Arade dam: Matodo3 have arrived!

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

"Método3 se rend sur place !"

"Une équipe de Método3 est arrivé, aujourd'hui, en Algarve afin de participer aux recherches nous apprend la presse portugaise. Des morceaux de cordes, des sacs en plastique et une chaussette blanche (à l'origine) dont le tissu est originaire du nord de l'Europe ou d'Angleterre, ont été trouvés dans le fond des eaux du lac du barrage de Arade. Ces trouvailles ont renforcé la profonde conviction de l'avocat portugais Aragao Correia que le corps de la petite Madeleine McCann s'y trouve."

We learn from the Portuguese press that a team from Metodo3 arrived today in the Algarve to participate in the research. Pieces of rope, plastic bags and a white sock (originally white) of which the fabric originates from northern Europe or England, were found in the waters of the Arade Dam. These findings Have reinforced the profound conviction of the Portuguese lawyer, Aragao Correia, that the body of Madeleine McCann is to be found there.

"Les recherches avaient été entamée il y a trois semaines déjà mais sans succès. Depuis lundi une équipe de sept plongeurs aidé par des professionnels des Pompiers Volontaires de Portimao, spécialisés en recherche de cadavre dans les eaux profondes, sont en train d'effectuer des recherches dans les eaux du lac. recherches onéreuses financer à titre privé par l'avocat portugais d'une part et d'autre part par la Société Portugaise d'Ingénieur et de Construction dirigée par José Paias. L'avocat est convaincu qu'il y a 99% de certitudes que le corps de Madeleine soit dans le lac et qu'elle a été tuée et jetée dans le lac deux jours après sa disparition."

The search had been started three weeks ago but without success. Since Monday, a team of seven divers, helped by professionals from the Volunteer Firefighters of Portimao, specialised in searching for a body in deep water, have been carrying out searches in the waters of the lake, searches onorous financially to carry out privately by the lawyer on the one hand and on the other by the Portuguese Society of Engineering and Construction, led by José Paias. The lawyer in convinced that there is a 99% certainty that Madeleine's body is in the lake and that she was killed and thrown into the lake two days after her disappearance.

"Les parents McCann sont furieux à propos de ces recherches !"

"Kate et Gerry ont réagi avec "fureur", selon la presse britannique, en apprenant que des plongeurs avaient commencé des fouilles dans le lac. Le couple a déclaré que ces recherches étaient une "fantaisie", n'ayant d'autre but que de se faire de "la publicité" en distrayant le public de la vraie recherche de la petite Maddie qui, selon les parents, serait en vie quelque part. Des proches des parents ont déclaré: "Il n'y a aucune preuve que Madeleine soit dans le réservoir".

The McCann parents are furious about these searches.

Kate and Gerry reacted with, "fury," according to the British press, on learning that the divers had started excavations at the lake. The couple stated that the searches were a, "fantasy," having no other purpose than to attract , "publicity," for themselves while distracting the public from the real search for little Madeleine who, according to the parents, is alive somewhere. Relatives of the parents stated, "There is no proof that Madeleine is in the reservoir.

"Un show TV sur ITV"

"Les parents McCann sont en pourparler avec la chaîne ITV à propos d'un documentaire sur les enfants disparus. Le film mettra en scène Kate et Gerry ainsi que leurs expériences en se concentrant sur la manière dont les différents pays réagissent lors de la disparition d'un enfant. L'émission se penchera sur le projet Amber aux États-Unis, qui affiche sur des panneaux d'affichage des alertes dès qu'un enfant disparaît."

A TV show for ITV

The McCann parents are in talks with the channel ITV about a documentary on missing children. The film will feature Kate and Gerry and their experiences, concentrating on the ways that different countries react to the disappearance of a child. The production will focus on the Amber project in the United States, which posts alerts on billboards when a child disappears.

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It seems to me that for a system like the Amber Alert to work well, there needs to be as much information as possible to be placed with the alert. After all, the information is supposed to, "alert," other people to look out for the child. That information, as far as I have seen on Amber Alert tickers, usually includes a good description of the child, where they were last seen, what the child was wearing and description of person(s) and vehicles thought to be involved.

So, immediately following Madeleine's disappearance, would an Amber Alert have been useful? What information would have been available?

Last seen in her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, wearing white...um.. no....pink pyjamas with Eeyore image. No vehicle description available. Person to look out for in connection with the disappearance? Well, a local bartender, shown a sketch from a witness' description, said the suspect looked like, "an egg with hair."

So, to sum up the information! Holiday apartment, pink Eeyore pyjamas, egg with hair, blonde female child 90cm tall.

Well, not very helpful, I imagine!

