Sky Live Day 3 - 14/01/10

Tapas Seven Friend Flies Out To Kate McCann

12:03am UK, Thursday January 14, 2010

Jon di Paolo, Sky News Online reporter, in Lisbon
Kate McCann is to be joined by Fiona Payne, a member of the so-called Tapas Seven group of friends, for the third day of a libel trial in Portugal as husband Gerry has flown home.

The McCanns are in court to try to ensure a ban is upheld on a book written by former policeman Goncalo Amaral in which he suggests their daughter died in the apartment from which she vanished in May 2007.

Mr Amaral was originally in charge of the investigation into Madeleine McCann's whereabouts after she disappeared during the family trip to Praia da Luz in the Algarve.

However, he was taken off the case five months later after criticising the British police, and went on to write Madeleine: The Truth Of The Lie, published the following summer.

The book and a subsequent documentary prompted the McCanns to launch a legal fight for a ban and £1m compensation, which they say would be put towards efforts to find Madeleine.

The trial has so far consisted of witnesses called on behalf of Mr Amaral, mostly current or former policemen who back his version of events.

Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida told the court on Monday he believed Madeleine died in her family's holiday apartment and that her parents covered up the death by inventing a kidnapping.

I think it is particularly disappointing that certain police officers within Portimao who considered us as possibly involved in Madeleine's disappearance have not been able to change their minds despite a lack of evidence. It is these officers we are dependent on for pursuing the investigation within Portugal.

On the second day Francisco Moita Flores, a former senior policeman who is now a politician, criminologist and writer, told the court it would be impossible to pass a sleeping child through the window of the McCanns' holiday flat.

Their testimony has been challenged by the McCanns' defence lawyer, Isabel Duarte, who pointed out there were other ways in which the youngster could have been taken from the apartment.

The Amaral witnesses have also repeatedly insisted that the case represents an attack on the Portuguese constitution and freedom of speech.

They have also brought up the hostile attitude of sections of the British media towards the local detectives who worked on the case and Mr Amaral in particular.

Mr McCann and his wife Kate, both 41, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have sat together in court throughout, but on the trial's second day Mr McCann left early, saying he had to fly back to the UK to honour work commitments.

Outside court, he said that despite the hostile testimony there was still no evidence whatsoever that Madeleine was dead.

He said: "From our point of view, what's happened in the last two days is in many ways what's expected. These are Goncalo Amaral's witnesses.

"I think it is particularly disappointing that certain police officers within Portimao who considered us as possibly involved in Madeleine's disappearance have not been able to change their minds despite a lack of evidence.

"It is these officers we are dependent on for pursuing the investigation within Portugal."

Her place at Mrs McCann's side in the courtroom will be taken by Mrs Payne, a member of the Tapas Seven group of friends who were dining with the McCanns on the night of the disappearance.

The group were awarded libel damages of £375,000 in October 2008 following untrue reports in two British daily newspapers that they had not told the truth about what happened that evening.

Mrs Payne is a close friend of Kate's and recently ran a charity fun run with her in Leicestershire during which Mrs McCann wore a T-shirt pleading for people not to give up the search for her daughter.

buildersbum wrote:Yer Oliver, spill the beans!

JondiPaolo

1. We've had rain every day so far - but this morning the sun has come up and cast a rainbow over the court building. A good omen for someone? less than 5 seconds ago from txt

suzyone wrote:haha

As I expected. Gerry has left so the fragrant Kate can be left off giving evidence.....

MissBlonde wrote:

suzyone wrote:haha

As I expected. Gerry has left so the fragrant Kate can be left off giving evidence.....

Yip, as soon as he went I knew she wouldn't take the stand. Galling that they're allowed to say what they will and won't do though.

Photon wrote:

MissBlonde wrote:

suzyone wrote:haha

As I expected. Gerry has left so the fragrant Kate can be left off giving evidence.....

Yip, as soon as he went I knew she wouldn't take the stand. Galling that they're allowed to say what they will and won't do though.

Wonderful character reference though - isn't it!! First they agree to - and then they don't.

Annabel wrote:1. Mrs mcann said she was still confident of winning the case. less than a minute ago from txt
2. Kate mcann has arrived at court. She stopped briefly outside to speak to the waiting press pack. 2 minutes ago from txt

Kate mccann: we need to find madeleine. That's why we're here. less than 5 seconds ago from txt