Mari Luz: her death could have been avoided.

Enfants Kidnappés 3/04/08

"HONTE NATIONALE"

03 avril 2008

"Absurdités et responsabilités."

"Le meurtre de Mari Luz Cortés n'est pas un cas de plus de meurtre d'enfant. À l'alarme sociale logique que provoque un crime d'une cruauté semblable on ajoute le fait aggravant que le présumé assassin est un pédophile. L'indignation a été encore plus grande quand on a découvert les énormes erreurs judiciaires successives qui ont permis au pédophile de perpétrer le crime. " Le cas Mari Luz " a mis en évidence les insuffisances d'un système judiciaire déficient et obsolète."

National Shame

Absurdities and responsibilities

The murder of Mari Luz is not a case of one more child murder. To the logical social alarm which is provoked by crimes of similar cruelty, is added the fact the aggravating fact that the alleged murderer is a paedophile. The outrage is even greater when the enormous police errors are discovered which allowed a paedophile to commit the crime. "The Mari Luz case," has highlighted the shortcomings of a deficient and obsolete police system.

"Négligences judiciaires"

"Santiago del Valle García, l'assassin de Mari Luz, avait évité pendant six ans le poids de la Justice en échappant à la prison. Qu'on le sache, en 1998 il a abusé sexuellement sa fille à multiples occasions. Un juge de Séville, Rafael Tirado Márquez, a tardé quatre années à considérer les abus comme étant prouvés et a condamner le pédophile à deux années et neuf mois de prison. La défense de l'accusé a fait appel devant l'"Audience Provinciale" (la plus haute instance judiciaire) de Séville et celle-ci a mis trois années à confirmer la sentence. "

Police negligence

Santiago del Valle Garcia, the killer of Mari Luz, had avoided the weight of justice for six years, by escaping from a prison sentence. As we know, in 1998 he sexually abused his daughter on many occasions. Rafael Tirado, a Seville judge, took four slow years to deem that the abuse had been proved and to sentence the paedophile to two years and nine months in prison. The accused's defence made an appeal to the First Provincial Court (the highest judicial authority) in Seville and that court took three years to confirm the sentence.

"Quand le Tribunal des affaires pénales de Séville a essayé de contacter l'accusé,afin de notifier le jugement - procédure obligatoire en Espagne, celui-ci ne vivait déjà plus dans la capitale andalouse et n'étant pas domicilié ailleurs, il a été déclaré sans domicile connu. En réalité il vivait à Gijon avec sa femme, où il a harcelé un autre mineur et il a été arrêté, jugé et condamné pour cela. Le première notification n'ayant pu être signé, le tribunal de l'arrondissement judiciaire de Gijon a considéré qu'il n'avait pas d'antécédents à son actif, le laissant en liberté. L'impunité de ses abus lui permettait de continuer à agir."

When the Seville Tribunal of Criminal Cases tried to contact the accused, in order to notify the judgment - an obligatory procedure in Spain, he was no longer living in the capital of Andalouse and not being registered as resident elsewhere, he was declared as address unknown. In reality he was living in Gijon with his wife, where he harrassed another child and he was arrested, tried and convicted. The first notification, not having been able to be served, the tribunal of the judicial district of Gijon, considered that he did not have a previous record to his credit, letting him go free. The impunity of his abuse allowed him to continue to act.

Lenteur policièr

Les premières heures après la disparition de Mari Luz ont été frénétiques pour la famille de la petite. Pas pour la Police. L'un des frères du père de l'enfant, en compagnie d'autres copains, a fait irruption dans le domicile de l'assassin l'après-midi même de ce fatidique 13 janvier. Ils ont défoncé la fine porte en aluminium derrière laquelle se cachait Del Valle, sa femme et sa sœur, et ont fouillé toute la maison. Malgré la tension du moment, le pédophile a maintenu son sang froid et son calme. Il a nié les soupçons de la famille Cortés et a demandé la protection de la Police. Tous les voisins du Torrejón connaissaient déjà les antécédents affligeants du pédophile, mais les agents ne lui auraient pas donné toute l'importance voulue ce jour là."

The slowness of the police

The first hours after Mari Luz's disappearance were frenetic for the family of the little girl. Not for the police. One of the brothers of the child's father, accompanied by other mates, burst into the home of the murderer on the same afternoon of that fateful January 13th. They forced the thin aluminium door behind which Del Valle, his wife and his sister were hiding, and they searched the house. In spite of the stress of the moment, the paedophile kept his composure and his calm. He denied the suspicions of the Corés family and asked the police for protection. All of the Torrejon locals already knew the paedophile's appalling history, but the police officers did not give this the importance due that day.

"Le matin du 14 janvier, quand la Police a décidé de tenir compte des soupçons des Cortés, Santiago et sa femme s'étaient déjà enfuis à Séville. Le 17 janvier ils furent localisés et ont été arrêtés à Granada, mais quelques heures plus tard ils étaient à nouveau en liberté par manque de preuves. Bien que l'hypothèse du crime pédophile reste d'actualité, la Police envisage le kidnapping par vengeance. Donc ils ont continué à faire des recherches. Quand le 7 mars le cadavre de Mari Luz a été trouvé les faits se sont précipités. La Police a révisé à nouveau les alibis des seuls suspects jusqu'à présents et, après les avoir localisés à Pajaroncillo (Cuenca), ils ont décidé de les interroger à nouveau. En se voyant traquée, la femme de Santiago a démonté l'alibi de son mari. 72 jours étaient passés depuis la disparition de l'enfant."

On the morning of January 14th, when the police decided to take account od the Cortés' suspicions, Santiago and his wife had already fled to Seville. On January 17th he was located and was arrested in Granada, but a few hours later he was again at liberty for lack of proof. even though the hypothesis of a paedophile crime remained valid, the police were looking at a kidnapping for vengeance. So, they continued with their searches. When, on March 7th, the body of Mari Luz was found, events moved really fast. The police looked again at the alibis of the only suspects up to then and, after locating them at Pajaroncillo (Cuenca) they decided to interrogate them again. Seeing herself tracked down, Santiago's wife took apart her husband's alibi. 72 days had passed since the child's disappearance.

"Honte et indignation"

"La détention du présumé assassin a mis un visage et un nom sur un pédophile avec de nombreux antécédents et a fait apparaître publiquement l'accumulation d'absurdités qui ont permis à un délinquant récidiviste de ne pas mettre les pieds à la prison, pas un seul jour. Le Conseil Général du Pouvoir Judiciaire (CGPJ) a ouvert une enquête sur la procédure des juges par le passé, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega (Vice-Président du Gouvernement) a admis que le meurtre de Mari Luz a été dû " à une erreur judiciaire grave " et que " l'État et le Gouvernement ne pouvaient pas permettre ces erreurs du système ", et le PP a accusé le Gouvernement de la désorganisation de la Justice."

Shame and indignation

The detention of the alleged murderer gave a name and a face to a paedophile with a long history and brought to the public's attention the accumulation of absurdities which had allowed a recidivist criminal not to set foot in prison, not for a single day. The General Council of Judicial Power (CGPJ) has opened an enquiry on the past procedure of judges. Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega (Vice-President of the government) has admitted that the murder of Mari Luz was due to, "a grave judicial error," and the PP accused the government of the disorganisation of the police.

"Tous les regards sont pointés sur le juge qui a condamné Santiago en 2002 et qui n'a jamais exécuté la sentence. Rafael Tirado Márquez, titulaire du Tribunal nº 1 des affaires Pénales de Séville, s'est défendu en accusant un fonctionnaire qui, selon le magistrat, a été cinq mois en arrêt maladie. Mais la Junta d'Andalousie a démenti et a assuré qu'aucun fonctionnaire de cette cour n'a été cinq mois en arrêt de travail. Le CGPJ a étendu l'enquête sur " le cas Mari Luz " au magistrat de la septième section de l'Audience Provinciale de Séville, Javier González, qui a mis trois ans à confirmer la peine imposée à Vel Valle pour avoir abusé de sa fille."

