v=uMUdynuECbE
September 16th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Information about the photo taken at 2.29pm:
QUOTE:
The picture was taken by Madeleine’s mother Kate, 38, on her own camera.
Her daughter is shown smiling, wearing a pink smock top, white shorts and a sun hat as she cools her feet in the swimming pool.
The picture was taken at 2.29pm on May 3 - Mrs McCann’s camera clock is one hour out so the display reads 1.29pm.
Less than eight hours later, before 10pm that night, Madeleine disappeared.
UNQUOTE
September 16th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Gerry McCann denies using sedatives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMUdynuECbE
September 16th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Another interesting question is the one asking the parents if they were the last to see her alive. How would they know?
The hypothetical response might be:
“No - somebody else has seen her alive, the person who took her!”
Or “For as long as we live, we hope to see her alive!”
But I thought I’d read that their response to that had been “yes”???
Perhaps I read wrong though or am remembering wrong.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
380 - helsangel. Couldn’t have put it better myself. This is the most believable theory I have heard and the one I have a feeling for too.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
With any significant event, (eg. Kennedy being shot or 9/11 attacks) everyone remembers what they were doing and where they were.
If the Mccans and their friends weren’t lying they would all have consistent stories, timings and explanations - it is clear they do not and thats a further indication - the more lies you tell, the more further lies you have to tell to cover up the previous lies…..
let the mccan parents, the father’s brother and sister and the uncles continue to dig bigger holes for themselves…. the truth is coming out slowly.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
382 Angelo, how about they all sedated their kids so they could enjoy a night out? That’s why they are lying, all their careers are at stake
September 16th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
maria (248):
I think that is an excellent question. If you did it, you’d certainly pause…
If you didn’t, you would probably also pause - while imagining such a scenario and trying to work out what you would really do.
Hypothetical response:
“Well I would’t be in that position would I? Unless it was an accident…”
(already that is giving options for a possibility).
In other words, it’s the detail that might give some compromise. Very interesting.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
The New Zealand Herald on 10 September came up with this timeline:
QUOTE:
The day of May 3
It was the day before the family - Gerry, Kate, Madeleine, and twins Sean and Amelie - were due to return to Rothley, in Leicestershire. There are conflicting reports over the last confirmed sighting of Madeleine outside.
One report suggested it was as early as 2.30pm. Another said that no one has emerged to say that they saw her after 6pm. Another said police were focusing on the time after 8pm. It was reported the family spent several hours together resting in the apartment. Another report said Gerry McCann went to play tennis at 6.30pm.
Bedtime
Every night, say the McCanns, they would put the children down at 7pm-7.30pm, and at an unknown time leave them sleeping in the apartment. At 8.30pm on May 3, they arrived for a meal at a nearby tapas bar with their friends.
UNQUOTE
September 16th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
366:
Interesting article on timesonline.co.uk called:
Get that cat to forensics, armchair sleuths demand
(it’s from September 14th, I cannot post links for some reason)
Quote from that article:
A poster on forums.mirror.co.uk analysed the last known picture of Madeleine, taken at a swimming pool with her father and sister by Mrs McCann at 2.29pm on the day she disappeared. Consulting an almanac to check Sun positions, and Google Maps for a satellite view, the contributor suggests shadows prove the timing is wrong. “Nowhere on the Earth at 14.29 hrs, 3 may 2007 did the Sun have an altitude of 80 degrees,” the poster writes.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Ian Willis 375. I have seen that link and at the time I thought the title strange.
Far from making the McCanns sound innocent the witness gives a statement that suggests that the McCanns best friends are liying!!!!
Unless the McCanns are going to be proved innocent by the arrest of Jane Tanner and Dr.O Brien - more plausible is that all of them are lying!
September 16th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
How can the claim that an officially alleged child killer had a 15 minute conversation with a man outside his apartment “blows holes in the police theory”?
Dont murderers or liars talk to people after committing their crimes?!
I can accept that an ordinary person may become a bit flustered at the sight of blood or a dead body, but not a hospital doctor who sees corpses every day. Even his wife admitted that she’d handled a corpse just before their holiday (which is where she claims the Scent of death stems from).
September 16th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
372 Stevo - get the feeling we are on the same page. I think Maddie was possibly not inclined to go to bed when she should. I think her parents helped her sleep, probably safely, they are docs, but then it all went horrifically wrong. I don’t think they are cold blooded killers, but I do think some seriously cold blood was injected into a cover up. It’s not legal to drug kids, ergo bye bye medical licence, I think Kate was responsible for the OD and that odious little man, her husband is a psycho and insisted on a cover up.
