SOS Madeleine McCann 29/05/08 - Investigators would like to unmask the tenth, "Tapas."

The tenth, "Tapas."? Well, there has been speculation, for some time now, on various internet forums about there having been a, "Tenth Tapas," sitting at the table with Kate and Gerry et al. The subject has been turned over several times at the 3 Arguidos.* Today, Duarte Levy takes up the baton. Let's see how he runs with it!

* http://the3arguidos.net

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/
Enquêteurs voulaient confondre le 10éme "Tapas"

"Le refus d’accès au contenu des messages écrits reçus par Gerry McCann avant et après la disparition de sa fille Madeleine, ou le refus des Tapas neuf de revenir au Portugal, ne vont pas empêcher les inspecteurs de progresser dans leur enquête," affirme un responsable de la Police Judiciaire après la divulgation hier de la décision du Tribunal de la Relation d’Évora.

Investigators would like to unmask the 10th, "Tapas."

"The refusal of access to the contents of text messages received by Gerry McCann before and after his daughter Madeleine's disappearance, or the refusal of the Tapas nine to come back to Portugal, is not going to prevent the inspectors from making progress with their enquiry," states an officer of the PJ after the disclosure yesterday of the Portuguese Supreme court's decision.

Selon la même source, avec leur accès au contenu des messages écrits reçus par Gerry McCann, "les enquêteurs voulaient confondre un personnage encore dans l’ombre mais que la police sait être liée à l’affaire".

Certains inspecteurs parlent même du 10 éme Tapas.

According to the same source, with their access to the contents of the text messages received by Gerry McCann, "the investigators would like to unmask someone still in the shadows but whom the police know to be linked to the case."
Some inspectors are even talking about a 10th Tapas.

L’existence d’un dixième personnage, connu de Gerry et Kate McCann, est un fait également soutenu au Royaume-Uni où un membre de l’Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) à confirmé que "les officiers envoyés au Portugal avaient même suggéré quelques possibilités parmi les britanniques qui habitent en permanence la région d’Algarve".

The existence of a tenth person, known to Gerry and Kate McCann, is a fact also supported in the United Kingdom where a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) confirmed that, "the police officers who were sent to Portugal even suggested a few possibilities from amongst the British people who live permanently in the Algarve region."

Hier, un arrêt du Tribunal de la Relation d’Évora est venu soutenir la décision du juge d'instruction criminelle de Portimão, Pedro Frias, qu’avait interdit l’accès des enquêteurs de la Police Judiciaire au contenu des messages écrits (SMS) reçus par Gerry McCann.

Yesterday, a ruling by the Appeal Court of Evora supported the decision of Portimao's investigating judge, Pedro Frais, who had banned access by the PJ investigators to the contents of text messages (SMS) received by Gerry McCann.

Selon le document, le papa de Madeleine McCann a reçu 14 messages écrits le 2 mai, la veille de la disparition de sa fille, au départ d’un numéro de téléphone officiellement non identifié. Le même portable est à l’origine de 4 autres messages que Gerry McCann à reçu après la disparition.

According to the document, Madeleine mcCann's father received 14 text messages on May 2nd, the day before his daughter's disappearance, from an officially unidentified number. The same mobile is the source of four other messages which Gerry McCann received after the disappearance.

Gerry et Kate McCann ont toujours refusé de divulguer aux enquêteurs le contenu des messages, ce que n’a pas empêché la police d’obtenir ces renseignements.

C’est l’utilisation du contenu de ces informations, notamment dans un procès, qui est mise en cause par la décision du juge d'instruction criminelle.

Gerry and Kate McCann have always refused to disclose the contents of the messages to the investigators, which has not prevented the police from obtaining the information.

It is the use of the details of this information, notably in a trial, which is called into question by the decision of the investigating judge.

Selon le même document, le premier arrêt de justice divulgué jusqu’à présent publiquement, les investigations de la Police Judiciaire, suite à la disparition de Madeleine, portent bien sur l’éventualité des crimes d’abandon, mise en danger, homicide et dissimulation de cadavre.

Pour rappel, l’Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) et la police du Leicestershire, ont collaboré dans l’enquête des autorités portugaises, comme l’a confirmée Patricia Scotland, Ministre d'Etat et Attorney General pour l'Angleterre et le Pays de Galles.

According to the same document, the first legal ruling to be disclosed publicly until now, the PJ's investigations, following Madeleine's disappearance, are concerned with the the possibility of the crimes of abandonment, endangerment, murder and concealment of a body.