All eyes are on the judge who sentenced Santiago in 2002 and who never executed the sentence. Rafael Tirado Marquez, chairman of Seville's First Tribunal of Criminal Cases defended himself, accusing an offiicial who, according to the magistrate, was on five months sick leave. But the Andalousian Junta has denied this and assured that no official of that court had been away from work for five months. The CGPJ has extended the enquiry on, "the Mari Luz case," to the magistrate of the seventh section of the Provincial Court of Seville, Javier Gonzalez, who took three years to confirm the punishment imposed on Del Valle for having abused his daughter.

"Responsabilités politiques

Après avoir enterré la petite Mari Luz, connaître le présumé assassin et le voir arriver à Huelva, la famille Cortés a dû faire face à la pire des épreuves : le décès de Mari Luz aurait pu être évité. Juan Jose Cortés, le père l'enfant, a assuré qu'il exigerait des responsabilités au Gouvernement et a demandé des explications au président du Gouvernement. Dans des déclarations à la presse espagnole, Cortés a accusé l'État d'être " responsable indirectement du meurtre " de sa fille. Ce même jour, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero a téléphoné à Juan Jose Cortés pour lui promettre qu'on arriverait " à faire toute la lumière ".

De l'indignation on passe au débat national sur les peines appliquées aux délinquants sexuels. La famille de Mari Luz a exigé la peine perpétuelle pour l'assassin de l'enfant et, bien que le Gouvernement se soit montré contre une mesure qui " se heurte à la Constitution ", n'a pas rejeté d'adopter d'autres mesures comme la création d'un registre de pédophiles qui permettrait de les contrôler."

Political responsibilities

After having buried the little Mari Luz, knowing the alleged murderer and seeing him arrive in Huelva, the Cortés family has had to face the worst of the ordeals: the death of Mari Luz could have been avoided. Juan Jose Cortés, the child's father, stated that he places the responsibility with the government and has demanded explanations from the presidentof the government. In statements to the Spanish press, Cortés accused the state of being, "indirectly responsible for the murder," of his daughter. That same day, José Luis Roderiguez Zapatero telephoned Juan Jose Cortés to promise him that everything would be done, "to shed light on it."

From the indignation we go to a national debate on the penalties given to sex offenders. Mari Luz's family has demanded a whole life sentence for the child's killer and, even though the government has shown itself to be against a measure which, "clashes with the constitution," has not rejected adopting other measures such as the creation of a register of paedophiles which would allow their control.

Mari Luz: "Who should I ask why this happened?

"A qui dois-je demander pourquoi c'est arrivé ?"

"Il y a eu trois moments fort depuis la disparition tragique de Mari Luz et ces derniers mois qu'ont vécus Juan José Cortès et sa famille ont été spécialement éprouvants. Comme l'a rapporté lui-même le papa de Mari Luz c'étaient: "Le jour où ma fille est disparue; le jour où on m'a dit que je devais aller au quai (où on a retrouvé, flottant, le cadavre de la petite) et maintenant, quand on m'a informé que ce Monsieur Santiago del Valle aurait dû être en prison et non en liberté!"

It is three hard months since the disappearance of Mari Luz and these last months, which Juan José Cortès and his family have experienced have been especially difficult. As reported by Mari Luz's father himself, it was, "The day my daughter disappeared; the day when I was told that I had to go to the quay (where the body of the little girl was found floating) and now, when I have been told that this Mr Santiago del Valle should have been in prison and not at liberty."

"A qui dois-je demander comment tous ça est arrivé ? Ma fille devrait être vivante..." En réponse à la vice-présidente du Gouvernement, Maria Teresa fernandez de la Vega, qui demandait aux citoyens de maintenir leur confiance en la justice en dépit des nombreuses erreurs commis dans cette affaire, Juan José Cortès a déclaré: "si le système fonctionne, pourquoi ma fille est morte ?" Juan José Cortés est parfaitement conscient que le décès de son enfant est le produit de nombreuses irresponsabilités dans le chef de l'Administration de Justice et l'État. Toutefois, à la question s'il va engager un avocat et demander qu'ils l'indemnisent pour les dommages qu'ont causés ces erreurs à sa fille, à lui-même et à sa famille, il dit que " ce n'est pas le moment… Peut-être par la suite ".

"Who should I ask why all this happened? My daughter should be alive.." In response to the vice-president of the government, Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, who called on citizens to maintain their confidence in the police in spite of the many errors committed in this case, Juan José Cortès stated: "If the system works, why is my daughter dead?" Juan José Cortès is well aware that the death of his child is the result of much non-accountability in the Head of the Administration of Justice and the State. However, on the question of whether he is going to hire a lawyer and ask if they will compensate him for the harm which these errors have caused to his daughter, to himself and to his family, he said, "This is not the time....Maybe in the future."

"Peine à perpétuité"

"Le seul réconfort pour Juan José Cortès, en ce moment, c'est d'obtenir que les assassins de sa fille payent pour ce qu'ils ont fait. "Que justice soit faite". Quand on lui demande qu'elle serait une sentence juste, il répond rapidement: "Qu'on me restitue ma fille, ce serait justice! Mais comme ce n'est pas possible, alors qu'ils ne sortent plus jamais de prison!" Le papa de Mari Luz est très clair, il veut qu'en Espagne on ré-ouvre le débat sur la peine à perpétuité. Il ne comprend pas ceux qui s'y oppose et déclare que: "si un homme enlève la vie à ma fille et me l'enlève pour toujours, il doit payer pour toujours. C'est une solution préventive et non une punition. Il y a des personnes qui ne peuvent pas rester vivre en société, parce que elle peuvent commettre à nouveau le même délit. Qui dit que dans si cet homme sort de prison dans 20 ans, il ne va pas commettre à nouveau le même crime ?"

Rappelons que Santiago del Valle a commis toute un série d'abus sur des enafnst, de Séville à Huelva en passant par Gijon, le tout en trompant à chaque fois la justice."

Whole life sentence.

The only comfort for Juan José Cortès at this moment, is to ensure that his daughter's murderers pay for what they have done. "That justice is done." When he is asked what would be a fair sentence, he responds quickly: "That my daughter is given back to me, that would be justice! But as that is not possible, then that they never come out of prison!"Mari Luz's father is very clear, he wants the debate on whole life sentence to be re-opened in Spain. He does not understand those who oppose it and states that: "If a man takes away the life of my daughter and he takes mine away for ever, he should pay for ever. This is a preventative solution and not a punishment. There are people who cannot live in society because they could commit the same crime again. Who is to say that if this man comes out of prison in 20 years, he is not going to commit the same crime again?

Remember that Santiago del Valle has committed a whole series of abuse against children, from Seville to Huelva, through Gijon, all while each time fooling the police.

"La police accusée d'avoir torturé le prévenu."

Santiago del Valle a certifié que la police l'avait torturé afin d'obtenir des aveux. Ce serait pour ces raisons qu'il s'est rétracté par la suite au point même de nier qu'il ait été en compagnie de Mari Luz dans l'après-midi du 13 janvier. Sa sœur Rosa del Valle a raconté au juge que l'après-midi des faits Santiago lui a demandé de l'amener à Carrefour pour faire des courses et c'est ce qu'elle a fait. Elle l'y a amené, son frère n'ayant pas de permis de conduire. Le centre commercial était fermé, selon sa version, et elle l'a amené un peu plus loin dans une autre zone commerciale qui était ouverte et l'y avait laissé. La Police a des informations qui contredisent ce témoignage et le juge les a considéré comme étant valables. La dernière personne qui a vu Mari Luz en vie, l'a vu autour des 16h40 arrêté devant la maison de Del Valle."

