Police launch huge trawl to trace phones

From the Independent (online) Friday 4 October 2013



" Madeleine McCann case: Police launch huge trawl to trace phones of people who were in Praia da Luz when she went missing in 2007"

The scale of the huge trawl includes 41 people of interest, including 15 Britons.

Sorry I can't "do" links, hopefully someone can copy this. Thanks in advance.

This is same story but from the Mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2443057/Police-ALL-tourists-staying-Maddie-resort-Scotland-Yard-trawls-phone-records-people-30-countries-hunt-clues.html

It is getting beyond ridiculous now!

http://news.sky.com/story/1150028/madeleine-mccann-police-probe-phone-records

Scotland Yard detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007 are analysing the mobile phone details of everyone who was in the Portuguese holiday resort from where she disappeared.

So, that includes the Tapas Crew. But, looks like this could take a few more years....

Assistant Commissioners Mark Rowley and Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood are also sending formal International Letters Of Request to 30 other countries asking for assistance with their inquiry, reflecting the range of nationalities likely to have been in the town on May 3, 2007.

Why don't they just start with interviewing those closest to the event? Maybe they'll get round to that in about 10 years once they've got replies from those 30 countries!

Yes Anna, you have hit the nail on th head.


SY have taken how many years tom go through only HALF off the files and how many years before they finish going through the rest off the files?


Phone data.....why?


What about the mccanns phone data and emails?


I have now worked out what is going on.


The mccanns will NOT being using anymore PR or media or even themselves to get it through to the public like they have tried in the past 6 years that Madeleine was 'abducted'....SY is going to to do that for them, in any words, Mitchells PR hasn't worked, his spin to the papers hasn't worked, so now enter SY to be the mccanns mouthpiece.


No more interviews , their tired off that, people have watched their body language and seen right through them, quietly slip away into the sunset and let SY do the odd 'interview'

October 16 will be their last 'interview', it will be alongside SY so it will look convincing and away they go.


Now....what about the 'fund' money?

isnt this a bit like the horse has bolted  all mobile networks    are digital now at least they are  here in australia  analouge  doesnt  exist anymore here for mobile networls so i assume all phone records are long gone

Looking though the phone data off everyone that worked their and was on holiday their.



That's another 10 years and 5m accounted for.

What about the pay-as-you-go phones the McC's had brought to them from a relative?
Can they be checked??
They are the most suspicious phones of all, imo.

kitti wrote:Yes Anna, you have hit the nail on th head.


SY have taken how many years tom go through only HALF off the files and how  many years  before they finish going through the rest  off the files?


Phone data.....why?


What about the mccanns phone data and emails?


I have now worked out what is going on.


The mccanns will NOT being using anymore PR or media or even themselves to get it through to the public like they have tried in the past 6 years that Madeleine was 'abducted'....SY is going to to do that for them, in any words, Mitchells PR hasn't worked, his spin to the papers  hasn't worked, so now enter SY to be the mccanns mouthpiece.


No more interviews , their tired off that, people have watched their body language and seen right through them, quietly slip away into the sunset and let SY do the odd 'interview'

October 16 will be their last 'interview', it will be alongside SY so it will look convincing and away they go.


Now....what about the  'fund' money?

Industrial sized quantities of buckets, brushes and whitewash already on order.

Ian Hitchings - crime writer/author

Ian Hitchings ‏@Ian_Hitchings 3h
Cell Site Analysis (CSA) assists police in confirming or disproving alibis and placing individuals at scenes of crime. #McCann

Ian Hitchings ‏@Ian_Hitchings 3h
Cell Site Analysis (CSA) geographical locates a mobile phone or data device at the time a call or SMS are made or received. #McCann


An article on CSA:

What is 'Cell Site Analysis'?

http://www.cell-site-analysis.com/

dazedandconfused wrote:

kitti wrote:Yes Anna, you have hit the nail on th head.


SY have taken how many years tom go through only HALF off the files and how  many years  before they finish going through the rest  off the files?


Phone data.....why?


What about the mccanns phone data and emails?