The PJ: I don't think they're here yet!

According to a report in today's Daily Mail, the Portuguese police will arrive in the UK within the next two weeks. They hope to complete the interrogations within a week, but they will be able to and organised to remain in the UK for up to two months.

All seven friends who dined with Kate and Gerry McCann will be questioned, according to the report, before Kate and Gerry themselves are subject to interrogation. The Mail appears to be quoting the Portuguese newspaper, "24 Horas," with the details.

"Officers are planning to quiz Kate and Gerry McCann, as well as the other seven friends who were with them when Madeleine disappeared, Portuguese daily 24 horas reported today.

"Madeleine's parents will be the last to face questioning because we want to have as much ammunition as possible in terms of forensic evidence and other witness statements," the paper quoted a police insider as saying."

"Ammunition."? The use of this word by the, "police insider," might imply that the Portuguese police are seeking to have enough evidence to place before Kate and Gerry to produce what? A confession of involvement in their daughter's disappearance? Surely not just some kind of admission of neglect when the, "insider," speaks of forensic evidence? Well, "Lassie," seems to be doing a fine job in Jersey at the moment, though I am not sure if Philomena McCann was referring to Eddie or Keela, or maybe she was using, "Lassie," as a cover-all term for both dogs and their skills. Don't diss dem doggies, Aunty Phil! They are pretty damned clever, don't you think?

Maybe the track record of these doggies will add weight to any forensic evidence which the PJ have, although I do recall that Clarence said there was an innocent explanation for any evidence which the PJ, "..may or may not have." Oh Clarence! When I get really bored, I do wonder how there could be an innocent explanation for evidence the PJ may not have. What evidence might that be? Are we talking filthy rumours here or are we talking about something else?

Anyway! It looks like I was a bit premature in my celebration of the PJ being already on our shores!

"Detectives investigating the four-year-old's disappearance are set to jet to the UK later this month for fresh interviews with the so-called Tapas Nine."

Daily Mail 11/03/08

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.

Diving resumed at Arade Dam

DIVERS RESUMED a search of the waters at the Arade Dam today (Monday) in a private operation commissioned by the Madeira-based lawyer Marcos Aragão Pereira.

The Portugal Resident 10/03/08

"The operation started shortly after 10am near the dam’s level control tower as the information obtained Mr Aragão points strongly to that area of the lake.

The search is being directed by Martin Falkous, who has five divers from Dive Time, based in Lagos, plus two from the Portimão Bombeiros who have joined the operation in their own time.

They have been trained in searching for bodies and were invited to participate by José Paias, who is sponsoring the operations"

"Martin Falkous said that they were looking for a body or body parts. If anything is found, the divers have been told not to bring it to surface but instead mark the spot with buoys for another boat to be called to carry out recovery.

Visibility in the water is very poor and the divers are using touch and feel in their search. With mud being between one and two metres deep at the bottom of the water, the colour changed from a dark green to light brown within seconds of the divers beginning the search."

"Because of these conditions, Martin Falkous has instructed the divers to bring up to the surface any strange objects, or objects out of the ordinary, that they find to be identified.

When divers arrived at the dam this morning, Marcos Aragão Pereira was already there with his assistant Telma Fernandes, and José Paias, one of the partners of SPEC, Lda, an engineering company based in Portimão which is sponsoring 50 per cent of the cost of the operation.

A few minutes later, Heldér Braz, who is in charge of the dam’s monitoring and control system, joined the group as Marcos Aragão Pereira asked INAG, the national water agency which controls all the dams in the country, to allow the divers to go inside the water tower tubs.

This followed the first phase of searches, held in late January and February, when divers found an entrance covered by a metal grate and could not search inside the water tubes leading to the tower.

The system is used to water the fields located in the south side of the dam and the last time they were accessible was in 1998, when the dam was emptied.

The search is expected to continue until the end of the week and Marcos Aragão Pereira has said that if Madeleine McCann’s body is found in the Arade dam, he will reveal all the information related to the tip-off that has led to the search."

Portuguese police arrive in the UK

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

I haven't seen any news on TV or on news agencies' web sites yet, but I have heard that the PJ flew into Birmingham airport earlier today.

From Enfants Kidnappés:

"Lettres rogatoires" "Dans la suite des épisodes concernant les lettres rogatoires, on apprend qu'entre un et trois détectives portugais seraient partis pour les R-U. Notons, qu'il serait prévus de multiples interrogatoires qui ne se limiteraient pas qu'aux amis et parents. On parle d'un minimum de 14 personnes qui seront interrogés par la police britannique assisté de leurs homologues portugais."