The police accused of having tortured the defendant.

Santiago del Valle testified that the police had tortured him to obtain his confessions. It was for these reasons that he later retracted even to the point of denying that he had been in the company of Mari Luz on the afternoon of January 13th. His sister, Rosa del Valle told the judge that on the afternoon in question Santiago had asked her to take him to Carrefour to run some errands and that is what she did. She took him there, her brother not having a driving licence. The retail centre was closed according to her version, and she took him a bit further to another retail zone which was open and left him there. The police has information which contradicts this witness statement and the judge has deemed it as being valid. The last person to see Mari Luz alive, saw her around 16.40, stopped in front of Del Valle's house.

"La reconstitution des faits indique que Rosa a conduit son frère, avec le cadavre de Mari Luz dans le coffre de sa voiture, jusqu'à la ria et là elle a attendu tandis qu'il jetait le corps à l'eau. Ils sont ensuite retournés ensemble dans la maison de Torrejón. Santiago avait juste eu le temps pour récupérer sa femme, Isabel García et quitter tous les deux précipitamment la ville. Rappelons que les trois étaient présent dans la maison quand Santiago a attiré l'enfant en lui promettant un jouet dans le but de l'agresser sexuellement!"

The reconstruction of events indicates that Rosa drove her brother with the body of Mari Luz in the boot of her car, as far as the estuary and she waited there while he threw the body into the water. They then returned together to the house in Torrejon. Santiago had just had the time to pick up his wife, Isabel Garcia and for the two of them to hastily leave the town. Remember that the three of them were in the house when Santiago brought the child in, promising a game, for the purpose of sexual abuse.

"De fait, vers 18h30, avant que la Police arrive sur les lieux, un groupe de proches parents de la famille Cortés avait déjà fait irruption dans le logement en force et avait emporté des documents et autres biens. À cette heure, le couple s'était déjà enfui. Après la déclaration de Rosa del Valle, la juge a signé un mandat d'arrêt pour meurtre, tel que le stipule le billet d'écrou à la prison. Bien que son degré de participation n'ait pas filtré, elle pourrait être considérée comme co-auteur du meurtre si elle a participé de façon active à la séquestration et/ou à l'enlèvement; ou comme complice de meurtre par son silence."

In fact, towards 18.30, before the police arrived on the scene, a group of relatives of the Cortés family had already burst into the house by force and had taken away documents and other property. At that time, the couple had already fled. After Rosa del Valle's statement, the judge signed an arrest warrent for murder, as stipulated in the detention order at the prison. Even though her degree of participation has not been leaked, she could be considered as co-perpetrator of the murder if she participated in an active way in the illegal confinement and/or the abduction; or as complicit in the murder by her silence.

"Santiago del Valle, après avoir tout nié et accusé la police de sévices, a demandé à être de nouveau entendu, peut-être sachant déjà quelle était la décision du juge en ce qui concerne sa soeur. Dans cette seconde déclaration il a baissé les bras et a admis à nouveau, devant les preuves dévoilées, les faits qu'il avait déjà reconnus et signés à Cuenca. Il a appelé l'enfant quand il l'a vue seule parce qu'elle lui plaisait, mais elle est tombé dans les escaliers et est morte de manière accidentelle : il est ensuite allé se débarrasser du cadavre en le jetant à la ria."

Santiago del Valle, after having denied everything and accused the police of abuse, asked to be heard again, perhaps knowing already what the judge's decision was concerning his sister. In this second statement, he gave up and again admitted, in view of the evidence revealed, the the facts that he had already accepted and signed in Cuenca. He called the child when he saw her alone because he liked her, but she fell down the stairs and died accidentally: he then went to get rid of the body by throwing it into the estuary.

"Malgré que les rapports légistes ne soient pas concluants sur la façon dont est mort l'enfant étant donné le mauvais état du cadavre de Mari Luz,la juge n'a pas eu de doutes et a considéré le détenu comme auteur d'un meurtre et d'agression sexuelle. Elle a décernée un mandant, comme dans le cas de sa soeur. Tous les deux ont été admis à la prison de Huelva. Dans la série des absurdités de cette affaire, la prison a reçu maintenant l'ordre d'admission de Santiago del Valle pour abus sur sa fille de cinq ans - soit deux ans et neuf mois de détention - qui aurait dû être accompli depuis mars 2006!!! Sa femme, Isabel García a été admise dans la section psychiatrique de la prison de Séville pour y accomplir 15 mois pour complicité dans le cadre des abus commis par son mari sur leur enfant. Elle devait aussi être internée il y a deux ans!!!"

Although the forensic reports are not conclusive about how the child died, given the bad state of the body of Mari Luz, the judge had no doubts and considered the person detained as perpetrator of a murder and sexual assault. She issued a warrant , as in the case of his sister. Both were remanded to the prison in Huelva. In the string of absurdities in this case, the prison has now received Santiago del Valle's admission order for the abuse of his five year-old daughter - two years and nine months detention - which should have been served from March 2006!!! His wife, Isabel Garcia has been admitted to the psychiatric section of Seville prison to serve 15 months for complicity in the context of the abuse committed by her husband on their child. She should also have been imprisoned two years ago.

http://www.kidnapping.be/mariluzcortes/index.html

Enfants Kidnappés 30/03/08

SOS Madeleine McCann: Mari Luz's father asks the police not to let themselves be fooled.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

26.03.2008

"Papa de Mari Luz demande à la Justice de ne pas se laisser "tromper"

"Le papa de Mari Luz a demandé aujourd’hui à la justice de ne pas se laisser "tromper" par le présumable homicide de sa fille, Santiago del Valle García.

Lors d’une conférence de presse, Juan Cortés a manifesté sa crainte de que le principal suspect du décès de Mari Luz puisse alléguer des problèmes psychiatriques pour tromper l'action de la Justice, soulignant qu’il ne croit pas dans la thèse d'accident."

Mari Luz's father asks the police not to let themselves be fooled.

Mari Luz's father today asked the police not to let themselves be, "fooled," by the alleged murderer of his daughter, Santiago del Valle Garcia. At a press conference, Juan Cortés expressed his belief that the prime suspect in the death of Mari Luz could put forward psychiatric problems in order to mislead the police, stressing that he did not believe in the accident theory.

"Il est responsable pour un assassinat. Il a tué ma fille et il doit payer pour son crime," à dit le papa de Mari Luz qui à confirmé que sa fille est effectivement décédé quelques heures après sa disparition.

"Je demande à la Justice d’agir avec fermeté pour que ceci n'arrive pas à nouveau et pour que dorénavant ces personnes soient mises à leur place", à dit Juan Cortés que promet de continuer à combattre pour que Justice soit faite, soulignant qu’il ne va pas "se reposer" car il va avoir besoin de toutes ses forces pour accompagner la procédure judiciaire."

"He is responsible for a murder. He killed my daughter and he must pay for his crime," said Mari Luz's father, who confirmed that his daughter actually died a few hours after her disappearance.

"I ask the police to act decisively so that this does not happen again and that from now on these people will be put in their place," said Juan Cortés who promises to continue to fight so that justice is done, stressing that he is not going, "to rest," because he is going to need all his strength to follow the judicial process.

"Suspect arrêté revient sur ses déclarations

Santiago Garcia, de 52 ans, l'homme qui a admis être l'auteur du meurtre de Mari Luz à Huelva affirme maintenant que l’enfant serait mort accidentellement.

Le présumable assassin a été arrêté hier après-midi à Cuenca ou il venait d’arriver en compagnie de son épouse, avec qui il habite dans la localité de Pajaroncillo, un village d’une centaine d’habitants ou il avait trouvé refuge après avoir abandonné Huelva le lendemain de la disparition de Mari Luz."

The arrested suspect goes back on his statements.