As a reminder, the Association of Chief Police officers (ACPO) and the Leicestershire police, have collaborated in the enquiry with the Portuguese authorities, as confirmed by Patricia Scotland, Minister of State and Attorney General for England and Wales.

Si la décision du juge empêche l’utilisation des donnés antérieurs à la disparition de Madeleine, elle n’a pas empêché les enquêteurs d’en prendre connaissance des appels et les inspecteurs savent qui à parlé avec qui.

If the judge's decision prevents the use of digital data prior to Madeleine's disappearance, it has not prevented the investigators from having knowledge of the calls and the inspectors know who spoke to whom.

Les hommes de Gonçalo Amaral, aujourd’hui remplacé par l’inspecteur Paulo Rebelo, ont eu également l’occasion de procéder à des écoutes téléphoniques après la disparition de Madeleine et pendant que le couple et ses amis se trouvaient au Portugal. Une fois le couple et ses amis de retour au Royaume-Uni, la PJ attendait des autorités britanniques la continuation du travail mais il est encore incertain si toutes les informations ont pu leur être communiquées.

Goncalo Amaral's officers, Amaral now replaced by inspector Paulo Rebelo, also had the opportunity to conduct wiretaps after Madeleine's disappearance and while the couple and their friends were in Portugal. Once the couple and their friends returned to the United Kingdom, the PJ expected the British authorities to continue the work but it is still uncertain if all the information could be communicated to them.

Selon l’interprétation donnée par le juge d’instruction criminelle du Tribunal de 1ª instance de Portimão, Pedro Frias, à la législation portugaise, confirmée par le Tribunal de la Relation, les enquêteurs peuvent uniquement utiliser les données obtenus en temps réel. Dans la pratique, il aurait fallu aux enquêteurs avoir obtenu une autorisation avant la disparition de Madeleine.

According to the interpretation of Portuguese law, given by Portimao's Supreme Court's investigating judge, Pedro Frais, confirmed by the "Appeal Court", the investigators can only use the digital data obtained in real time. In practice, it would have been necessary for the investigators to have obtained authorisation before Madeleine's disappearance.

Pedro Frias n’a pas refusé l’utilisation ou l’accès à toutes les écoutes ou enregistrements effectués dans le cadre de l’enquête, mais il n’accorde aux enquêteurs le droit d’utiliser le contenu des SMS envoyés et reçus par le couple McCann avant le 3 mai 2007.

Le Ministère Public et la Police Judiciaire voulaient également demander aux trois operateurs de téléphonie mobile existent au Portugal – TMN, Vodafone et Optimus – les listings sous support digital (CD ou DVD) de toutes les communications concernant le couple et ses amis pour la période du 28 avril au 9 septembre 2007.

Pedro Frais has not refused the use or access to all wiretaps or recordings made in the context of the enquiry, but he did not give the investigators the right to use the contents of SMS sent and received by the McCann couple before May 3rd 2007.

The Public Ministry and the PJ would also like to ask the three mobile phone operators operating in Portugal - TMN, Vodafone and Optimus - to provide in digital format (CD or DVD) the records of all communications concerning the couple and their friends for the period April 28th to September 9th 2007.

L’urgence de faire passer l’image d’un "Tapas sept" uni et solide

L’annonce par le cabinet du Procureur Générale de la République (PGR) de l’annulation de la reconstitution demandé par la Police Judiciaire, indiquant que cette décision était la conséquence du refus de quatre amis des parents de Madeleine d’effectuer leur voyage de retour à Praia da Luz, à provoqué un énorme tolet obligeant Clarence Mitchell à réagir.

The importance of getting across the image of a, "Tapas seven," united and strong.

The announcement from the office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR) of the cancellation of the reconstruction requested by the PJ, indicating that this decision was the result of the refusal of four of Madeleine's parents' friends to undertake their return trip to Praia da Luz, provoked an enormous row forcing Clarence Mitchell to react.

Si l’annulation de la diligence n’était pas une véritable surprise, la confirmation par le PGR de qu’il y aurait que quatre témoins à refuser de collaborer officiellement avec les autorités portugaise soulève une question : pourquoi les autres trois ont’ ils accepté, sans aucune condition, de coopérer avec les autorités portugaises ?

If the cancellation of the action was not a real surprise, the confirmation by the PGR that there were four witnesses refusing to collaborate officially with the Portuguese authorities raised a question: why did the other three accept, without any conditions, to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities?

