Madeleine McCann Is Sjanneke Hofstede And Ribeiro Is Columbo
THIS is the face of the girl they thought was Madeleine McCann, or Maddie, as the Mail’s front page rebrands the missing girl.
By way of a compare and contrast, the Express has its quotidian picture of Madeleine McCann on the front page. (Although it is expected to shift on the tenth anniversary of the Bouquet Revolution when Diana died, Elton sang and Britain’s top lip became soaked in tears and emotion.)
It is clear in an instant that Madeleine looks a bit like the Mail’s girl. But this new girl has a mole on her face, her eyes are dark brown and not marked by a dropping iris, her hair is blonder and her lips fuller.
And her name is not Madeleine McCann. Her name is Sjanneke Hofstede. She was the girl spotted by the child therapist who told the police and then posed for pictures in the Express. She was 100% sure Sjanneke was Madeleine.
The therapist wishes she’d have done more. Had only this expert walked over and seized the child she would have been the saviour. She would have been the child therapist who not only talked but did. She would have been the recipient of a massive reward. The therapist would have been wrestled to the ground by Sjanneke’s father, with whom she was having lunch, while his girlfriend, also present, dialled the authorities.
The Express makes no mention of this development. Doubtless it is still awaiting the results of DNA tests on the straw Sjanneke used to drink a strawberry milkshake before publishing the news. It will not jump to conclusions.
The Express focuses on the investigation. The Mail does hear “Portugal’s top policeman” Alipio Ribeiro answer critics that he has not deployed enough manpower to find the missing child. Says he: “I have always said that Poirot acted alone and was effective. This is not about numbers. Currently, it is not even about resources.”
We have always said that Poirot was Belgian, too overweight and a work of fiction. But we concede that if Ribeiro is to model himself on any crime fighter, better Poitot than, say, Spiderman or PC Plum from Balamory. Or Cracker.
But there is something of Lieutenant Columbo about Ribeiro’s investigation. He is waiting or the assumed kidnapper to slip up. He has a sense of who the criminal is, and then hounds them, all the time gathering evidence.
“Just one more thing…” says the Express. “MADELEINE - British suspect to be arrested in hours say police.”
Why let the papers know this unless the police want their man to make his move?
And this suspect is British. A Briton has been monitored for several weeks. Minds turn to Robert Murat, who, like Columbo, has a bad eye.
But before the denouement, the Express gathers all around. We are back to Poirot as it revisits the evidence and recaps the story so far. And then it revels all.
But not yet. Soon. Stay tuned…
August 20th, 2007 at 10:44 am
First of all, that little girl looks nothing like Madeleine to me. Another thing, if the police are about to make an arrest, why in the world is it being known to the world? If I was the person responsible for Madeleine’s disappearance and knew the cops were onto me, I would run as fast as I could.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
holding my breath on this one!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Tony;
I think you meant “I WON’T be holding my breathe on this one” - ?!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:58 am
phew, better exhale, thanks Sandra
August 20th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Tony,
I think you meant “Sharon”..?!
August 20th, 2007 at 11:09 am
see, thats what happens when you dont breathe, you cant read properly, my apologies, now lets start again, who do you think they are going to arrest this time, my monies on one of the freinds you??
August 20th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Yes I agree with you, a few articles I read late last week seemed to be hinting that the friends are being reinvestigated, though whether it is the friends the McCanns were dining with that night or other acquaintances of the family I am not sure…
August 20th, 2007 at 11:38 am
MO, one of the women were insrumental in the abduction and then when Murat went back to UK he took Maddie with him on his daughters passport (he did say they look alike)
I think she is still in England with someone she knows, I think she will be “given back” safely
your opinion?
August 20th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Even more un-knowns for us this week lets hope who-ever they do arrest will lead to Madeleine what interests me though is a few things I have read that the Portugese Police have said … first of all we are looking for a live child, then a dead one, now they admit that they have no idea why she was taken or where she is and whether the motive was revenge, greed, hate …… which seems to point to someone with an agenda and because Madeleine has disappeared into thin air obvoiusly very well planned …. the question is how long has it been planned, was it planned before they even went out there, which does seem to point the finger at friends or acquaintances someone with a grudge that wanted the maccanns to go through all sorts of hell, for something they may have done ? a kidnapping that was always going to end up in a randsom demand fairly early on, but with such a big campaign and public outrage and awareness this has just dragged on, have there been randsom demands after all they all get filtered through the Portugese Police perhaps they have not taken some seriously or maybe the kidnappers what to speak to Kate and Jerry directly so perhaps them returning to Britain might not be a bad thing.
I have truly found this all very bizzare and like many I just think something is not quite right I do not normally beleive in Mediums or anything like that but I must say at least two of them have said she is alive and well and will be returned to where it all started (I thought that meant Portugal) perhaps it means britain that is why this news has got me on the edge of my seat
August 20th, 2007 at 11:45 am
sally, I know the 2 you are talking about, BL and MJ ?? I agree, I think this week is going to be the week ……also on the edge of my chair, (with my lap top)!!
August 20th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Even more news, I have read two articles now one suggests search warrants another raids - perhaps these raids will find madeleine ? I just wish they would move fast and not give the kidnappers any reason to flee, or perhaps they are just forcing their hands ?
Madeleine: New Development Expected
Updated: 10:58, Monday August 20, 2007
A new development in the Madeleine McCann case is expected within the next few days, Sky News has learnt.
Madeleine now missing for 109 days
Crime correspondent Martin Brunt understands detectives want to question a man who was in the Algarve holiday resort of Praia da Luz on the night the four-year-old disappeared.