Santiago Garcia, aged 52, the man who admitted to being the perpetrator of the murder of Mari Luz in Huelva claims now that the child died accidentally.

The alleged killer was arrested yesterday afternoon in Cuenca where he had just arrived with his wife, with whom he lives in the Pajaroncillo area, a village of a hundred inhabitants where he sought refuge after having left Huelva the day after Mari Luz's disappearance.

"Depuis les premières heures de la disparition que Santiago était pointé comme le principal suspect car Mari Luz avait été aperçue en vie pour la dernière fois passant devant sa maison dans le quartier d’El Torrejón, Huelva."

Santiago has been down as the prime suspect since the first hours after the disappearance because Mari Luz was seen alive for the last time, passing his house in the El Torrejon district of Huelva.

"Une source de l'Unité de Délinquance Spécialisée et Violente (UDEV), responsable pour l’arrestation, à confirmée que le suspect à prétendu aujourd’hui que Mari Luz "est tombé" pendant la lutte et serait décédé accidentellement.

Du à ses antécédentes d’abus sur mineurs, y inclus sa propre fille, l’homme avait déjà été interrogé et sa maison fouillé mais la police n’avait pas retrouvé le moindre indice du passage de Mari Luz."

A source from the Unit for Specialised and violent Crime (UDEV) rsponsible for the arrest, confirmed that the suspect claimed today that Mari Luz, "fell," during the struggle and died accidentally.

Due to his record of abuse of small children, including his own daughter, had already been interrogated and his house searched but the police had not found the slightest evidence of Mari Luz's having been there.

Enfants Kidnappés: Mari Luz - three suspects arrested.

http://www.kidnapping.be/mariluzcortes/index.html

"3 suspects arrêtés !!!26 mars 2008

Un couple de suspects arrêtés.

Un couple de voisin de la famille de la petite Mari Luz Cortès a été arrêté, hier. Une troisième arrestation a eu lieu un peu plus tard, celle de la soeur du principal suspect. Le principal suspect, Santiago G., a admis que Mari Luz est morte alors qu'il "l'accompagnait de sa propre volonté". Selon son audition, la fillette était en sa compagnie quand "elle est accidentellement tombée" et est décédée. Les autorités sont absolument sûres d'avoir arrêté l'auteur de l'enlèvement de Mari Luz dont les raisons seraient, selon toutes vraisemblances, à caractère sexuelles. Ces soupçons sont confirmés par le passé du suspect. Il est déjà connu de la justice pour des faits de moeurs sur mineurs et il tombe sous le coup d'une injonction judiciaire lui interdisant de s'approcher de ses propres filles. Toutefois, les analyses scientifiques démontrent que l'homme n'a pas eu le temps de mettre ses projets à exécution, les analyses n'ayant révélé aucune trace d'abus sexuel. Il est à supposer que l'enfant se sera débattue afin de se dégager de son ou ses ravisseurs, ne suivant pas ces derniers volontairement comme le déclare le suspect."


3 suspects arrested!!! 26th March 2008

A couple of suspects arrested.

A couple, neighbours of the family of Mari Luz Cortès, were arrested yesterday. A third arrest took place a little while later, that of the sister of the prime suspect. The prime suspect, Santiago G. admitted that Mari Luz died while, "going with him of her own free will." According to his interview, the little girl was with him, "she accidentally fell," and died. The authorities are absolutely sure that they have arrested Mari Luz's abductor, whose motives would have been, by all appearances, of a sexual nature. Their suspicions were confirmed by the suspect's history. He is already known to the police for acts of indecency with children and he is the subject of a court order, forbidding him from approaching his own daughters. However, scientific analysis shows that the man did not have time to put his plans into action, the analyses have revealed no evidence of sexual abuse. It is assumed that the child would have struggled to free herself from her captors, not going along voluntarily as the suspect has claimed.

"Dans sa tentative de fuite et dans l'affolement, bien compréhensible, la petite sera tombée dans un récupérateur d'eau proche. C'est du moins la thèse la plus logique et celle soutenue pour le moment. Elle est d'autant retenue que le suspect n'a pas porté assistance à la fillette. Il n'a pas, non plus, signalé aux autorités l'endroit où la fillette est tombée. Si c'est intentions n'étaient pas mauvaises, il aurait immédiatement été chercher les secours et la petite aurait, peut-être pu être sauvée. Même si elle est tombée par accident (un peu forcé quand même), le suspect est coupable de non assistance à personne en danger au minimum... Mais nous laissons le soin à la justice espagnole de former elle même ses propres chefs d'accusation."

In her attempt to escape and in her panic, understandably, the little girl may have fallen into a nearby water channel. That at least is the most logical theory and the one which is held at the moment. Needless to say, the suspect did not offer assistance to the little girl. He did not even let the authorities know where the little girl had fallen. If his intentions were not bad, he would immediately have sought help and the little girl could, perhaps, have been saved. Even if she fell accidentally (a little forced even then) the suspect is at least guilty of non-assistance to a person in danger....But we shall leave to the Spanish police the problem of coming to their own conclusions.

"L'homme avait été interrogé dès le début des recherches le 13 janvier. Depuis le début il est le suspect principal dans l'enquête et les autorités ont confirmé qu'il s'agissait là d'une hypothèse solide. La femme du suspect est considérée comme complice pour avoir gardé le silence. Se serait, selon la presse espagnole, suite à des cheveux trouvés lors de la deuxième autopsie, effectuée à la demande de la famille, que le couple fut confondu. Le suspect, qui avait été arrêté quelques jours après la disparition de la petite, avait fourni un alibi lors de son premier interrogatoire au moment de sa première garde à vue. Cet alibi s'est, entre temps, effondré. Son alibi se basait sur le témoignage de sa compagne. Après sa première garde à vue, le suspect avait demandé à la police l'autorisation de quitter Huelva afin d'éviter toutes représailles. Les parents et les voisins ont toujours signalés cet homme comme suspect. Aujourd'hui, Juan José Cortès, le papa de Mari Luz a affirmé, avant toute confirmation officielle, que "nous savions qui était cet individu, ce n'est pas une surprise pour moi"

The man had been questioned when the searches began, on January 13th. Since the beginning he has been prime suspect in the enquiry and the authorities have confirmed that they have a solid case. The wife of the suspect is considered to be an accomplice. for keeping quiet. It would be, acording to the Spanish press, a result of hair found in the course of the second autopsy, carried out at the request of the family, that the couple were found out. The suspect, who had been arrested a few days after the disappearance of the little girl, had provided an alibi during his first interrogation at the time of his first arrest. This alibi, has in the meatime, collapsed. His alibi was based on the witness statement of his partner. After his first arrest, the suspect requested police authorisation to leave Huelva in order to avoid all reprisals. The parnets and the neighbours have always indicated this person has a suspect. Today, Juan José Cortès, Mari Luz's father claimed, before any official confirmation, that, "we know who this individual is, it is not a surprise to me."

Mari Luz: married couple arrested. Known Paedophile confesses?

Earth Times 26/03/08

This was the first report I read about the arrest of a married couple in connection with the death of little Mari Luz. With thanks to Fraidycat at the 3Arguidos forum for the news.

http://the3arguidos.net

"Madrid - A couple has been arrested in connection with the death of 5-year-old girl Mari Luz Cortes, whose disappearance shocked southern Spain, police said Wednesday. The detainees lived in the same neighbourhood in the city of Huelva as Mari Luz's family.

The circumstances of the death of Mari Luz, whose body was found floating in a river on March 7 after two months of searches, have been unclear.

The case of Mari Luz has been compared with that of 4-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann, who went missing on May 3, 2007, in a southern Portuguese holiday resort not far from where Mari Luz disappeared. The fate of Madeleine, who made headlines all over the world, has not been clarified."

Typically Spanish 26/03/08

"Married couple detained in the Mari Luz Cortés case."