La question devenant gênante, surtout après que l’information soit arrivée dans les médias britanniques, le responsable en communication du couple McCann s’est empressé de dire que finalement "tout le groupe ne voulait pas retourner au Portugal".

The question becoming annoying, above all after the information made it into the British media, the McCann couple's spokesperson hastened to say that in the end, "the whole group did not want to return to Portugal."

Sans jamais s’attaquer à la note du cabinet du Procureur, le spécialiste en manipulation des médias s’est attaché à justifier la décision du couple McCann et de ses quatre amis, voulant à tout prix calmer l’opinion public et faire passer l’image d’un groupe solide et uni contre la police portugaise, oubliant volontairement que l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine est un travail conjoint avec la police britannique.

Without ever attacking the note from the Prosecutor's office, the specialist in media manipulation sought to justify the decision of the McCann couple and their four friends, wishing at all costs to calm public opinion and to get across the image of a group, strong and united against the Portuguese police, choosing to forget that the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance is a joint work with the British police.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

29/05/08

Addendum: 24horas gives the names of four members of the Tapas Seven whom the journal identifies as being the ones who refused to return to Portugal for the reconstruction of the events of May 3rd 2007.

"Dois casais recusaram-se a regressar a Portugal para colaborar com a Judiciária na reconstituição dos acontecimentos de 3 de Maio, dia em que Madeleine McCann desapareceu de um apartamento da Praia da Luz, em Lagos, Algarve. E entre os motivos para a nega, apurou o 24horas, esteve o facto de Jane Tanner, Russel O’Brian, Rachel e Matthew Oldfield terem receio de ser também constituídos arguidos."

"Two couples refused to return to Portugal to cooperate with the PJ in the reenactment of the 3rd of May of 2007. Amongst the motives to refuse, the 24 Horas discovered that it was the fact that Jane Tanner, Russel O'Brien, Rachel and Matthew Oldfield were afraid of being constituted arguidos."

(Translation by Li at the 3 Arguidos.)

http://www.the3arguidos.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13866

(The discussion is to be found via the above link.)

SOS Madeleine McCann: British police officer accuses the McCanns of having an agreement to prevent the reconstruction.

Somewhere on the 3 Arguidos board last night, possibly from one of the wonderful Portuguese speakers, I read that Kate and Gerry were willing to go to Praia da Luz for the reconstruction of events surrounding Madeleine's disappearance on May 3rd 2007, but it all depended on the seven friends. Since those seven friends, aka, "The Tapas 7," are not arguidos they are not obliged to take part in the reconstruction. *

Duarte Levy reports on his blog, SOS Madeleine McCann, that a British police officer is accusing the McCanns and friends of having an agreement to prevent the reconstruction taking place, a case of, well, we're willing, but what's the point if they're not coming?

Officier britannique accuse les McCann d’avoir un accord pour empêcher reconstitution.

Selon un haut responsable de la police britannique à Enderby, dans le Leicestershire, "Kate et Gerry McCann ont établie un accord avec leurs sept amis visant empêcher la réalisation de la reconstitution demande par les autorités portugaises. "

"Ils savent que cette reconstitution n’aura pas lieu si le groupe n’y est pas au complet," affirme l’officier rajoutant "qu’il est évident que Kate et Gerry ne peuvent pas refuser directement et en public leur participation, sous peine de voir l’opinion publique au Royaume-Uni se retourner contre eux. "

British police officer accuses the McCanns of having an agreement to prevent the reconstruction.

According to a senior British police officer at Enderby in Leicestershire, "Kate and Gerry McCann have established an agreement with their seven friends, looking to prevent the reconstruction requested by the Portuguese authorities, from taking place."

"They know that this reconstruction will not take place if the whole group is not there," states the officer adding, "that it is obvious that Kate and Gerry cannot directly refuse in public to participate, for fear of having public opinion in the United kingdom turn against them."

"C’est pourquoi ce sont les amis qui font savoir qu’ils ne participeront pas," affirme l’officier britannique qui avait accompagné les investigations au Portugal.

Presque au même moment ou l’officier avançait ces accusations, Kate et Gerry McCann ont fait savoir aujourd’hui, via leur porte-parole, qu’ils seraient disposés à obéir à une notification des autorités portugaises afin de participer à la reconstitution mais que leurs amis continuaient à contester la diligence mettant en cause son utilité.

"That's why it's the friends who are letting it be known that they will not participate," states the British police officer who had been with the investigation in Portugal.