He believes the development could tie in with alleged inconsistencies in the statements of those who were with Gerry and Kate McCann on May 3.
It follows reports in the local Portuguese media that police may be about to arrest a second British suspect.
Brunt says increased activity surrounding the case rings true with recent suggestions from Portuguese police that developments are likely within the next few weeks.
Mistaken identity: Sjanneke Hofstede
Police leave has been cancelled and officers have been granted a number of new search warrants which they are expected to execute within the next 48 hours.
“Certainly there is renewed activity in the case,” Brunt said.
“More searches are about to begin and there could be a new suspect. It all suggests there is a new impetus to the investigation.”
The latest developments in the case come as investigators wait on DNA test results on specs of blood found inside the McCanns’s Algarve holiday home.
Madeleine has now been missing for 109 days. She vanished from the flat as her parents dined nearby.
Meanwhile, Belgian police have ruled out a possible sighting of Madeleine at a cafe last month.
The four-year-old in question, Sjanneke Hofstede, was spotted at the cafe with her father.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
“British suspect to be arrested in hours”??
Hours is a village in France, about 10 miles NW of Lourdes…
August 20th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Occam, very interesting.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Are we reading to much into this, not sure of what track you are on, has there been any sightings of Madeleine in France, I know there was a lot of talk about some dutch man being the kidnapper who would pass madeleine onto some nasty french bloke (I think it was some undercover reporter who dealt in chid abductions) this was news some time ago given to the Portugese Police, if any of this were true surely they would have made arrests ages ago, I still hope the raids/searches happen soon, but who knows where these are going to happen Portugal or England “More searches are about to begin and there could be a new suspect. It all suggests there is a new impetus to the investigation.” maybe that means they are completly wrong and she is alive and well ?
August 20th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I have a good feeling about this new headline, I believe it means “hours” as in time - 60 minutes etc,
August 20th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
How much longer are the poxy Express going to trot out page upon page of uncoroborated twaddle? They did exactly the same in the case of Diana. They know that, in both cases, nobody involved is going to either confirm or deny what they say, so the shit continues.
Why anybody gives creadence to a rag owned by a pornographer is beyond me.
I’m sure if the poor kid was a couple of years older he would have been trying to get her into one of his magazines instead of spewing out all this garbage.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Sally, Occam is just being punny.
August 20th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
sally check out MJ web page, very interesteing the latest post by him what do you think
http://mara-gamiel.blogspot.com/search/label/Madeleine%20McCann
August 20th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Bosco asked: “How much longer are the poxy Express going to trot out page upon page of uncoroborated twaddle?”
Answer: as long as that twaddle continues to boost their sales. Their accountants will be keeping a very close eye on this.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I wonder why I do read this sometimes and as many say he could just be picking things out of papers and slotting them all together but our need to see Madeleine returned to her parents is so strong I beleive we are all clutching at straws, however I must admit I cannot stop reading it I really hope there is something in this maybe they have moved her again because the police were getting too close, he says her return is now overdue, lets hope that the case and she is found in the next few days, you have to remain positive, no body has been found and no one can argue that this was very well planned maybe as MJ says for a number of years, I remember when this story first came out the first thing I said to my partner was that Jerry or Kates job has something to do with this (maybe money or revenge), lets hope this family does indeed return to britain as 5 or be re-united with Madeleine in Britain.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
“How much longer are the poxy Express going to trot out page upon page of uncoroborated twaddle?”
………………. as long as there are people who lap it up as ‘though their very lives depended on it. As long as people who have nothing beter to do with their lives, sit pouring over their computers, dissiminating every facet, theory, musing, notion, claim, counter-claim, opinion, suspicion and every sentence written or spoken by every media outlet. As long as people give serious consideration to reprobates like ‘MJ’ and the other demented soothsayer ‘Briansdreams.com’……… then the “poxy Express” will do very nicely, thank you.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I just get this feeling that when the arrests come we are all going to get a shock, as long is maddie is safe and well I’ll be happy
August 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
spudgun ……………theres always one
August 20th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
tony………………
as for people like you……….there’s always THOUSANDS. Which is why ‘MJ’ and ‘Briansdreams.com’ are so revered and believed……..
August 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Last week it was reported in The Express headlines “we are hours away from the solution” or something along those lines. We have still heard nothing!!! Although it all sounds as though something is about to happen, it could be well over a week before we hear anything new, if there really is anything new!!
August 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I think we should congratulate the Belgium police for producing the first piece of conclusive news since this case started.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
I never said I believed it I stated that it makes interesting reading and as far as I am concerned there is an element of truth in some of BL dreams, not just the Madeleine case.
put it this way, it is nearer the truth than the express headlines, and if there is a positive outcome then so be it
August 20th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Tony…thanks for sharing that info….I had not read about this before. I’m NOT into this stuff, BUT on the other how wonderful it would be if it was true. I have followed Briansdreams.com, though very different from this - they both believe Madeleine to be alive - which is THE most important thing, in this terrible sorry mess!!!! Hang on in there little one….hopefully you will soon be found XX
August 20th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Forgot to comment - re. the llittle Belgium girl - the only thing she has in common with Madeleine is…..they are both pretty little girls. BUT they don’t look anything remotely like each other!!!!!! So much for a “trust worthy witness”!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I must admit that every pretty little girl is starting to look like maddie, I live near the beach and I find myself checking the small children who resemble Madeleine, I am in South africa so I doubt she would be here, but then again I so desperately want her to be reunited with her family that she tends to be at the fore of my thoughts every day.