"Juan José Cortés, father of Mari Luz - Archive photo EFE
enlarge photo

Mari Luz's father, Juan José, has said the family had thought it was the man now arrested from the very start of the case

We have more details on what now appears to be the arrest of a married couple in connection with the disappearance and death of the 5 year old girl from Huelva in Spain, Marí Luz Cortés. Known as the Spanish Madeleine in the British press, she vanished when going to buy some crisps on the previous January 13 in the Torrejón district of Huelva. Her body finally appeared floating in the Ria de Huelva on March 7."

" Man confesses to involvement in the death of Mari Luz Cortés, but claims she fell and died accidentally."

Typically Spanish 26/03/08 12.28pm

" The man, a known paedophile named only as Santiago G., lived locally in the Torrejón area and had been a suspect of the family from the start A man, who was arrested in Spain yesterday is reported to have confessed to his involvement in the death of Mari Luz Cortés, the five year old girl who vanished in Huelva on January 13. The man, named by the victim’s father Juan José, as Santiago G., lived locally in the same Torrejón district of the city, but has recently moved to Cuenca with his wife to avoid reprisals."

Typically Spanish states that reporting restrictions have not been lifted, but later in the report, there is this:

"Europa Press reports that the arrested man has now confessed, to the police but not to a judge, to his involvement in the disappearance of the five year old, but says that she died accidentally. According to his statement to police, he said that she fell and died accidentally when she was with him ‘at her own choice’. The paper reports that this man had been arrested earlier in Granada just a few days after Mari Luz vanished, and was released on a lack of any evidence. Police say that they are sure that the man is responsible for the death of the child, and they believe that the motive was sexual. He is also reported to have a distancing order in place against his own children. The analysis from the police forensic department indicates however that the man could not manage to sexually force himself on the child."

Every day when I check to see who has been visiting this blog, I see that so many people have reached it through Google, searching for news of Mari Luz. It is heartening to see that so many people around the world have taken an interest in this little Spanish girl. It saddens me, though, to see Mari Luz referred to as, "The Spanish Madeleine." She is the Spanish Mari Luz, a little girl whose home, family and life experience is a long way in distance and background from the gates of "Orchard House," in Rothley Leicestershire, UK.

The Daily Mail is reporting the arrest of the married couple, with this headline:

"Spanish paedophile' arrested for murder of girl linked to Madeleine's disappearance."

Daily Mail 26/03/08

She doesn't even have a name for the Daily Mail, just a connection with the Madeleine case. Clarence Mitchell has made a statement:

"Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, said today: "We hope the Portuguese police will be liaising with the Spanish police to establish this man's movements around the time Madeleine disappeared.

"We have no indication there is a direct link between the two cases.

"But given the proximity of the places Madeleine and Mari Luz disappeared from and the similarity in their ages, we believe it's important the Portuguese police make absolutely sure there's no connection now there's been an arrest."

The proximity of these places? Isn't Huelva approx 120 miles from Praia da Luz? That's around the same distance as my home in Warwickshire to Liverpool. If a child disappeared in Liverpool and one disappeared in Warwick, would anyone refer to, "proximity."? It's also approx Perth to Carlisle. Is that proximity? Well, to me it isn't! Then I guess if eating dinner at a tapas bar, 100 yards or so from an unlocked apartment, where you have left your children, is like, "eating in your own back garden," Clarence et al have a very different notion of, "proximity," to most people!

Telecino5: update on Mari Luz autopsy news

Telecino5, the Spanish TV channel has reported more news on the two autopsies, carried out on the body of little Mari Luz Cortés.

The body of Mari Luz was found in the Ria de Huelva a week ago and there have been two autopsies carried out, one at the request of Mari Luz's father Juan José.

The sad news being reported in what Telecino describes as the, "definitive, " results of the autopsies, is that Mari Luz died by suffocation, before being thrown into the water. Injuries to her head and ribs were also ante-mortem.

"The child’s father, Juan José Cortés, has called for time to ‘cry in silence’ and says that he will fight to find who is responsible and to see them pay for what they have done.

Police say they think a local person may have seen Mari Luz with her killer, but is too frightened to come forward."

(Translation of news report by bugalugs1970 on the Three Arguidos forum.)

http://www.the3arguidos.net

Mari Luz: the police are continuing investigations after her funeral.

10.03.2008

"La police poursuit les investigations après les funérailles de Mari Luz"

"Malgré les funérailles de Mari Luz Cortés, qui ont eu lieu cette après-midi dans la ville espagnole d’Huelva, la police continue son travail d’investigation pour déterminer les causes de la mort et l’heure exacte du décès, tout portant à croire que l’enfant serait décédée dans les 24 ou 48 heures qui ont suivi sa disparition."

In spite of the funeral of Mari Luz Cortés, which took place this afternoon in the Spanish town of Huelva, the police are continuing their investigation work to determine the cause of death and the exact time of death, still believing that the child would have died in the 24 to 48 hours following her disappearance.

"La police cherche à connaître l’endroit ou le corps aurait pu avoir été jeté dans le fleuve, ayant recours à des experts pour détailler les courants et les marées.

Les examens provisoires écartent le viol mais ils ont, toutefois, révélée deux coups ante-mortem : un sur le crâne et un autre sur le flanc."

The police are seeking to know the place where the body could have been thrown into the river, having recourse to experts to give details of the currents and the tides.

The provisional tests have ruled out rape, but they have, however, revealed two ante-mortem (before death) blows: one on the skull and one on the side.

"Toutes les possibilités sont étudiés par les investigateurs qui ont, aujourd’hui, abordé l’hypothèse de que Mari Luz aurait été renversé accidentellement par une voiture et que l’auteur aurait pu se débarrasser du corps."

All possibilities are being studied by the investigators who have, today, addressed the hypothesis that Mari Luz could have been accidentally run over by a car and that the driver could have got rid of the body.

"Les investigateurs considèrent également la possibilité d’une chute accidentelle dans un collecteur d’eaux proche de sa maison et être ensuite entraînée par les marées, une fois que le cadavre ne présentait pas les blessures de crabe, caractéristiques d’un corps qui aurait séjournée aussi longtemps dans les eaux de la rivière."

The investigators are also considering the possibility of an accidental fall into the water collector channel near her home and then being carried by the tides, once it was seen that the corpse did not show the injuries characteristic of a body which had been in the water of the river for such a long time.

"Les funérailles de Mari Luz, âgé de cinq and, se sont déroulées à Huelva dans l'émotion et en présence d'une foule importante, dont des nombreux amis de la famille et voisins.

La disparition de Mari Luz avait crée une vive émotion en Europe : la presse britannique a citée le cas à plusieurs reprises comme ayant un rapport avec la disparition de Madeleine McCann, ce que les autorités portugaises et espagnoles ont toujours nié."

The funeral of Mari Luz, aged five years, took place in Huelva with emotion and in the presence of a large crowd, including many friends and neighbours of the family.

The disappearance of Mari Luz had created strong emotion in Europe: the British press has cited the case many times as having a connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, which the Portuguese and Spanish authorities have always denied.

"En Espagne la police à reçu des fausses demandes de rançon. De l'Italie, est venu l'information de que Mari Luz s'y trouvais, donnant des faux espoirs aux parents, et en France une prétendu association avait crée le "blog officiel" de l'enfant, allant jusqu'à intimider ceux qui ont voulu aider les recherches en Europe et dans le monde, se réclamant titulaire d’une "exclusivité" de la divulgation du cas de Mari Luz."