Almost at the same moment that the police officer was putting forward these accusations, Kate and Gerry made known, via their spokesperson, that they would be willing to obey a notification from the Portuguese authorities to participate in the reconstruction, but that their friends were still contesting the action, questioning its usefulness.

Soulignant que Kate et Gerry McCann ont toujours le statut d’arguidos, Clarence Mitchell à confirmée, en déclarations à l’agence portugaise d’information Lusa, que "si leur présence est exigé, ils iront, ils doivent y aller."

Stressing that Kate and Gerry McCann still have arguido status, Clarence Mitchell confirmed, in statements to the Lusa Portuguese Information Agency, that, "if their presence is required, they will go, they must go."

La Police Judiciaire prétend effectuer une reconstitution des mouvements que les parents et leurs amis, présents à l'occasion de la disparition de Madeleine, avaient déclarée avoir effectué. Initialement la suggestion de la PJ avait été transmise via les avocats du couple pour aboutir à des convocations individuelles car la validité de la diligence passe par la présence du groupe au complet, ce que semble de plus en plus improbable.

The PJ claim to have set up a reconstruction of the movements that the parents and their friends, who were present when Madeleine disappeared, had stated they made. Initially the PJ's suggestion was sent via the couple's lawyers as individual requests, because the value of the action depended on the presence of the whole group, which seems more and more unlikely.

"Tout dépend des amis, qui ont été invités à y aller mais, comme ils ne sont pas arguidos, ont le droit de mettre en cause l'utilité de la diligence et si elle va aider à retrouver Madeleine - et leur réponse en ce moment semble être négative", à expliqué Clarence Mitchell.

"It all depends on the friends, who are invited to go but, as they are not arguidos, they have the right to question the usefulness of the action and if it is going to help to find Madeleine - and their response at the moment seems to be negative," explained Clarence Mitchell.

Les sept amis - Jane Tanner et Russell O’Brien, Matthew et Rachael Oldfield, David et Fiona Payne, et la mère de celle-ci, Diane Webster – ont été interrogés comme témoins au Portugal et au Royaume-Uni affirmant vouloir aider l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine, mais aujourd’hui ils auraient imposé des conditions à leur retour à Praia da Luz.

The seven friends - Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien, Matthew and Rachael Oldfield, David and Fiona Payne and her mother Diane Webster - were questioned as witnesses in Portugal and in the United Kingdom, stating that they wanted to help the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, but now would impose conditions on their return to Praia da Luz.

SOS Madeleine McCann 23/05/08

Selon Clarence Mitchell, vu la proximité de la deuxième date proposée par les autorités portugaises, et le manque de réponse aux exigences du groupe, "il est très improbable que la reconstitution puisse avoir lieu."

La principale raison invoquée par les sept britanniques pour mettre en cause l’initiative des autorités portugaises serait, selon Clarence Mitchell, lié au fait que "la police aurait rejeté, l’année passée, une proposition du programme Crimewatch de la BBC" pour effectuer une reconstitution.

According to Clarence Mitchell, given the proximity of the second date proposed by the Portuguese authorities and the lack of response to requests from the group, “it is highly improbable that the reconstruction could take place.”

The main reason given by the seven British people for questioning the initiative of the Portuguese authorities would be, according to Clarence, linked to the fact that, “last year the police would have rejected a proposal from the BBC’s Crimewatch programme,” to set up a reconstruction.

Une explication que n’a pas l’air convaincre les enquêteurs portugais et britanniques car ce genre diligence, dans le cadre d’une émission comme Crimewatch, n’a pas le même objectif. Si au Royaume-Uni, elle est utilisée pour rechercher des témoignages, au Portugal le recours à ce genre de diligence, comme il arrive d’ailleurs dans la pluparts des pays européens, sert à consolider – ou pas – une enquête qui est proche de ses conclusions.

An explanation, which does not sound convincing to the Portuguese and British investigators because this type of action, within the context of a programme like Crimewatch, does not have the same objective. If, in the United Kingdom, it is used to find witnesses, in Portugal the intention of this kind of action, as happens elsewhere in most European countries, is to consolidate – or not – an investigation which is close to its conclusions.

Pourquoi une reconstitution après un an ?

"La reconstitution demandée par la Police Judiciaire est un acte incontournable pour Kate et Gerry McCann, car il s’agit d’une diligence nécessaire à l’enquête et qui à toute sa raison d’être car elle a plusieurs objectifs."

Why a reconstruction after a year?

“The reconstruction requested by the PJ is a must for Kate and Gerry McCann, because it is an action which is necessary for the investigation and which has every reason to be done because it has several objectives.”

