Ex-detective in McCann libel trial

pa.press.net, Updated: 12/01/2010 13:38
Ex-detective in McCann libel trial

Kate and Gerry McCann arrive at a court in Lisbon, Portugal

Kate and Gerry McCann arrive at a court in Lisbon, Portugal

Gerry and Kate McCann have arrived at court in Portugal to face a former senior detective in a libel trial about his allegations that their daughter Madeleine is dead.

The couple launched legal action against Goncalo Amaral after he published a book questioning their accounts of what happened to the little girl.

Mr and Mrs McCann, both 41, from Rothley, Leicestershire, flew to Lisbon on Monday ahead of the three-day trial at the main civil court in the Portuguese capital.

Arriving at Lisbon Airport, Mr McCann said: "We're just here to continue the search for Madeleine, and to protect our own family, and their human rights. I think it's fairly clear. No one can be allowed to say that our daughter cannot be found without very good evidence to the contrary. That's what this court case is about."

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Mr Amaral at first led the inquiry into her disappearance for Portugal's CID, the Policia Judiciaria (PJ). But he was taken off the case in October 2007 after criticising the British police in a newspaper interview.

In his book Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, published in July 2008, Mr Amaral claimed that Madeleine died in her family's holiday flat on the night she vanished and questioned the McCanns' account that she was abducted.

A Portuguese judge granted an injunction in September last year banning further sale or publication of the book. The former policeman was also prohibited from repeating his claims about Madeleine or her parents.

The McCanns travelled to Lisbon for the opening of the libel trial in December but the hearing was adjourned after Mr Amaral's lawyer failed to turn up for health reasons.

The couple are also seeking 1.2 million euros (£1.08 million) in compensation for defamation in separate legal proceedings against Mr Amaral in Portugal. They have said any damages awarded by the courts would go towards paying for private investigators to look for Madeleine.
http://news.uk.msn.com/world/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=151703030

Parents of Madeleine face accuser in court

(AFP) – 58 minutes ago

LISBON — The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann faced a former Portuguese police officer in a libel court on Tuesday over his claims that she is dead and that they were involved in her disappearance.

Goncalo Amaral, who led the initial stages of the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal in May 2007, made the allegations in his July 2008 book "Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie".

Arriving at the court in Lisbon, Kate and Gerry McCann, who are claiming 1.07 million pounds for defamation, said they were "confident" while Amaral said he hoped "justice would be done".

A Portuguese court issued an interim injunction in September banning sales of the book and prohibiting Amaral from repeating his claims in the media.

The former senior police officer initially headed the inquiry but was removed in October 2007 after he criticised British police in a newspaper interview.

The case, which is being brought by the McCanns against Amaral, was expected to last until Thursday.

Madeleine, who would now be six years old, went missing from a holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, as her parents and their friends dined at a nearby restaurant.

The McCanns were named as official suspects in their daughter's disappearance in September 2007 although this was lifted in July 2008.

Despite massive international publicity and investigations by both Portuguese and British police Madeleine has never been found.

Portuguese police are no longer investigating the case, but other investigators acting on the couple's behalf are still looking for the missing girl and appealing to the public for information.

The McCanns have also asked the Lisbon court to confirm September's interim injunction.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ha5v20qYSrLC0yb1xjmPnJpSGeqQ

Madeleine McCann 'Died In Holiday Apartment'

Andy Jack, Sky News Online
A report into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, signed by a police chief, said she had died in the family's holiday apartment, a court has been told.

The lawyer in charge of the original inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance said the report was signed by Tavares De Almeida, who was chief inspector of police at the time Madeleine vanished.

Jose Magalhaes e Menezes also revealed that text messages sent by Kate and Gerry McCann were intercepted by police who were suspicious about their role in their daughter's disappearance.

But the texts were not considered as part of the investigation because a judge would not allow it.

Watch below for live coverage of the trial from Sky News Online's Jon di Paolo.

Mr Menezes was the first witness called at a libel trial brought by the McCanns against former police chief Goncalo Amaral. His book claimed Madeleine had died in the family's apartment in the holiday resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007.

But Mr Menezes said he thought the probability of Madeleine being alive was 50/50.

He said the decision to designate the McCanns 'arguidos' - or suspects - was taken by police after sniffer dogs brought to Portugal from England had carried out their searches.

Giving evidence, Mr de Almeida said that the dogs identified blood and the smell of a human body inside the dining room of the holiday flat and in the car the McCanns were using.