In Spain the police received false ransom demands. From Italy came information that Mari Luz was there, giving false hopes to the parents, and in France an anonymous association had created the, "official blog," of the child, set up to intimidate those who wanted to help the search in Europe and the world, claiming for itself an exclusivity in the disclosure of Mari Luz's case.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

What I find most interesting about this article is the detail about ante-mortem injuries. Ante-mortem means before death. Two blows are detailed, one to the skull and one to the side. Without having the benefit of medical training, I guess these could have been sustained during a fall into a concrete water channel. However, I suspect that the police will also be looking into whether these injuries were inflicted by a person or persons, whose actions led to the death of Mari Luz.

Whatever the outcome of investigations, Mari Luz has been laid to rest and the good people of Huelva have shown how caring and compassionate they are in their support for Mari Luz's family.

Mari Luz: Interim results of autopsy

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

"09.03.2008

"Mari Luz aurait décédée dans les 48 heures qui ont suivi sa disparition"

"Les résultats provisoires de l’autopsie au cadavre de Mari Luz, retrouvé vendredi passé, ont révélé que la petite espagnole aurait décédée dans les 48 heures qui ont suivi sa disparition.

Mari Luz, âgé de cinq ans, avait disparue le 13 janvier dernier, après avoir sortie de chez elle pour aller acheter un paquet de chips dans un kiosque, à proximité de la maison de ses parents dans le quartier d’El Torrejon, à Huelva."

Mari Luz would have died in the 48 hours following her disappearance.

The interim results of the autopsy on the body of Mari Luz, found last Friday, have revealed that the little Spanish girl would have died in the 48 hours following her disappearance.

Mari Luz, aged five years, disappeared on January 13th last, after having left her home to go and buy a packet of crisps from a shop near her parents house in the in the El Torrejon district of Huelva .

"Vendredi soir, après la découverte du corps, Juan Jose Cortés, le père de Mari Luz, a identifié le cadavre de sa fille, constatant qu’il présentait un important coup sur la tête."

On Friday evening, after the discovery of the body, Juan Jose Cortés, Mari Luz's father, identified the body of his daughter, noting that it showed a significant blow to the head.

"Les mêmes résultats d’autopsie ont pu déterminer que le coup n’a pas été la cause du décès, écartant également la possibilité de que Mari Luz aurait pu être étranglée. Vu l’état de décomposition du corps, la police scientifique attend la conclusion des examens radiologiques, toxicologiques et génétiques afin de déterminer avec exactitude la cause du décès."

These same autopsy results may have determined that the blow was not the cause of death, also dismissing the possibility that Mari Luz could have been strangled. Given the state of decomposition of the body, the forensic police are waiting for the results of the x-ray, toxicology and genetic investigations to determine with certainty the cause of death.

"L’endroit ou le corps de Mari Luz a été retrouvé, à proximité du quai pétrolier du fleuve Tinto, à quelques kilomètres de sa maison, avait été fouillé par la police et par des populaires dans les jours qui ont suivi la disparition. Des nouvelles fouilles ont commencé vendredi passé afin de retrouver d’éventuels indices."

The place where Mari Luz's body was found, near the Tinto river oil wharf, a few kilometres from her home, had been searched by the police and by local people in the days following the disappearance. New searches began on Friday with the purpose of finding any incidental clues.

*******************************************

Update from Enfants Kidnappés

"MISE A JOUR:

"Nous apprenons que le corps de Mari Luz a été retrouvé avec tous ses habits sur elle. Tous les vêtements qu'elle portait sur elle le jour où elle a disparu ont été retrouvé sur elle, sans exception. Ceci laisse à penser qu'elle n'aurait pas subit d'abus ou de sévisses. En outre, a ce stade de l'autopsie, on peut déjà conclure que la petite n'a subie aucune violence physique."

"Le corps de la fillette a été retrouvée à environs 13 km de son domicile. Il est probable qu'elle soit tombée, ou qu'on l'ai jetée, dans l'eau ailleurs que dans la raffinerie. En effet, la raffinerie est un endroit très surveillé par des gardes de sécurité. D'autre part, de hautes clôtures entourant le site rendent peu probable, pour ne pas dire impossible, que ce soit à cet endroit que la petite soit tombée, ou jetée, à l'eau.

"La police a fait venir des collègues spécialisés dans ce genre de disparition depuis Madrid et des chercheurs d'une université ont été requis afin d'analyser les courants pour déterminer l'endroit où la petite est tombée, où a été jetée. La police n'exclut pas la possibilité qu'il s'agisse bien d'un meurtre, que quelqu'un ait volontairement poussé la petite dans l'eau. Cette piste reste ouverte."

We learn that the body of Mari Luz was found fully clothed. All the clothes that she was wearing on the day she disappeared were found on her, without exception. This suggests that she had not suffered abuse or being held against her will. In addition, at this stage of the autopsy, it can already be concluded that the little girl was not subjected to any physical violence.

The body of the little girl was found around 13km from her home. It is likely that she fell, or that she was thrown into the water somewhere other than the refinery. In fact, the refinery is a place which is closely guarded by security guards. On the other hand, high fences surrounding the site make it unlikely, not to say impossible, that it was at this place that the little girl fell, or was thrown, into the water.

The police brought in colleagues from Madrid, specialising in this type of disappearance and researchers from a university have been engaged to analyse the currents to determine where the little girl fell, or was thrown. The police are not excluding the possibility that it is murder, that someone deliberately pushed the little girl into the water. This track remains open.

"Le papa de Mari Luz pourrait demander une deuxième autopsie."

"Le papa de Mari Luz n'e'xclut pas la possibilité d'une deuxième autopsie afin "de confirmer la première et de nous rassurer ainsi dans le but de nuancer les données. Ceci dans le seul but de nous tranquilliser". Le papa a précisé, toutefois, qu'il ne mettait absolument pas en doute les compétences professionnelles remarquable de l'institut médico-légal qui se charge de l'autopsie mais qu'il veulent simplement être tranquillisés en ne laissant pas de place à d'éventuelles questions."

Mari Luz's father may request a second autopsy.

Mari Luz's father is not excluding the possibility of a second autopsy to, "confirm the first and to reassure us also of the details of the findings. The only goal is to put our minds at rest," the father said. However, he absolutely does not place any doubt on the obvious professional competence of the Medico-Legal Institute, which is responsible for the autopsy, but he would like simply to have his mind put at rest and not leave any unanswered question.

The incredible shrinking distance...tapas bar to apartment!

Well, here it is folks! I found a good photo of the route from the McCanns' holiday apartment to the tapas bar.

First of all, Gerry's blog!

"She was taken from our holiday apartment where she was sleeping with her younger brother and sister whilst we were dining 50 yards away."

http://www.findmadeleine.com/


And the Daily Mail 10th August, 2007




"The pictures show the McCanns had to walk about 120 metres to get to the apartment where their children slept."

So, maybe 50 yards, as the crow flies, but rather more than 50 yards to walk!

There are a few more photos on the Daily Mail page, one showing the view from the tapas bar to the apartment. You can see the top of the patio doors maybe, but the rest seems to be hidden by trees.

So, why am I posting this now? Well, as a follow-on to my post about the links with the Mari Luz case, where Mari was said to have been, "unsupervised," and Madeleine was said to be asleep with her younger brother and sister while her parents were dining 50 yards away! Looking at that photo, I think we could say that the McCanns' children were, "unsupervised," because that tapas bar was not like dining in one's own garden and the apartment's door was clearly not visible from the tapas bar.

Is there a class thing operating here? Mari Luz, child of a gypsy family was, "unsupervised," but the middle-class doctors were, "dining." The focus is rather different here. The mother of Mari Luz was lying on the sofa, feeling unwell, while her daughter was, "unsupervised," but the McCanns were dining. Irene Suarez was a lazy so-and-so lying on her sofa, while her daughter was out there in the dangerous world, but Madeleine's parents were dining! Much more civilised, don't you think?

Mari Luz linked to Madeleine case?

"Madeleine's parents offer sympathy after body of Spanish girl linked to McCanns' case is found."