I have now worked out what is going on.


The mccanns will NOT being using anymore PR or media or even themselves to get it through to the public like they have tried in the past 6 years that Madeleine was 'abducted'....SY is going to to do that for them, in any words, Mitchells PR hasn't worked, his spin to the papers  hasn't worked, so now enter SY to be the mccanns mouthpiece.


No more interviews , their tired off that, people have watched their body language and seen right through them, quietly slip away into the sunset and let SY do the odd 'interview'

October 16 will be their last 'interview', it will be alongside SY so it will look convincing and away they go.


Now....what about the  'fund' money?

Industrial sized quantities of buckets, brushes and whitewash already on order.

dont forget DNA erasing bleach and dishwashing soap/detergant

For the record - DELETED phone calls, with thanks to mccannfiles

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DELETED_CALLS.htm

almostgothic wrote:Ian Hitchings - crime writer/author

Ian Hitchings ‏@Ian_Hitchings 3h
Cell Site Analysis (CSA) assists police in confirming or disproving alibis and placing individuals at scenes of crime. #McCann
:

What is 'Cell Site Analysis'?

http://www.cell-site-analysis.com/

'Cell SHite Anaysis would be more appropiate!

almostgothic wrote:Ian Hitchings - crime writer/author

Ian Hitchings ‏@Ian_Hitchings 3h
Cell Site Analysis (CSA) assists police in confirming or disproving alibis and placing individuals at scenes of crime. #McCann

Ian Hitchings ‏@Ian_Hitchings 3h
Cell Site Analysis (CSA) geographical locates a mobile phone or data device at the time a call or SMS are made or received. #McCann


An article on CSA:

What is 'Cell Site Analysis'?

http://www.cell-site-analysis.com/

Surely any analysis could, at best, identify the presence of a phone at a particular time at a particular location. It could not determine who was actually carrying that phone.

If you recall, the McCanns admitted that they 'borrowed' other peoples' phones -perhaps others might have done the same.

Additionally, why should it be assume that any potential abductor was even carrying a mobile phone - not everyone does.

FROM AFENTIS FORENSICS WEBSITE:

Cell Site Analysis (CSA) is the science of reconstructing the physical movements of a mobile telephone or telecommunication device. The evidence produced from such advanced investigations can be especially powerful in attributing contact between individuals, proximity to a scene of crime, patterns of movement of suspects, and testing the strength of alibi evidence.

Cell Site Analysis: from undermining the alibi of IAN HUNTLEY in the SOHAM MURDERS, the reconstruction of the location of suspects in the famous ‘RETTENDON ‘RANGE ROVER MURDERS’, to the production in the recent ’21/7 TERRORISM TRIALS’ – CELL SITE ANALYSIS (CSA) evidence has become an essential tool for investigators of serious and organised crime.

AFENTIS FORENSICS provide independent and professional services for all aspects of Cell Site Analysis (CSA), radio frequency and Call Mapping (CM) – whether examinations are historic in nature or concerning ‘live’ data/subjects’. ‘LOCATION MAPPING’ is an important process in cell site analysis investigations, determining the actual operational footprint of individual and groups of telecommunication masts, cell sites, and radio signal antennae.

Comprehensive cell site analysis drive trials and static measurements can be carried out around a specific route, at the scene of crime, within a suspect’s home address, or across an entire postal-code area. These trials measure actual mast coverage utilising sophisticated radio signal data assessments, accurate positioning – confirmed via satellite triangulation – and powerful analytical tools.

The gathered information is used as the basis for producing detailed coverage maps, where the ‘spheres of service’ and ‘field strength surveys’ for individual cell sites are illustrated in graphical form. Maps are available in many formats including aerial photography, OS ranges, A-Z street-maps, or as a ‘PowerPoint’ presentation. Representations can be produced to clearly illustrate the most likely position for a communication device at a specific point in time – testing the strength of any alibi evidence.

