Madeleine McCann: Goncarlo Amaral, Leonor Cipriani And Torture
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
DAILY MIRROR: “MADDY HUNT COP IN COURT”
Chief Inspector Goncarlo Amaral is in a courthouse in Faro
The man removed from the Madeleine McCann investigation is accused of lying to protect his officers. Leonor Cirpriano says police beat her into a confession
Cipriano is convicted of murdering her nine-year-old daughter Joana
Says a friend of the McCanns: “They met him once and thought he was just another officer”. He is
THE SUN: “McCann slur cop in ‘torture cover up’”
Amaral is “tubby”. Amaral weighs “18 stone”
The Sun says Amaral is involved in what “many say is Portugal’s worst miscarriage of justice”
No, not the naming of the McCanns as suspects, rather then case of Leonor Cipriano, who is convicted of murdering her daughter
DAILY STAR: “MADDIE TOP COPPER FACING TORTURE RAP – Dumped chief jail threat”
Amaral led the hunt for Madeleine when she first vanished
He was part of the police decision to name “GP” Kate McCann and “heart consultant” Gerry McCann as suspects
Madeleine McCann: Speculation and sensation
Posted: 12th, February 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (925) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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February 14th, 2008 at 10:22 am
A weird connection to Madeleine McCann and this case. Body never found???
Family under suspicion.???
This was a great soap opera for this whole year in Madeleine’s case. All the characters involved were fiction. Not one were playing themselves they were all acting….”And The Oscar goes to _____”. A sad event in the short lived life of a young girl named Madeleine McCann.
February 13th, 2008 at 7:11 am
If I had the opportunity, I would probably give Leonor a slap myself!!
February 13th, 2008 at 6:44 am
To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events. It is to perceive the essential nature of things. The best-informed man is not necessarily the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge he will lose sight of what is essential. But on the other hand, knowledge of an apparently trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things. And so the wise man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events, but always without becoming dependent upon this knowledge. To recognize the significant in the factual is wisdom.
May the Power be with you.
February 13th, 2008 at 5:40 am
178
Jolie Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
20 LaMisty
A serious head trauma can cause two black eyes, like you see in the photo of Leonor Cipriano. Her eyes may never been physically touched. She may not have been a victim of an attack of any kind. She could have fallen and hit her head and the black “racoon eyes” would be a result of that.
*****************
I agree. In fact, I feel strongly enough to say that most likely it was head trauma and she was not hit in the eyes or face. The use of the word “torture” in this case is just media hype (and unfortunately ANORAK follows the pack by putting this word in the headline).
As someone pointed out the rough treatment was likely given to her by cellmates. The police did not even need her confession for conviction. If she was maltreated, almost certainly it was out of rage for the heinousness of her crime. That kind of rough treatment, though it cannot be condoned, is a far cry from “torture”. jmho
February 13th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Fact= Joana Cipriano Body was never found. Her Mother and uncle were convicted to 16 years in Prison for murder.
The Case of Joana Cipriano
Joana Cipriano
The case of Joana Cipriano highlights serious omissions on the part of authorities who failed to spot that the little girl was being exploited and neglected. According to a neighbour of the girl, Joana seemed unnaturally mature for her age. “She has a bearing and an attitude greatly beyond her years. Instead of playing with other children, she seems to spend her time taking care of her two little brothers.” Another neighbour described her as the “Cinderella” of the household, seen at all times of the day and night in the village, running errands for her family.
In September of 2004, Algarve knew another tragic history which evolved a child death. In the beginning, the mother, Leonor Cipriano started for presenting complaint in the GNR on the alleged disappearance of her daughter Joana of 8 years.
The PJ still investigated the presumption abduction, but this theory fast became false when the proper mother of the girl passed of complaining to suspicion.