The animals also found a scent on a piece of cloth in a flat rented by the McCanns after they left the apartment.

One of the dogs was in a nervous, excitable state, and wanted to get into the room, according to a report by British police, said Mr de Almeida.

No-one can be allowed to say that our daughter can't be found without very good evidence.

Gerry McCann

Mr de Almeida accused both the British authorities and British police of hindering the investigation by withholding information.

The McCanns are seeking £1m compensation and a final ruling preventing Mr Amaral from repeating the claims he made about them.

The McCanns' lawyer told the court that the couple were prepared to give evidence but only after Mr Amaral had done so.

The case may now last longer than its expected three days because a new witness - named as Luis Frois - is being called by the McCann team.

Madeleine McCann as she looked when she disappeared

Madeleine: Vanished in holiday resort

Mr Amaral was in charge of the investigation launched when Madeleine McCann disappeared shortly before her fourth birthday.

He was taken off the case the following October after criticising British police in a newspaper interview.

Mr and Mrs McCanns' status as arguidos was lifted when the investigation was shelved in July 2008.

The same month, Mr Amaral published a book called Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, in which he called into question the McCanns' account that she had been abducted.

Arriving in Lisbon, Mr McCann said: "No-one can be allowed to say that our daughter can't be found without very good evidence. That's what this court case is about."

Mrs McCann said: "We're looking for justice."

The couple, both 41, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have said that any damages awarded to them would go towards paying for private investigators to look for their daughter.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ha5v20qYSrLC0yb1xjmPnJpSGeqQ

Missing British girl Madeleine McCann died in Spanish holiday apartment From: NewsCore January 13, 2010 12:55AM

A REPORT into the Portugal disappearance of British child Madeleine McCann, signed by a police chief, said she died in her family's holiday apartment, a court has heard today.
The lawyer in charge of the original inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, Jose Magalhaes e Menezes, said the report was signed by Tavares de Almeida, who was chief inspector of police at the time Madeleine vanished.

Mr Menezes also claimed that text messages sent by Kate and Gerry McCann were intercepted by police who were suspicious about their role in their daughter's disappearance, Sky News reports.

But the texts were not considered part of the investigation because a judge would not allow it.

Mr Menezes was the first witness called at a libel trial brought by the McCanns against former police chief Goncalo Amaral.

His book, The Truth Of The Lie, claimed Madeleine had died in the family's apartment in the holiday resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007.

Mr Menezes said the decision to designate the McCanns suspects was taken by police after sniffer dogs brought to Portugal from England had carried out their searches.

Giving evidence, Mr de Almeida told the court that the dogs identified blood and the smell of a human body inside the dining room of the holiday flat and in the car the McCanns were using.

The animals also found a scent on a piece of cloth in a flat rented by the McCanns after they left the apartment.

The McCanns are seeking £1 million ($1.6 million) compensation and a final ruling preventing Mr Amaral from repeating the claims he made about them.

The McCanns' lawyer told the court that the couple were prepared to give evidence but only after Mr Amaral had done so.

The case may now last longer than its expected three days because a new witness, named as Luis Frois, is being called by the McCann team.

Mr Amaral was taken off the case after criticising British police in a newspaper interview.

The McCanns' status as suspects was lifted when the investigation was shelved in July 2008.

"No-one can be allowed to say that our daughter can't be found without very good evidence. That's what this court case is about," Mr McCann said in Lisbon this week.

"We're looking for justice," Mrs McCann said.

The couple, both 41, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have said that any damages awarded to them would go towards paying for private investigators to look for their daughter.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/missing-british-girl-madeleine-mccann-died-in-spanish-holiday-apartment/story-e6frfku0-1225818620314

McCanns in Lisbon for start of libel trial
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 09:30

Kate and Gerry McCann were due in Lisbon today for the start of a libel trial against a former Portuguese detective.

They launched legal action against Goncalo Amaral after he published a book questioning their account of what happened to their missing daughter, Madeleine.

It is understood that Mr and Mrs McCann, both 41, from Rothley, plan to attend all the hearings, but do not intend to go back to the Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished more than two-and-a-half years ago.

The trial takes place at the main civil court in the Portuguese capital and is expected to last three days.

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said details of the couple's travel plans and itinerary would remain private, at their request.
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Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on May 3, 2007, while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Mr Amaral at first led the Portuguese inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance.

But he was taken off the case in October 2007. In his book, Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, which was published in July, 2008, Mr Amaral claimed that Madeleine was dead and questioned the McCanns' account that she was abducted.