This Is London Updated Sunday 9th March

"A spokesman for the McCanns said they were aware of reports that the body of Mari Luz Cortes had been discovered in the southern Spanish city of Huelva, just 120 miles away from where their daughter Madeleine disappeared in May last year."

I keep reading that the disappearance of Mari Luz Cortès is somehow linked to that of Madeleine McCann, but I haven't been able to work out how exactly. So, I am looking at where the similarities may lie. The above is a quote from, "This Is London," dated 9th March, 2008. In terms of distance, how would anyone see the cases as being linked? Huelva, the town where Mari Luz lived and from where she disappeared is 120 miles from Praia da Luz. The article says, "just," 120 miles. So, what kind of distance is that?

Warwick to Liverpool is 126 miles. If a child disappeared in Warwick and subsequently a child disappeared in Liverpool, would we link the two because there was, "just," 126 miles between the two events? Somehow I don't think so.

Maybe it's because there is a motorway link from PDL to Huelva that makes the distance less significant.

"Huelva is on the motorway route from Praia da Luz which Gerry and Kate McCann believe kidnappers may have used to take their daughter across the border into Spain, and then onto a boat to Morocco."

Daily Telegraph 17th January 2008

Maybe a better comparison would be two UK places linked by a motorway? I'm just trying to get a sense of the distance in terms of places and distances I know.

Glasgow to Carlisle? Distance 96 miles, linked by motorway. Would anyone say, "just," 96 miles and link two cases of children disappearing? Well, I wouldn't.

Do the McCanns have any evidence that an abductor could have used that route to whisk Madeleine away and then onto a boat to Morocco? Why not straight to the marina in PDL, onto a boat and off to Morocco? Sightings in Morocco? Two things occur to me here. Firstly, if the earliest sightings were thought to be credible, why didn't the McCanns go there first instead of doing their round Europe tour? Why leave Morocco to last? Then, there were, of course, the sightings and the subsequent sightings; all investigated and ruled out.

So, the distance? No, 120 miles, to me, is not, "just."

What else might link the two cases? Age of the girls? Both girls - almost the same age
(Daily Mirror 17th January)

Almost the same age? Madeleine was nearly four when she disappeared and Mari Luz was five. With such young children, a year makes a huge difference. So, I don't think they were, "almost the same age."

Staying with the Daily Mirror, 17th January;

"Both girls - almost the same age - vanished with no witnesses and had been left unattended by their parents. Gerry and Kate McCann of Rothley, Leics, told yesterday how the case of Mari Luz left them reliving the agony of losing Madeleine."

Both had been, "..left unattended by their parents." ? Well, no. Madeleine and her twin siblings had been left unattended; Mari Luz was not, "left," anywhere. She went to the local shop.

"She then wandered off unsupervised as her mother lay on the sofa feeling unwell. Her parents called police an hour later after she failed to return."

The Daily Mirror describes Mari Luz as having been, "unsupervised," but I have never seen that term used in the UK press about Madeleine and the twins on the evening of May 3rd, 2007. Madeleine, according to the UK press was in bed in the holiday apartment while her parents, "..dined with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant." I would say that meant, "unsupervised," but none of our UK journos seem to be using the term in relation to Madeleine and her siblings.

And speaking of distances! Mari Luz had gone to a local shop 100 yards away; the McCanns were dining at the tapas bar, which was, "nearby," and just like, "dining in your own garden." I think the shortest distance I have seen between the tapas bar and the apartment was 20 yards; the longest 120 yards. According to the McCanns, was it 40 yards? Looking at aerial photos, it may have been 40 yards straight across the swimming pool and over a wall, but the walk between the two locations was rather more indirect and closer to 120 yards.

Video produced by a forum user who visited Praia da Luz and counted the paces from the McCanns' apartment to the entrance to the Ocean Club and then worked out the rest of the distance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC2UOKXQhgU

So, summing up the ways in which these two cases are linked!

Madeleine was left with her twin siblings in an unlocked apartment, while her parents were dining approx 120 yards away.

Mari Luz walked to the local shop approx. 100 yards from her home.

Both children are female.

Both are said to have disappeared without any witnesses. Mari Luz was seen by a few people in her neighbourhood in the locality of the shop. "A woman neighbour yesterday told how she saw Mari Luz at about 5pm on Sunday chatting to two girls, of about seven and nine, in Huelva, southern Spain." (Daily Mirror 17/01/08) "

"The woman, who lives in the same square as the Cortes family, said she couldn't see Mari Luz's face but recognised the little girl by her lovely brown hair and distinctive voice." (Daily Mirror 17/01/08)

"Another female witness also said she saw and heard Mari Luz talking to someone at about the same time on Sunday - but could not see who she was chatting to because they were obscured by the corner of a building." (Daily Mirror 17/01/08)

Witnesses to a Madeleine abduction? Jane Tanner saw a man carrying, "a bundle which could have been a child," the she saw, " a man carrying a child in distinguishable pyjamas," then she saw, " a man carrying a child in pinkish pyjamas," just like Madleine's. A family saw a man carrying a child near the beach and another saw a man dragging a child towards the marina. However, it was night-time and no one could say that they definitely saw Madeleine.

Summing up my thoughts here. I don't see any real links between these cases. 120 miles is not close, the girls were not almost the same age, they were not both left unattended.

The only links I can see are that:

• They both disappeared.

• They are both female children.

• The distance between where the children were and where their parents were is similar. (100 yards and 120 yards)

If anyone reading this can enlighten me as to other ways in which these cases are linked, please do let me know by adding a comment. Merci d'avance.

Mari Luz: autopsy being carried out today

From a translation of an article in El Semanal Digital, posted by Ines on the Three Arguidos Forum, for which I offer my appreciations and gratitude.

El Semanal Digital

"Además se baraja la opción de que el asesino, o asesinos, de Mari Luz sean de Huelva y, muy probablemente, individuos cercanos a los Cortés. No se ha descartado todavía la posibilidad de que esta muerte sea una venganza contra la familia. Una opción planteada tras conocer que varias personas, con las que tuvieron problemas, les habían amenazado.

La Policía espera que la autopsia arroje luz sobre cuándo y cómo se produjo su muerte. El hecho de que el cadáver estuviese reconocible descarta la opción de que Mari Luz llevase cincuenta días en el agua y permite suponer que los secuestradores no la asesinaron nada más llevársela el pasado 13 de enero."

The option that Mari Luz’s murderer or murderers could be from Huelva and, more probably, be individuals close to the Cortés family is being considered. The possibility that this death could be an act of revenge against the family has not yet been discarded. This is a potential option, given that various persons, whom the family had had problems with, had threatened them.

The Police hope that the autopsy will shed light on when and where her death occurred. The fact that the body was recognisable would tend not to lend weight to the option that Mari Luz spent fifty days in the water and allows for the supposition that the abductors did not kill her on 13th January.

http://www.the3arguidos.net

******************************************

I feel very sad reading this. There have been reports that Mari Luz may have died as a result of a tragic accident, falling into one of the concrete drainage channels near her home, but this makes very sad reading, that it does not look like she was 50 days in the water. I don't know how parents can cope with the thought that their child may have been kept by someone for a number of days, distressed and frightened. My thoughts are with the family and especially with Irene, mother of Mari Luz, who could not bear to look at her child's body and also with Juan Jose, father of Mari Luz, who identified his daughter from her little body, as it was taken from the water. I hope that his memories will be of his lovely daughter when she was alive and happy and not as he last saw her.

Mari Luz: her father goes alone to identify her.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

March 7th

"Cadavre de Mari Luz identifié officielment

"(Mise à jour - 22H30) Juan Jose Cortés, le père de Mari Luz, a identifié seule, peu avant les 22.00 heures le cadavre de sa fille. Il à constaté en déclarations à la police scientifique que le corps de sa fille, "avait très peu de cheveux, présente un coup sur la tête et n'a pas d'ongles".