After long inquiries, happened what was feared. João Cipriano, uncle of the girl and brother of Leonor, confessed to the PJ that he and his sister had spanked the girl until the death. Months later, added to his confession that had quartered the corpse. According to João, the body had been cut in three parts and kept in a refrigerating coffer, where the PJ found blood vestiges that corresponded to the girl. The brothers had gotten rid themselves of the body in the following days of the crime, but they didn’t say where they had hidden it.
Court hears Joana’s horror story
Onlookers in the public gallery screamed abuse at the mother and uncle of Joana Cipriano as they were ferried to and from court.
The case, which has shocked the nation with its account of incest, murder and desecration, took just three days to be tried. The Public Ministry has pressed for jail terms of 24 years for the defendants, who are charged with qualified murder, as well as desecrating and concealing a body.
Joana disappeared, presumed murdered, in the Algarve village of Figueira, near Portimão. She was last seen buying food from a nearby café on the evening of September 12 last year. Prosecutors charge that she came home to find her mother, 34-year-old Leonor Cipriano, and her uncle, 32-year-old João Cipriano, having sex. Fearful that Joana would relate the incident to her stepfather, they allege that the couple decided to kill her. The prosecution also said that the couple had repeatedly mistreated Joana, recounting that she was little more than a “servant” in her own household.
The court heard a catalogue of horrifying details, including an earlier video taped confession from Joana’s uncle in which he related the circumstances of his niece’s murder. This video testimony is now the subject of an appeal from the defence team who claim it should be excluded because the couple exercised their right to remain silent during the trial. In the taped confession, João Cipriano said he and his sister hit Joana who then banged her head against a wall before collapsing, unconscious, onto the floor. João Cipriano claimed that he had wanted to call an ambulance but that his sister prevented him, telling him instead to go to Joana’s stepfather and inform him that she had disappeared.
Mother had appealed for daughter’s return
Her mother made subsequent public appeals for her daughter’s safe return, claiming that she had been kidnapped. But authorities began to suspect the couple after villagers noted their allegedly offhand reaction to Joana’s disappearance. Local shopkeeper Nídia Rochato remembered that Leonor neither cried nor seemed unduly concerned. When she commented on this to her, Leonor reportedly replied that she believed that her daughter was still alive.
The absence of a corpse delayed the arraignment process but the Public Ministry were able to indict the couple following statements from neighbours. Investigators also gathered forensic evidence at the house where Joana lived with her mother, stepfather and two brothers.
A total of 45 witnesses, mostly relatives and villagers, testified in court between Wednesday and Friday of last week. Four jurors (one man and three women) and three judges will decide the verdict. The opinions of the jurors – a 20-year-old student, a physiotherapist, a library employee and a waitress – will carry the same weight as the judges.
Joana’s uncle had contempt for human life
Leonor and João Cipriano, who have been held on remand for over a year, stood silently and without emotion as they heard prosecutor José Pinheiro outline his case. He described João Cipriano as a man who “has contempt for human life, psychopathic tendencies and difficulty in controlling impulses”. Pinheiro also castigated Joana’s mother for her “emotional instability, insensitivity and disregard for other people’s needs”. Only when Pinheiro announced that he was pressing for a 24-year jail term for both defendants did Leonor show emotion, sobbing uncontrollably.
Pinheiro explained why his team was pressing for such a long sentence. “The defendants’ guilt is heightened by their cold and calculating behaviour after their child’s death, as well as the devious manoeuvres they adopted to conceal the crime,” he said.
The trial included key testimony from Joana’s stepfather, António Leandro, who related that Leonor had confided to him that she had had a sexual relationship with her brother. He also told the court that during this conversation, which took place a few days after Joana’s disappearance, at judicial police headquarters, Leonor had admitted that she and her brother had killed the little girl.
A key element of the prosecution’s case rests on the fact that the couple dismembered the girl’s corpse. António Leandro, confronted with photographs of tools allegedly used by the couple, said he recognised a saw he had kept at home. In the video taped confession, João Cipriano admitted that the body of the girl was dismembered and placed in a refrigerated trunk. A doctor involved in the case, Albino Santana dos Santos, conceded that body parts, matching the size of a girl of Joana’s height, could have been stuffed inside the trunk.