A Portuguese judge granted an injunction in September last year banning further sale or publication of the book.
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/McCanns-Lisbon-start-libel-trial/article-1699527-detail/article.html

Maddie 'died in holiday flat'

By STAFF REPORTER

Published: Today
A POLICE report into the disappearance of Maddie McCann said she died in the family's holiday apartment, a court was told today.
The lawyer in charge of the original inquiry said the report was signed by Tavares De Almeida, who was chief inspector of police at the time the youngster vanished.





Jose Magalhaes e Menezes also revealed that text messages sent by Kate and Gerry McCann were intercepted by Portuguese police who were suspicious about the couple's role in the then almost four-year-old's disappearance.

But the texts were not considered as part of the investigation because a judge would not allow it.



Accused ... Goncalo AmaralMr Menezes was the first witness called at a libel trial brought by the McCanns against former police chief Goncalo Amaral.

His book — "Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie" — claimed the tot died in the family's apartment in the holiday resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007.

The McCanns have always maintained their daughter went missing as they dined with friends in a restaurant nearby.

Mr Menezes said the decision to make the McCanns arguidos — Portuguese for suspects — was taken after sniffer dogs brought from England identified blood in the couple's flat and rental car.

The dogs also found a scent on a piece of cloth in a flat rented by the McCanns after they left the apartment, he said.

The McCanns want £1MILLION compensation and a ruling to stop Amaral repeating his claims.

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The couple's lawyer told the court they were prepared to give evidence — but only after Amaral had done.

The McCanns have also called a new witness — named Luis Frois — in the trial.

Amaral was in charge of the original Maddie investigation, but he was taken off the case after slamming British cops in an interview.

Arriving in Lisbon yesterday, Mr McCann said: "No-one can be allowed to say that our daughter can't be found without very good evidence. That's what this court case is about."

Mrs McCann said: "We're looking for justice."



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... z0cPxxw5G6

Gerry says that noone can say that M cannot be found without good evidence. Surely noone can say that she is alive without good evidence! Gerry you were not supposed to be there so you cant know.......

Madeleine McCann Kate And Gerry McCann Arrive In Lisbon For Start Of Goncalo Amaral Libel Trial World News Sky News

fishie wrote:Madeleine McCann Kate And Gerry McCann Arrive In Lisbon For Start Of Goncalo Amaral Libel Trial World News Sky News

Thanks for posting the video.

pipstar1 wrote:Gerry says that noone can say that M cannot be found without good evidence. Surely noone can say that she is alive without good evidence! Gerry you were not supposed to be there so you cant know.......

He's probably right, Madeleine won't be found without good evidence. That's why he looks so bloody smug all the time. "Find the body and prove we killed her", wasn't it???......

Blimey all the world heard about the dogs now lol but i dont understand the man saying that theres as much chance that she could be alive as dead...to me, theres more chance that shes dead cos off the dogs.....that was a stupid remark.

UK PRESS ASSOCIATION

Jan 12 - 17.45

McCanns 'were suspected by police'

(UKPA) – 40 minutes ago

Portuguese police believed Madeleine McCann died in her family's holiday flat and that her parents faked her abduction, a court has heard.

Kate and Gerry McCann faced former detective Goncalo Amaral across a courtroom as he tried to overturn a ban on his book that claims their daughter is dead.

One senior detective told the hearing in Lisbon that police made the McCanns "arguidos", or suspects, in the case after concluding Madeleine died accidentally and her parents covered up the death by inventing a kidnapping.

Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida said he believed Madeleine died in her family's apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on the day she went missing in May 2007.

He told the court the main evidence for this was the findings of British police sniffer dogs sent to Portugal to examine the flat.

The McCanns' lawyer, Isabel Duarte, challenged this claim, arguing that the sniffer dog results did not constitute proof and were not allowed as evidence in the case.

Mr Amaral is calling a series of senior Portuguese officials involved in the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance as witnesses to support his allegations.

His lawyers argue that the material in his book is contained in the official Portuguese police files for the case, many of which were made public in August 2008.

Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses, the local public prosecutor in the Madeleine investigation, gave evidence via video link. Asked whether he believed that the little girl was dead, he said it was "50-50".

Mr Amaral's lawyers are also seeking evidence from a British policeman, Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Jose De Freitas, who was seconded to Leicestershire Police to help with the British end of the investigation.

Copyright 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

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