Richard Branson will probably take a hit out on me now, but there, I said it
September 16th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
(374) Rest, I think it was just the wrong choice of words. Dissect can take on other connotations, other than the most graphic. That is why I didn’t correct it, as, yes you could describe him as that to some degree (as he analyzes results and probably has been involved with some dissection at some point-I’m sure all doctors have).
September 16th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
361 - You are correct it has not been officially confirmed that the Mccanns were seen with Madeleine at 6.30pm.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
370 - Gerry McCann and Jeremy Wilkins (the TV boss) were tennis partners whilst on holiday. They were at the resort together, but not in the same group. The 15 minutes conversation was the two of they talking face to face, outside the apartment after according to Gerry, he had checked on his children.
Does that make it clearer for you?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
366 - Wanderer
Thanks a bunch. It was driving me nuts because I’d read it before but couldn’t find it again. Funny how the waiter emphasised alcohol though. I wonder how tipsy the Tapas 9 all were by 10pm?
But…it’s the Daily Mirror and they don’t name the waiter or the restaurant though do they? Could be made up…
I’m becoming very wary of reporting without quoting the actual source. It really does mean nothing without a name.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
I agree Stevo - my child has 2 identical cuddly bears and knows the difference between the 2 even though I cannot!
It is in every holiday photo we have this year - it even went to the beach with us - I washed the sand off it and my child was really upset - we had to take it to the pool with us soaking wet! - I put it to dry on a sunlounger to dry and told my child it was sunbathing - it even went to dinner with us - every photo taken had to have the bear in it! - my other child was never interested in cuddly toys or comfort blankets so it is strange to us but we just go along with whatever makes our children happy.
But Kate said that the reason the sniffer dog went wild at the scent of a corpse on the cuddly toy was because she had taken it to work with her - excuse me?
But unless she handled corpses without medical clothing and gloves on and carried around in her hands - that is unplausible - yet another lie that has come out of her mouth - so did the police make her statements up that were witnessed by her lawyer too?
Going only on facts that we can see such as no photos of M with cuddly toy - she is lying - so why should we believe her about anything?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Here’s the link:-
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/1609_maddie.shtml
September 16th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
By the way, someone said G. McCann dissects bodies for a living. I thought G. McCann was a cardiologist? He would spend most of his time looking at test results wouldn’t he?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
This is one part of a timeline I have seen:
Quote:
5.30 McCanns pick Madeleine up
6.30 McCanns seen with Madeeline but not twins in cafe in square.
Unquote:
But wasn’t it the other way round? McCanns seen with twins but not Madeleine?
Was it therefore after 6.30pm that they collected the twins from the creche?
I thought the McCanns were seen on their own with the twins.
Can someone help in the source for theese sightings of the McCanns with EITHER Madeleine OR the twins?
I’d be grateful to anyone who can quote me the actual source for these sightings and the times of them - many thanks
September 16th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
362 - Helsangel
I thought that about the bags under the eyes too. I’m just eager to know about Madeleine’s behaviour and want to know how easy/difficult she was to control. Looks mean nothing. She’s a beautiful little girl but if she had behavioural problems she might have been a swine to deal with on a day to day basis. That could have stretched Kate to breaking point. That’s a very rational explanation for a moment of madness that resulted in something going awry. Whether it happened or not is anyone’s guess. But…I’m sure the authorities are looking into this aspect.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
346 - I think the way K&G treated their children is unforgivable. For me, the question is whether they were involved in an abduction or not.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Simon, try the front page of todays News of the World “NEWS OF THE WORLD: “MADDIE: THE SECRET WITNESS – TV boss holds vital clue to mystery.”
September 16th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
348, Stevo,
For the first time since 4th September there have been updates in the news section of the findmadeleine.com website this weekend. New PR team takes over.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I dunno Jim, it’s been written that the police tested it early on before she washed it. Maybe by then it was dirty or had some residue on it from the testing?
September 16th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
363 ~ Ian willis…..oh ian !! that was supposed to be my last word…. i hope you realise i was being ironic…..
September 16th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
(361) “5PM THE McCanns join friends for drinks at a restaurant in Praia da Luz where the children have their tea. A waiter, who has not spoken before, said: “They arrived in beach clothes and there was a big group. Nine adults and six or seven children and they took up two large tables. The adults ordered alcoholic drinks and had quite a lot. They were happy.” Gerry played in front of the restaurant with his children, pushing Madeleine on a swing.
The waiter said Madeleine’s parents called her in from the beach to eat her meal on the balcony of the restaurant.
He said: “When he brought her back to get an ice-cream, she was jumping up and down with excitement. It was a lovely sight.”
6PM MADELEINE eats her ice cream as the group leave for their holiday apartment. It is the last time she is seen in public.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/09/15/the-36-vital-hours-89520-19794260/
I was looking for it too, so I figured I’d post it. No sign of CCTV, but apparently people did see her.