Le premier objectif est celui de pouvoir constituer un album d’images qui sera ensuite utilisé pour démontrer de quelle façon la scène s'est déroulée.

Le deuxième, probablement le plus important, est celui de pouvoir confronter et vérifier les déclarations des arguidos et des témoins avec les constatations matérielles réalisées sur place. Il arrive, par exemple, qu'ont se rende compte que tel témoignage ne colle pas avec la configuration des lieux.

The first objective is that of being able to build an album of images, which would then be used to show how the scene unfolded.

The second, and probably the most important, is that of being able to compare and check the statements of the arguidos and witnesses with physical findings made at the scene. It happens, for example, when checks are made, that such testimony does not tally with the layout of the places.

Les déclarations des personnes liés à l’enquête peuvent varier entre ce qu’à été dit aux enquêteurs dans les installations de la police et le lieu du crime.

Des informations, des détails, peuvent aussi leur revenir en mémoire : l’arguido ou le témoin peut ainsi apporter des précisions ou faire de nouvelles déclarations.

The statements of people linked to the investigation can vary between what was said to the investigators at the police stations and at the scene of the crime.

Some information, some details, can also be brought back to mind: the arguido or the witness can also bring clarification or make new statements.

On peut progresser énormément dans une enquête avec les déclarations faites sur la scène du crime, une fois que la personne s'exprime dans une situation particulière… Elle est obligée à refaire les gestes qu’elle prétend avoir fait, cette fois-ci sous les regards des autres et en particulier celui des enquêteurs."

Great progress can be made in an enquiry with statements made at the scene of the crime, once the person is placed in a particular situation....she is obliged to repeat the actions which she claims to have made, this time under the eyes of others and in particular those of the investigators.

Une reconstitution permet également de confronter les points de vue des différents "acteurs", notamment celui du suspect avec celui des témoins.

A reconstruction also allows the comparison of the points of view of the various, "players," notably those of the suspect with those of the witnesses.

Trio préparait action d’intimidation à Robert Murat

Deux britanniques et un espagnol, résidents en Espagne, ont été mis sous étroite surveillance par les autorités après l’interception d’un courrier électronique avec les détails des préparatifs d’un voyage à Praia da Luz visant mener des actions d’intimidation à l’encontre de Robert Murat et de son amie Michaela Walczuch.

Selon une source de la police, le trio se serait connu autour d’Helping To Find Madeleine (HTFM), une organisation crée sur internet pour venir en aide à la campagne lancé par Kate et Gerry McCann après la disparition de leur fille.

Three people were planning an act of intimidation against Robert Murat.

Two British people and a Spanish person, were placed under close surveillance by the authorities after the interception of an email with details of plans for a trip to Praia da Luz looking to carry out acts of intimidation against Robert Murat and his friend Michaela Walczuch.

According to a police source the three would be known in connection with Helping To Find Madeleine (HTFM), an organisation created on the internet to help the campaign launched by Kate and Gerry McCann after their daughter's disappearance.

Les trois sympathisants, après avoir pris connaissance de la visite du multimillionnaire Brian Kennedy à Praia da Luz pour une rencontre avec Robert Murat, sont restés convaincus que l’arguido britannique aurait des informations capitales dans l’affaire de disparition de Madeleine.

The three sympathisers, after finding out about the visit to Praia da Luz of the multimillionaire Brian Kennedy for a meeting with Robert Murat, remained convinced that the British arguido had important information in the case of Madeleine's disappearance.

Contacté par téléphone, une responsable d’HTFM à confirmée qu’aucun des trois sympathisants n’a jamais été membre de l’organisation, soulignant qu’il n’y aurait qu’un seul membre masculin dans ses filières. Selon la même responsable, l’activité principale d’HTFM serait la distribution d’affiches de recherche de Maddie.

Contacted by telephone, an HTFM agent confirmed that none of the three sympathisers had ever been a member of the organisation, stressing that there was only one male member on their files. According to the same agent, the main principal of HTFM would be the distribution of posters in the search for Maddie.

Après l’incendie criminelle de la voiture de Sergey Malinka, témoin dans l’affaire de disparition de Madeleine et ami de Robert Murat, la police à décidé de maintenir le trio sous surveillance, sans toutefois procéder pour le moment à aucune détention.

After the criminal torching of the car belonging to Sergey Malinka, witness in the case of Madeleine's disappearance and friend of Robert Murat, the police decided to keep the trio under surveillance, without, however, proceeding to any arrests for the moment.