Our cell site analysis analysts contribute to a number of leading working groups as well as undertaking constant research into these spheres, to ensure our approaches to Cell Site Analysis (CSA) remain in touch with Best Practice. Telecommunication analysts at Afentis Forensics have access to the very latest in electronic evidence tools and techniques – including the world’s most advanced Cell Site Analysis investigation system; engineered exclusively in-house and utilised by investigators and police forces around the world.

The findings of all cell site analysis examinations can be documented in comprehensive Expert Reports and supported by certified and experienced Cell Site Analysis Expert Witnesses that can deliver clear testimony in either civil or criminal court proceedings.

Let's not forget that the PJ had phone records from the period before Madeleine disappeared, but the prosecutor wouldn't allow them to be used. Those must be in the files. If SY are looking at phone records before Madeleine disappeared then those will be relevant.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that SY have no interest in what is in the PJ's files?

Angelina wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else feel that SY have no interest in what is in the PJ's files?

Not just you. I think exactly the same. The files which we're able to read are pretty damning and they will probably be able to see the files which weren't released to the public as well, so why they didn't get the handcuffs out months/years ago is beyond me.

dazedandconfused wrote:

Angelina wrote:Is it just me or does anyone else feel that SY have no interest in what is in the PJ's files?

Not just you.  I think exactly the same.  The files which we're able to read are pretty damning and they will probably be able to see the files which weren't released to the public as well, so why they didn't get the handcuffs out months/years ago is beyond me.

Quite the contrary I think, I believe SY are more than interested at what is in the PJ files. However, it must be remembered that this is a reviewing investigation and there is alot more to be reviewed than what is in the PJ files. Lets not forget the PJ case was shelved, so it only got so far along and what SY are doing is re-examining what has been done so far, what has not been done, what should have been done and anything that has come to light since the PJ ceased their own enquiries. This is not a criticism of the PJ by the way, far from it. I think there is many an investigation into many a case in the past that has swayed this way and that. Think of the young mother murdered on Wimbledon Common? Think how many so called experts got themselves involved in convicting the wrong man in the Wimbledon case - psychiatrists, criminal profilers, retired cops, the list goes on, and still collectively they all got it wrong.

In fact, read on, this is interesting:

Assault and murder[edit]At the time of her death, Nickell was living near Wimbledon Common with boyfriend André Hanscombe, a motorcycle courier, and their son Alexander Louis. After the birth of their son in August 1989[1] Nickell became a full-time mother. She and Hanscombe had settled down to family life with their son and a dog, Molly. On 15 July 1992, Nickell and the then two-year-old Alexander were walking the dog on Wimbledon Common. Nickell was attacked; her attacker cut her throat, stabbed her and sexually assaulted her, with Alexander present.

A passer-by found Alexander clinging to his mother's blood-soaked body, repeating the words "wake up, mummy".

Investigation[edit]Scotland Yard officers of the Metropolitan Police undertook the investigation. Although 32 men were eventually questioned in connection with the murder, the investigation quickly targeted Colin Stagg, an unemployed man from Roehampton who was known to walk his dog on the Common.

As there was no forensic evidence linking Stagg to the scene, the police asked criminal psychologist Paul Britton to create an offender profile of the killer. They decided that Stagg fit the profile and asked Britton to assist in designing a covert operation, "Operation Ezdell", to see whether Stagg would eliminate or implicate himself. This operation would later be criticised by the media and Stagg's trial judge, Justice Ognall, as a "honeytrap".

"Operation Ezdell"[edit]Using the pseudonym "Lizzie James" an undercover policewoman from the Metropolitan Police's Special Operations Group (SO10) contacted Stagg, posing as a friend of a woman with whom he used to be in contact via a lonely hearts' column. Over a period of five months she attempted to obtain information from him by feigning a romantic interest, meeting him, speaking to him on the telephone and exchanging letters containing sexual fantasies. During a meeting in Hyde Park, they spoke about the Nickell murder, but Stagg later claimed that he had only played along with the topic because he wanted to pursue the romance.[2] Britton later said that he disagreed with use of the fantasy-filled letters and knew nothing of them until after they had been sent.[3] "Lizzie" won Stagg's confidence and drew out his violent fantasies, but Stagg did not admit to the murder. Police released a taped conversation between "Lizzie" and Stagg in which "Lizzie" claimed to enjoy hurting people, to which Stagg mumbled: "Please explain, as I live a quiet life. If I have disappointed you, please don't dump me. Nothing like this has happened to me before." When "Lizzie" went on to say "If only you had done the Wimbledon Common murder, if only you had killed her, it would be all right," Stagg replied: "I'm terribly sorry, but I haven't."[4]