Defence team challenges evidence
Despite the evidence, João Grado, Leonor Cipriano’s lawyer, still pressed for her acquittal, describing the evidence as “miserable”. João Cipriano’s lawyer, Sara Rosado, reminded the court that Joana’s body had never been found and dismissed the prosecution’s version of events. “João Cipriano has an intelligence level considerably lower than the average. How is it possible that such a person could deceive everyone for so long?” she asked the court.
But prosecutors disagreed, describing the case as a “veritable horror story that proves that reality really does surpass fiction”. “Nobody can say that they wanted to kill her when they hit. But later when they persisted, they knew that she was going to die. Their guilt is absolute – the victim was a minor, the daughter and niece of the defendants,” they told the court.
The corpse of the girl never was found, but this fact didn’t hinder the PJ to continue with the inquiries, and in November of 2005 the court of Portimão condemned Leonor to twenty years and four months of arrest and João Cipriano to a penalty of nineteen years and two months.
The absence of a corpse delayed the arraignment process but the Public Ministry were able to indict the couple following statements from neighbours. Investigators also gathered forensic evidence at the house where Joana lived with her mother, stepfather and two brothers.
Pinheiro castigated Joana’s mother for her “emotional instability, insensitivity and disregard for other people’s needs”. Only when Pinheiro announced that he was pressing for a 24-year jail term for both defendants did Leonor show emotion, sobbing uncontrollably.
Pinheiro explained why his team was pressing for such a long sentence. “The defendants’ guilt is heightened by their cold and calculating behaviour after their child’s death, as well as the devious manoeuvres they adopted to conceal the crime,” he said.
The trial included key testimony from Joana’s stepfather, António Leandro, who related that Leonor had confided to him that she had had a sexual relationship with her brother. He also told the court that during this conversation, which took place a few days after Joana’s disappearance, at judicial police headquarters, Leonor had admitted that she and her brother had killed the little girl.
A key element of the prosecution’s case rests on the fact that the couple dismembered the girl’s corpse. António Leandro, confronted with photographs of tools allegedly used by the couple, said he recognised a saw he had kept at home. In the video taped confession, João Cipriano admitted that the body of the girl was dismembered and placed in a refrigerated trunk. A doctor involved in the case, Albino Santana dos Santos, conceded that body parts, matching the size of a girl of Joana’s height, could have been stuffed inside the trunk.
…….
The couple received 16 year sentences.
What the report doesn’t say is the mother waited 2 days before she notified the police.
During that time she washed her house down with petrol.Blood was found in the freezer belonging to Joana which the mother claimed came from a nose bleed after she had given Joana a beating.
3 years later the brother has written a letter in which he claimed that Joana had been sold by her mother and was not dead.
……..
and again from another source:
Leoneor Ciprinao and his brother, who had a incestuous relationship, were both sentenced to 16 years in prison, for the killing of the child, Joana Cipriano.
They killed her, after she came back home earlier and found sister and brother (her mother and her uncle) having sexual relations. They cut the body in pieces, kept a few in the refrigerator, than burned and gave the remainings to the pigs, to eat . Samples of blood of the child, Joana Cipriano, were found inside her mother’s refrigerator.
Leonor Cipriano accused five officers of beating her. They were put on a police line-up and she didn’t recognize not even one of the alleged aggressors (including Chief-Inspector Gonçalo Amaral). The magistrate of the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigated the complaint of Leonor Cipriano against CID Chief-Inspector Gonçalo Amaral and the other five CID officers and decided to prosecute them, didn’t included in the accusation documents the results of the police line-up (which took place with Leonor Cipriano behind a two-way mirror…)
That magistrate is being sued by the Portuguese CID Officers union, and has a complaint with the Conselho Superior da Magistratura (”High Magistrates Council”) the body in charge of nominating and disciplining judges and magistrates from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Update: the trial of the officers who supposedly beaten up Leonor Cipriano started today 11th of February in the Court of Portimão.
aw0642
February 13th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Night Ferdinand
I’m off too.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:33 am
957 Totje Says:
“If you meant a number for the parents to dial to complain about their kids, I think we should start a fund so they can dial the number free of charge and get really professional help.”