"Nous avons affaire à trois personnes, âgées de 20 à 34 ans, sans antécédents criminelles connus, du moins en Espagne, mais qui ont été fortement influencés par la médiatisation de l’affaire, " affirme le porte-parole de la police soulignant que "les trois personnes n’ont aucune liaison directe ou indirecte au couple McCann."

"We have a case of three people, aged 20 to 34, with no previous criminal record, at least in Spain, but who have been heavily influenced by the media coverage of the case," stated the police spokesperson, stressing that, "the three people have no direct or indirect link to the McCann couple."

SOS Madeleine McCann: Reconstruction is still waiting for the McCanns and the, "Tapas," Seven.

This is the latest on the reconstruction from SOS Madeleine McCann.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

14.05.2008

Reconstitution toujours en attente des McCann et des "Tapas" sept

Rogério Alves, un des avocats de Kate et Gerry McCann, à affirmé aujourd’hui à Faro que les autorités portugaises ont déjà determiné la date de la reconstitution des événements de la nuit de la disparition de Madeleine, affirmant que Kate et Gerry McCann seraient présents.

"Les deux ont déjà manifesté leur intention d'être présents," à dit l’avocat soulignant que la présence des autres témoins "ne dépendent pas d'eux."

Rogério Alves, one of the lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann, stated today in Faro that the Portuguese authorities have already set the date for the reconstruction of the events of the night of Madeleine's disappearance, stating that Kate and Gerry MCann would be there.

"They have both already shown their intention to be there," said the lawyer, stressing that the presence of the others, "does not depend on them."

Selon le défenseur de Kate et Gerry McCann, le couple continue à être sceptique à propos de la reconstitution mettant en cause son utilité après un an, position qui surprend même les officiers de la police britannique qu’avaient accompagné l’affaire à Praia da Luz.

According to Kate and Gerry McCann's defence lawyer, the couple are still skeptical about the reconstruction questioning its usefulness after a year, a position which surprised even the British police officers who had been involved with the case in Praia da Luz.

Moins surpris avec la situation d’impasse sont les enquêteurs de la Police Judiciaire (PJ) que depuis plusieurs semaines essaient d’arriver à un compromis entre tous les arguidos et témoins nécessaires à cette diligence : "Pour le moment ca coince toujours au sein du groupe formé par les parents et ses sept amis, " reconnaît une source de la PJ, pour qui la date du 29 mai, avancée aujourd’hui par plusieurs médias, est une possibilité encore en attente.

"Tout dépend de leur volonté d’aider la police à élucider la disparition de Madeleine," affirme encore la même source.

Less surprised with the impasse situation are the investigators of the PJ, who for several weeks have been trying to arrive at a compromise between all the arguidos and witnessess necessary for this action: "At the moment it is still stuck on the part of the group formed by the parents and their seven friends," admitted a source at the PJ, for whom the date of 29th May, put forward today by several media, is a possibility still pending.

"Everything depends on their willingness to help the police clear up Madeleine's disappearance," the same source stated.

Pourquoi une reconstitution après un an ?

Selon un des officiers britanniques qu’avaient fait le déplacement à Praia da Luz dans le cadre de l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine, "la reconstitution demandée par la Police Judiciaire est un acte incontournable pour Kate et Gerry McCann. "

"Il s’agit d’une diligence nécessaire à l’enquête et qui à toute sa raison d’être car elle a plusieurs objectifs, " affirme encore l’officier contacté au Royaume-Uni.

Why a reconstruction after a year?

According to British officers who went to Praia da Luz in the context of the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, "the reconstruction requested by the PJ is something that Kate and Gerry McCann cannot get away from."

"It is a necessary action in the enquiry and has every reason to be because it has several objectives," states the officer contacted in the United Kingdom.

Selon lui, le premier le premier objectif est celui de pouvoir constituer un album d’images qui sera ensuite utilisé pour démontrer de quelle façon la scène s'est déroulée.

Le deuxième, probablement le plus important, est celui de pouvoir confronter et vérifier les déclarations des arguidos et des témoins avec les constatations matérielles réalisées sur place. Il arrive, par exemple, qu'ont se rende compte que tel témoignage ne colle pas avec la configuration des lieux.

According to him, the primary objective is that of being able to build an album of images which would then be used to show how the scene unfolded.

The second, and probably the most important, is that of being able to compare and check the statements of arguidos and witnesses with the physical findings made on the spot. It happens, for example, when accounts are taken that some witness statements do not tally with the layout of the places.