Believing, on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service, that there was sufficient evidence to convict Stagg, the police arrested and charged him on 17 August 1993 with Nickell's murder.

Several detailed accounts of the covert operation have been written. Britton's book The Jigsaw Man, devoted extensive space to it, while a conflicting account can be found in The Rachel Files by Keith Pedder. (Inspector Keith Pedder was technically the third in command of the investigation, after Superintendent Bassett and Chief Inspector Wickerson, but he had day-to-day command of the operation.) Stagg's own version is included in Who Really Killed Rachel? co-written with David Kessler.[5]

Britton claimed in his version of events that he did not have anything to do with Stagg's initial interrogation at the time of his first arrest (after which Stagg was released), but only the undercover operation, leading up to Stagg's second arrest when charges were brought.[6] However, Pedder contradicts this in his account: "Before starting the interviews, I therefore rang Paul Britton at the Towers Hospital in Leicester and asked if he would want to give any specific advice as to how I should approach him."[7] Pedder also claims that this consultation process was by no means a one-off, but rather went on throughout the three days that Stagg was held and interrogated: "Throughout the interviews, as and when Stagg's behaviour appeared to be contradictory, and in some cases downright confusing, I would ring Paul Britton; according to him, Stagg’s denials were indicative of his cunning and basic intelligence."[8]

Trial[edit]During the committal hearing Britton claimed that "Operation Ezdell" was meant to present the subject with a series of psychological "ladders" to climb rather than a "slippery slope" down which a vulnerable person would slide if pushed. The defence argued that Britton's evidence was speculative and supported only by his intuition.

When the case reached the Old Bailey Justice Ognall ruled that the police had shown "excessive zeal" and had tried to incriminate a suspect by "deceptive conduct of the grossest kind". He excluded the entrapment evidence and the prosecution withdrew its case. Stagg was formally acquitted in September 1994.

Aftermath[edit]An internal review estimated that the pursuit of Stagg had cost the Metropolitan Police Force £3 million[9] and that vital scientific information had been missed. Stagg decided to sue the police for damages totalling £1 million following the 14 months he spent in custody.

Stagg has co-written and published two books about the case, Who Really Killed Rachel? and, more recently, Pariah (with journalist Ted Hynds), the latter appearing on the same day as the real culprit Robert Napper's appearance in court to enter a plea.

"Lizzie James" quit the police force in 1998, eventually taking early retirement.[10] With the support of the Police Federation she, too, sued the Metropolitan Police for damages arising from the investigation. In 2001, shortly before it was due to be heard, her case was settled out of court and she received £125,000. Her solicitor said: "The willingness of the Metropolitan Police to pay substantial damages must indicate their recognition that she sustained serious psychiatric injury."[11] Stagg had offered to testify against "Lizzie James" in order to try to prevent what he claimed was an unfair demand on the taxpayer but, as the case was settled out of court, his testimony was not required.

The payout to "Lizzie James" was widely criticised by various sources, particularly as Nickell's son had been granted £22,000 (less than a fifth of the amount paid to the undercover detective) from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.[12]

Britton was charged with professional misconduct by the British Psychological Society but, in 2002, in lieu of any substantive hearings, further action was dismissed due to the time delay in bringing proceedings. Britton's lawyer, Keir Starmer QC (who was later appointed the Director of Public Prosecutions)[13] successfully argued that the "exceptional" delay of more than eight years since the first complaint was made would mean his client would not be given a fair hearing.[14][15] Stagg was invited to attend the proceedings but was not permitted to participate, address the committee or answer Britton's claims. Stagg's detailed account of the case against Paul Britton can be found in Who Really Killed Rachel?.[16]