José Saavedra, un ami personnel de la famille, à confirmé que la mère de Mari Luz, Irene Suárez, n'a pas osé entrer voir le cadavre et a du être assisté par un médecin sur place."

The body of Mari Luz is officially identified.

(Updated - 22.30) Juan Jose Corés, father of Mari Luz, was alone when he identified the body of his daughter, a little after 22.00. He noted in statements to the forensic police officers that the body of his daughter, " had very little hair, shows a blow to the head and has no nails."

Josè Saavedra, a personal friend of the family, stated that Mari Luz's mother, Irene Suarez, did not dare go in to see the body and she had to be helped by a doctor at the site.

*******************************

This is the item posted earlier.

"Cadavre de Mari Luz retrouvé à Huelva"

"(Mise à jour) Le cadavre retrouvé il y a quelques heures dans le fleuve est bien celui de Mari Luz, la fillette de cinq ans disparue le 13 janvier dernier dans la localité d’Huelva, a confirmé le représentant de la subdélégation du gouvernement espagnol."

(Updated) A representative of the subdelegation of the Spanish government has confirmed that the body found a few hours ago in the river is definitely that of Mari Luz, the little five year-old girl who disappeared on January 13th last in the locality of Huelva.

"Au même moment, Luis Molina, porte-parole des parents de la petite espagnole, confirme "qu’il y a 99% de probabilité" de qu’il s’agit effectivement du cadavre de Mari Luz, malgré le fait que les parents n’ont pas encore été autorisés à procéder à son identification"

At the same time, Luis Molina, spokesman for the parents of the little Spanish girl, stated that, "there is 99% probability," that it is indeed the body of Mari Luz, in spite of the fact that the parents have not yet been authorised to proceed with her identification.

"Une source de la police espagnole à confirmée que le corps, vêtu des mêmes vêtements que Mari Luz portait le jour de sa disparition, a été retrouvé dans un état avancé de décomposition présentant un important coup à la tête, sans être possible de déterminer, avant la conclusion de l’autopsie, quel serait la cause du décès"

A Spanish police source has confirmed that the body, dressed in the same clothes that Mari Luz was wearing on the day she disappeared, was found in a state of advanced decomposition, showing a significant blow to the head, without it being possible to determine what was the cause of death, before the result of the autopsy.

"La police maritime à été alerté, vers 18 heures, par l'équipage d'un navire marchant qui avait aperçu le cadavre flottant dans l'eau."

The maritime police was alerted, around 18.00, by the crew of a merchant navy ship, who had seen a corpse floating in the water.

"Après l’annonce du décès de Mari Luz, Pedro Rodriguez, le maire de la ville espagnole d’Huelva, a décrété trois jours de deuil officiel, qui seront accomplis à partir de demain. Il y aura également, demain, une concentration de cinq minutes de silence aux portes de l'Hôtel de ville et les drapeaux de tous les bâtiments officiels seront mis en berne en signe de deuil et de respect pour la famille."

After the announcement of the death of Mari Luz, Pedro Rodriguez, the mayor of the Spanish town of Huelva, decreed three days of official mourning, which will start after tomorrow. There will also be, tomorrow, a dedicated five minute silence at the doors of the town hall and the flags of every official building will hang at half-mast as a sign of mourning and respect for the family.

Mari Luz Cortès: a very sad ending to her story

Spanish television channels have confirmed that a body found in the sea near Huelva is that of Mari Luz, the five year-old girl who went missing in Huelva on January 13th. A dock worker found her body at just after 4pm today.

# Diario de Sevilla

The little girl was found wearing the same clothes as on the day she disappeared. It is being reported that her skull had been fractured, with what looked like a heavy blow.

"Typically Spanish" news

"She disappeared almost two months ago and her body was found on Friday
Five year old Mari Luz, missing from Huelva since she left her home in the El Torrejón area of the city on 13th January for a short trip to the local sweets kiosk, has been found dead.

El Mundo said her body was found on Friday evening in Huelva province in the Torrearenilla marshland, in a river close to the Cepsa refinery installations, by an employee of the petroleum company. It’s understood that Mari Luz’s body was found with the clothes she was wearing when she disappeared , and that her body was badly decomposed.

There was news just last week that the family of the five year old had received a ransom demand for two million euros, via an anonymous caller who demanded the money to release the child.
While it was thought to be a hoax, the family said they were prepared to negotiate in the case of serious calls. Mari Luz’s uncle, Diego Cortés, said at the time that the family would personally go to rescue his niece if necessary, but said they would only be able to raise around 300,000 €.

El Mundo said Mari Luz’s parents, Juan José Cortés and Irene Suárez, had arrived at the scene to identify their daughter’s body, and that Juan José López Garzón, the central government delegate for Andalucía, was also en route to the site where Mari Luz’s body was found."


What sad news for Mari Luz's family. How tragic to lose a child in this way. My thoughts are with the Cortès family at this time.

SOS Maddie: Parents of Mari Luz are thankful for the help of the Portuguese authorities

SOS Madeleine McCann 6th March

"Parents de Mari Luz ont remercié l’aide des autorités portugaises"

"Les parents de Mari Luz, la petite espagnole disparue il y a 53 jours à Huelva (Espagne) ont été reçus ce matin par les autorités portugaises à Faro, à qui ils ont voulu remercier l’aide apporté dans les recherches de leur fille."

The parents of Mari Luz are thankful for the help of the Portuguese authorities.

The parents of Mari Luz, the little Spanish girl who disappeared 53 days ago in Huelva (Spain) were received this morning by the Portuguese authorities in Faro, whom they wanted to thank for the help given to them in the search for their daughter.

"Accompagnés par des représentants des autorités espagnoles, Juan José Cortés et Irena Suarez ont été reçus par le gouverneur civil et par le bourgmestre de la ville de Faro, capital de la région."

Accompanied by representatives of the Spanish authorities, Juan José Cortés and Irena Suarez were received by the Civil Governor and by the Mayor of the town of Faro, capital of the region.

"José Apolinário, bourgmestre de Faro, à confirmé que le municipe allait financer la version portugaise des affiches de recherche de Mari Luz, malgré le fait que les autorités espagnoles continuent à croire que l’enfant n’a pas été amené vers le Portugal."

José Apolinário, Mayor of Faro, confirmed that the municipality would finance the Portuguese version of the posters in the search for Mari Luz, in spite of the fact that the Spanish authorities continue to believe that the child has not been taken towards Portugal.

"Juan José Cortés, le père de Mari Luz, continue à rejeter des comparaisons entre la disparition de sa fille et celle de Madeleine McCann, refusant de croire que les mêmes raisons soient derrière les deux disparitions."

Juan José Cortés, father of Mari Luz, continues to reject comparisons between the disappearance of his daughter and that of Madeleine McCann, refusing to believe that the same reasons are behind the two disappearances.

"Sans argent mais prêts à "négocier"

"En déclarations aux journalistes qui ont accompagné leur visite au Portugal, les parents de Mari Luz ont confirmé avoir reçu, la semaine passé, un appel téléphonique exigent deux millions d'euros en échange de l'enfant."

Without money but ready to negotiate.

In statements to journalists who have accompanied their visit to Portugal, the parents of Mari Luz have confirmed having received a telephone call demanding two million Euros in exchange for the child.

"La police en Espagne à déterminé qu’il s’agissait d’une fausse piste mais la famille de Mari Luz, admettant qu’elle n’a pas les moyens financiers pour faire face à une véritable demande de cette ampleur, s’est dit prête à "négocier si cela signifie le retour de la fille."

Police in Spain determined that it was a false trail, but Mari Luz's family, admitting that they do not have the financial means to cope with a demand of this magnitude, expressed themselves ready to "negotiate if it means the return of the girl.