Les déclarations des personnes liés à l’enquête peuvent varier entre ce qu’à été dit aux enquêteurs dans les installations de la police et le lieu du crime.

Des informations, des détails, peuvent aussi leur revenir en mémoire : l’arguido ou le témoin peut ainsi apporter des précisions ou faire de nouvelles déclarations.

The statements of people linked to the enquiry may vary between what was said to the investigators at the police stations and at the scene of the crime.

Some information, some details, may also come back to them: the arguido or the witness may also bring clarity or make new statements.

"On peut progresser énormément dans une enquête avec les déclarations faites sur la scène du crime, une fois que la personne s'exprime dans une situation particulière… Elle est obligée à refaire les gestes qu’elle prétend avoir fait, cette fois-ci sous les regards des autres et en particulier celui des enquêteurs, " affirme l’officier.

Une reconstitution permet également de confronter les points de vue des différents "acteurs", notamment celui du suspect avec celui des témoins.

"Enormous progress can be made in an enquiry with statements made at the scene of the crime, once the person is placed in a particular situation...She is obliged to repeat the actions she claims to have made, this time under the eyes of others and in particular of the investigators," states the officer.

A reconstruction also allows the viewpoints of the various, "actors," to be compared, notably those of the suspect with those of the witnesses.

Diplomatie britannique toujours présente

L’annonce du départ de l’ambassadeur John Buck le 10 septembre 2007 n’a rien changé à l’attitude de la diplomatie britannique dans l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine McCann. John Buck, quittant définitivement la carrière diplomatique, a été rapidement remplacée par Alexander Wykeham Ellis en provenance de Bruxelles ou il avait travaillait avec le Président de la Commission Européenne.

British diplomacy is always present.

The announcement of the departure of the ambassador John Buck on September 10th 2007, changed nothing about the attitude of British diplomacy in the enquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance. John Buck, leaving the diplomatic service for good, was quickly replaced by Alexander Wykeham Ellis from Brussels where he had worked with the President of the European Commission.

(To be continued.)

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

14/05/08

SOS Madeleine McCann: the only logical attitude for the McCanns would be to co-operate with the police

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

24.03.2008

"La seule attitude logique pour les McCann serait de collaborer avec la justice"

"Pour résoudre le mystère entourant la disparition de Maddie, les inspecteurs de la Police Judiciaire n’ont pas abandonné leur intention de réinterroger Kate et Gerry McCann, même si dans un premier temps, leur objectif est celui d’entendre au complet le groupe d’amis vulgairement connus comme Tapas 7."

To resolve the mystery surrounding Maddie's disappearance, the PJ inspectors have not given up their intention to re-interrogate Kate and Gerry McCann, even if in the first instance their objective is to hear the whole group of friends, known vulgarly as Tapas 7.

"Nous n’avons pas écarté la possibilité d’interroger à nouveau les parents… la seule attitude logique pour les McCann serait de collaborer avec la justice. Pour connaître le sort de Maddie, j’espère, et il serait normal, de compter avec leur collaboration," affirme un inspecteur, rajoutant "qu'il y a des questions auxquelles le couple n’a jamais voulu répondre… peut’ être que dans leur pays ils soient prêts à le faire ."

We have not ruled out the possibility of interrogating the parents again...the only logical attitude for the McCanns would be to co-operate with the police. In order to know what happened to Maddie, I hope, and it would be normal, to count on their co-operation," states an inspector, adding, "that there are questions to which the couple never wanted to respond....perhaps in their country they would be ready to do that.

Robert Murat's computers and other possessions returned. PJ arriving on April 7th and The Sunday Express apologises!

Today, Sunday March 23rd, many of the newspapers and online news media lead with the story that Robert Murat's computers and other possessions, which were seized by the PJ last year, have been returned. Mr Murat is now hoping that his status as arguido, official suspect, in the Madeleine McCann case is about to be lifted.

Something that has drawn my attention in all of the reports is the almost exact wording of what has been published.

The Independent On Sunday

"Portuguese police have returned computers and other possessions they seized from Madeleine McCann "suspect" Robert Murat, he said yesterday.

He described the move as a "very positive sign" – but is still waiting to be officially cleared of involvement in the young girl's disappearance.

Mr Murat, 34, lives just yards from the holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished on 3 May last year."

Sky News Sunday March 23rd

"Portuguese police have returned computers and other possessions seized from Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat, he has said.