André Hanscombe later wrote a book, The Last Thursday in July, about his life with Nickell, coping with the murder and life with Alex afterwards. In 1996 Hanscombe moved with Alex to France, driven abroad – according to notes in his book – by media intrusion. "Callous, mercenary, unfeeling ... cowardly, snivelling scum" is how he described some of the reporters who tracked him and his son down to his "sanctuary" in the French countryside. Hanscombe has since embarked on a new career writing and illustrating children's books.[11]

In 2006, Nick Cohen, at the time of the murder a junior reporter on The Independent on Sunday, commented in his column in The Observer that the inaccurate reporting of the case – and, in particular, frequent suggestions by the press that Stagg was guilty – stemmed from too close a relationship between the police and the media.[17]

In January 2007, the Home Office confirmed that Stagg would receive compensation for wrongful prosecution, with the amount to be set by an independent assessor. On 13 August 2008, Stagg's solicitor announced that the compensation, set by Lord Brennan QC and accepted by Stagg, was £706,000.[18]

In 1996, despite Justice Ognall's previous criticism of "Operation Ezdell", Essex Police mounted a similar operation, "Operation Century", as part of their investigation of the "Rettendon Triple Murders" case. It too proved unsuccessful and highly controversial.

An episode of the TV comedy series "Bottom", entitled "Bottom's Out", due to be broadcast around the time of the murder, was postponed for two and a half years as it was set on Wimbledon Common.[19]

In 2011, Nickell's son Alex Hanscombe spoke for the first time about his memories of seeing his mother murdered in front of him. He was reported as seeking damages for negligence from the Metropolitan Police. [20]

Cold case review[edit]Scotland Yard annually came under pressure for progress on the anniversary of the murder. Under new management, they began to collate evidence and files related to the case from 2000.[21]

In 2002, ten years after the murder, the Scotland Yard used a cold case review team, which used refined DNA techniques only recently made available. A small team of officers and retired veteran investigators working from secret offices in South London analysed statements from witnesses, reassessed files on a number of potential suspects, and examined the possibility that the case was linked to other crimes. Officers compared the injuries suffered by Nickell with other attacks and consulted forensic scientists about improvements in DNA matching.[22]

In July 2003, reports surfaced that, after 18 months of tests on Nickell's clothes, police had found a male DNA sample which did not match her boyfriend or son.[23] The sample at the time was insufficient to confirm an identity, but was large enough to rule out suspects.

Robert Napper[edit]Main article: Robert Napper
In July 2006, the Scotland Yard team interviewed a convicted sex killer for two days at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire.[24] The 40-year-old man diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic (and also as having Asperger syndrome)[25] had been held at the secure institution for more than ten years.[26]

Later reports revealed the man to be Robert Napper, the convicted killer of Samantha Bisset and her four-year-old daughter Jazmine, murdered in November 1993, 16 months after Nickell's murder.[27] On 28 November 2007, Napper was charged with Nickell's murder. He appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 4 December 2007,[28] where he was remanded until another hearing on 20 December 2007.[29] On 24 January 2008, Napper pleaded not guilty to Nickell's murder. He faced trial in November 2008.[30]

On 18 December 2008, at the Old Bailey, Napper pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Rachel Nickell on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Justice Griffiths Williams said that Napper would be held indefinitely at Broadmoor Hospital because he was "a very dangerous man". At the same time, Colin Stagg received a public apology from the police.[31][32]

IPCC findings[edit]Following an investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) released a report, dated 3 June 2010, into the actions of the Metropolitan Police Force and their handling of the murder investigation.

It described a "catalogue of bad decisions and errors" by the Metropolitan Police which had resulted in Napper being free to kill Nickell.

It said that officers missed a series of opportunities to take the violent psychopath off the streets and suggested the lives of Samantha Bisset and her four-year-old daughter Jazmine would also have been saved if police had acted on tip-offs, including one by Napper's mother after he confessed to rape.