We could set up a premium charge number. That might turn out to be a good buisiness.
Must think about this idea. Good night.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:29 am
956
Ferdinand
What about a Parents Complaints Number?
If you meant they dial that number to complain about their parents, we also need a number to complain about the teachers, their friends etc.
If you meant a number for the parents to dial to complain about their kids, I think we should start a fund so they can dial the number free of charge and get really professional help. In fact I’ve got this nice spare bank account number….
February 13th, 2008 at 1:24 am
955 Totje Says:
“But its forbidden by law and they all know how to dial the [I don’t know how it’s called in the UK or Germany] lets call it Childrens Complaints Number.”
What about a Parents Complaints Number?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:21 am
954
Ferdinand
You can always smash them! They were not so wrong in the ancient times. A good threshing here and then is not wrong.
But its forbidden by law and they all know how to dial the [I don't know how it's called in the UK or Germany] lets call it Childrens Complaints Number. And we wouldn’t want to go to jail would we? So we’d better get them abducted.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:16 am
950 Totje Says:
“Now Ferdinand, why aren’t parents allowed to have their children abducted?
You know they can be little pain in the $sses don’t you?”
You can always smash them! They were not so wrong in the ancient times. A good threshing here and then is not wrong.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:12 am
951
Ferdinand Says:
February 13th, 2008 at 1:11 am
If only they would admit it!
What? That they are a pain in the $ss?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:11 am
949
RedRooster
Yeah, let’s hope so. Nite RR sleep well. Pleasant dreams.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:11 am
If only they would admit it!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Oh I really SHOULD go to bed…
Now Ferdinand, why aren’t parents allowed to have their children abducted?
You know they can be little pain in the $sses don’t you?
Always complaining, trying to stay up late, bigger allowances, a new mobile, never help with cleaning the house or ironing etc.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:07 am
947
RedRooster
I promise, as long as she doesn’t start it.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Night dr. Watson.
Night all, pretty late over here too.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:04 am
940 jo Says:
“Ferdinand
“At least they should be charged for neglect”
Why do you say this and if true do you have a link?”
It’s just my opinion. There should be made an example of! Parents should not be allowed to have their children abducted!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Nighty-Nighty,
because there are some evil canivels coming, so bed time!
February 13th, 2008 at 1:03 am
939
Ferdinand
You must feel pretty desparate then
February 13th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Nite Jo
February 13th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Bye now…too late for me.
Nite nite
I am gone
February 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Ferdinand
“At least they should be charged for neglect”
Why do you say this and if true do you have a link?
February 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
938 Totje Says:
“Ferdinand
Are you drunk or was it the fight that aroused all these emotions?”
I’m just desparately trying to be on topic.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Thanks to anorak my mum stays on the laptop for an age giving me the chance to create my own console heaven,i’ve already managed to complete pirates of the carribean two times on ps3 and watch all the 12+ and over movies in the house,along with a mouth full of sweets! And look, i’m still awake.
rel:dr:13.02:03.42
February 13th, 2008 at 12:57 am
935
Ferdinand
Are you drunk or was it the fight that aroused all these emotions?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:57 am
936 jo Says:
“Ferdinad
Have you got a link for this?????”
For what?
February 13th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Ferdinad
Have you got a link for this?????
February 13th, 2008 at 12:54 am
At least they should be jailed for neglect!
February 13th, 2008 at 12:53 am
931
RedRooster
I should have done that way before.
xx
February 13th, 2008 at 12:52 am
930 jo Says:
“Ferdinand
Who did what?
A riot?”
Maybe the dogs were right?