Murat in Portugal

He described the move as a "very positive sign" - but is still waiting to be officially cleared of involvement in the British girl's disappearance.

Mr Murat, 34, lives just yards from the holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz, where Madeleine vanished on May 3 last year."

Daily Star On Sunday

"Portuguese police have returned computers and other possessions they seized from Madeleine McCann "suspect" Robert Murat, he hassaid.

He described the move as a "very positive sign" - but is still waiting to be officially cleared of involvement in the young girl's disappearance.

Mr Murat, 34, lives just yards from the holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished on May 3 last year."

Apart from the odd word here and there, the reports are identical. So, this reads like a press release to me, but a press release from whom? The Portuguese police? I doubt that very much? Since the news is very much focussed on the interests of Robert Murat, I am making a guess that the press release has come from a representative of Robert Murat, perhaps Max Clifford, who has been reported as acting for Murat.

The timing of the return of these items in interesting in the light of reports that the Portuguese police are due to arrive in the UK on April 7th to observe the questioning of members of the tapas group and others in line with the rogatory letters sent earlier by the PJ. The return of Murat's computers must mean that the PJ no longer consider them as important for evidence purposes.

The date on which the PJ inspectors are due to arrive must now be official as this is being reported by several newspapers, including the Mail On Sunday.

Mail On Sunday

"Portuguese police to quiz Tapas Nine in Britain in final bid to solve Madeleine mystery"

This is the headline from the Mail On Sunday, though we read that actually the questioning will be of the Tapas Seven, since the police have been refused permission to re-question Kate and Gerry by the Public Prosecutor.

"A source close to the case said: "The Policia Judiciaria had prepared various questions it wanted Kate and Gerry to face but they were crossed off the list of priorities on the advice of public prosecutors.

"They felt it was a waste of time because the McCanns would refuse to answer the questions, a right that Portuguese law grants official suspects."

If this is true, what happened to the previous claim by Clarence Mitchell that the McCanns, as well as their friends, were keen for the PJ to arrive and that they would co-operate fully in order to have their arguido status lifted?

The Mail On Sunday lists a few of the inconsistencies which may be of interest to the PJ.

"They are thought to be particularly keen to reinterview David Payne, Jane Tanner and her partner, Russell O'Brien."

"Dr Payne, 41, a cardiovascular researcher from Leicester, was the last person outside the McCann family to see Madeleine at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz on May 3. Gerry asked him to check on his wife and children while he was having a tennis lesson at about 6.30pm.

Dr O'Brien, 36, from Exeter, was away from the group for up to 45 minutes between 9.30pm and 10.15pm tending his own child who was being sick in his apartment.

He told police he had changed her bed linen, but staff at the Ocean Club deny any change of sheets was requested.

Attention has also focused on 36-year-old Miss Tanner's claim that she saw a man carrying a girl from the McCanns' apartment at about 9.15pm - when another witness says he was outside the flat at the same time but did not see her or the mystery man.

The trio have denied reports they intended changing their original police statements. The McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell says the friends are keen to help police and want the reinterviews to take place as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, the Sunday Express heads its front page with a reprint of the apology to the McCanns, "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry." I haven't read the apology in today's Express, but I am sure it's the one printed earlier in the week in which the Express proclaimed the McCanns completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance. Strange that! I thought only a court of law could proclaim someone innocent as a result of a case being heard in court.

The Scotsman today: ""Dani Garavelli: End of the paper trial."

"Since we have no idea which particular articles were the subject of the libel action, the victory doesn't set out the limits of press freedom either. The Express's apology – "we accept Kate and Gerry are completely innocent" – is being read by some as an acceptance that any scrutiny of the couple's behaviour was beyond the pale, but that is clearly not so.

It was perfectly acceptable to question the wisdom of leaving three toddlers alone in a holiday apartment or to try to assess the strength of the evidence the Portuguese were acting on when they made Kate and Gerry arguidos. So at what precise point did the Express cross the line? Was it when it carried conflicting reports of the DNA evidence found in the McCanns' hire car, or when it drew an inference from the fact Maddie's "cuddle cat" had been washed? Because these issues were never aired in open court, we will never know."

The Portuguese police are hoping that the questioning of the Tapas Seven and others will help to shed light on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and, I am sure, bring this case to a conclusion. In my opinion, this case can only be satisfactorily resolved when Madeleine McCann is either found alive or her body is found and she is finally laid to rest.

I wish the Portuguese police good luck in their quest for justice for little Madeleine McCann and commend them in their persistence with this case.