Rachel Cerfontyne, of the IPCC, said that police failed to investigate the 1989 report that he attacked a woman on Plumstead Common, in London, and no record of the telephone call can be found.

She added that officers "inconceivably" eliminated Napper over a series of rapes on parkland in south London because he was thought to be too tall.

She said: "It is clear that throughout the investigations into the 'Green Chain' rapes and Rachel Nickell's death there was a catalogue of bad decisions and errors made by the Metropolitan Police.

"The police failed to sufficiently investigate after Napper's mother called police to report that he had confessed to her that he had raped a woman and, inconceivably, they eliminated Napper from inquiries into the Green Chain rapes because he was over 6ft tall.

"Without these errors, Robert Napper could have been off the streets before he killed Rachel Nickell and the Bissets, and before numerous women suffered violent sexual attacks at his hands."

The IPCC said no police officer would face disciplinary action because they have all retired, and one key senior detective has died. Criminal prosecutions were not considered.[33]

Cold case review[edit]Scotland Yard annually came under pressure for progress on the anniversary of the murder (of Rachel Nickell). Under new management, they began to collate evidence and files related to the case from 2000.[21]

In 2002, ten years after the murder, the Scotland Yard used a cold case review team, which used refined DNA techniques only recently made available. A small team of officers and retired veteran investigators working from secret offices in South London analysed statements from witnesses, reassessed files on a number of potential suspects, and examined the possibility that the case was linked to other crimes. Officers compared the injuries suffered by Nickell with other attacks and consulted forensic scientists about improvements in DNA matching.[22]

This bit is very enlightening in fact. SY initially investigated and got is so badly wrong. SY re-investigated it and got it right next time around.

Whatever we think of the costs involved in the current SY investigation into the McCanns, at the end of the day a serious crime was committed against Madeleine and all we want is the truth and SY must be allowed to investigate this case for the truth to be finally unearthed.

Just ANOTHER 'tipping the wink' exercise to people that may have been stupid enough to still retain 'something'

Just like Deadwood's 'tipping the wink' to 'suspects' that he and his gang were coming to get them, by giving the 'suspects' SIX weeks NOTICE!

And when the ELITES finally got there, guess what?

All the nasty people had 'scarpered' from their 'lairs'!

Andrews, a former aspiring[2] model and barmaid, stabbed Harvey over 42 times with a pen knife after they had stopped in his car following an argument on the way to their flat in The Becks, Alvechurch, Worcestershire. At a press conference on 3 December 1996, she claimed that Harvey was killed in a road rage attack, saying that a "fat man with staring eyes" had stabbed him over 30 times. Later that month however she was charged with Lee Harvey's murder.[1][3]

Andrews was convicted in the Birmingham Crown Court on 29 July 1997, and was sentenced to life imprisonment,[1] with a recommendation that she serve at least 14 years.[4] Andrews appealed the sentence, claiming that she was the victim of a miscarriage of justice because of damaging publicity surrounding her case. In October 1998, the appeal was denied.[1] In April 1999, Andrews admitted that she did stab Harvey to death, whilst still maintaining she acted in self-defence.

It was the Police who asked her to do the press conference, and it was the body language and demeanour that gave her away.

I say get the PROPER Cop, from Derbyshire, who nailed the Scumpotts, to sit alongside, and observing, the TWUNTS at any 'staged' press conference the brilliant SY have 'arranged'!

And film them with that LIE detector camera that can detect and measure blood levels in the faces of people that are LYING!

And when they ring these people, what then.

'hello, this is SY, I know you were in pdl between ??????. ...to ...???????, did you abduct Madeleine, oh, you didn't, ok then, sorry to bother you'.



'hello, this is SY, I know you were in pdl between ?????...to...??????, did you abduct Madeleine, oh, you didn't, ok then, sorry to bother you'.



How ridiculous is this.....do they expect someone to say...'yes I did'...'ok, wait there, I'm coming to get you'.


That's how it sounds .

My money is still on Hewlitt taking the rap! Dead swarthy paedo fit's the bill.