Rogatory letters

In the follow-up to the episodes concerning the rogatory letters, we have learned that between one and three Portuguese detectives will have left for the UK. We note that multiple interrogations are anticipated, which will not be limited to the friends and parents. There is talk of a minimum of 14 people who will be interrogated by the British police, assisted by their Portuguese counterparts.

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This is very interesting news. Previously, I had read that three people were to be interrogated by the British police; Russell O'Brien, Jane Tanner and David Payne. If this is true, that a minimum of 14 people will be interrogated, then I wonder who the others are. There is much speculation on internet forums this evening; the two nannies who worked in the Ocean Club creche; Jez Wilkins, who was the person on holiday at the same time as the McCanns, who chatted with Gerry outside the apartment on the evening of May 3rd; friends and family of the McCanns who received phone calls following the discovery that Madeleine had disappeared.

Rumour has it that the PJ will be in the UK for three days, departing on the 13th. I wonder if the UK press will follow their progress, or if any news will come from reports in the Portuguese, French and Spanish press? If the news from Enfants Kidnappés and talk on the forums is accurate, the PJ will have a few busy days. Good luck to them! I do hope that their visit will serve to move this investigation forwards.

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.

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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

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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.

SOS Madeleine McCann: parents threaten the Express newspaper group with legal action?

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

"McCann veulent des actions en justice pour renflouer les caisses du Fonds Madeleine"

"Les avocats du couple McCann ont entamé des contacts avec plusieurs médias britanniques les menacent des poursuites en justice pour leur couverture dans le cadre de disparition de leur fille Madeleine et de leur constitution comme arguidos par les autorités portugaises."

The McCanns want legal action to replenish the coffers of the Madeline Fund.

The lawyers for the McCann couple have initiated contacts with several British media, threatening them with legal action for their coverage in the case of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine and their constitution as arguidos by the Portuguese authorities.

"Le groupe Express est, pour le moment, le principal visé par les McCann qui voudraient obtenir un règlement à l'amiable qui passerait pas le versement d’une compensation financière."

The Express group is, for the moment, the main target of the McCanns, who would like to obtain an amicable settlement, which would not rule out the payment of financial compensation.

"Récemment, le Daily Express, principal publication du groupe, a retiré de son site internet tous les articles publiés à propos de la disparition de Madeleine McCann. Le Groupe Express publie également le Sunday Express, le Daily Star et le Daily Star Sunday."

Recently, the Daily Express, the main publication of the group, has withdrawn from its internet site all published articles about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The Express Group also publishes the Sunday Express, the Daily Star and the Daily Star on Sunday.

"Clarence Mitchell, ancien journaliste du Daily Express et actuel responsable en relations publiques de Gerry et Kate McCann, s’est dit "extrêmement insatisfait de la couverture du Groupe Express," rajoutant qu’il s’agit "du plus mauvais parmi tous les tabloïds"

Clarence Mitchell, former journalist with the Daily Express and currently public relations spokesman for Gerry and Kate, said he was, "extremely dissatisfied with the Express Group's coverage," adding that this is, "the worst among the tabloids."

"En vertu de la loi britannique, les avocats de Kate et Gerry McCann ont une année, après la publication d'un article, pour décider s'ils souhaitent entamer des poursuites en justice contre son contenu."

Under British law, the lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann have one year after the publication of an article to decide if they wish to initiate legal action against its contents.

"Clarence Mitchell à confirmé que l’argent récolté par une possible action en justice servirait à renflouer les caisses du Fonds Madeleine, pratiquement vides après la chute du nombre de donations."

Clarence Mitchell stated that the money raised by a possible legal action would serve to replenish the coffers of the Madeleine fund, virtually empty after the fall in the number of donations.

"Le Fonds Madeleine à été utilisé jusqu’à présent pour rembourser deux mensualités de l’emprunt que les McCann ont contracté pour l’achat de leur maison, pour financer les campagnes d’affiches et une partie des versements mensuels à l’agence de détectives Metodo 3."

The Madeleine Fund has been used, up to now, to make two monthly payments on the mortgage which the McCanns took out to buy their house, to fund the poster campaigns and a portion of the monthly payments to the detective agency Metodo 3.

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.

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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.

Enfants Kidnappés: The British police in Portugal

Enfants Kidnappés 7th March

"La police britannique au Portugal.

"Un inspecteur de la police britannique est allé, cette semaine, au Portugal afin de déterminer les modalités pour les nouveaux interrogatoires demandés dans les lettres rogatoires. Le "superintendant" Stuart Prior est venu au Portugal et est rentré aux Royaumes-Unis hier. La date précise à laquelle aura lieu les interrogatoires n'a pas encore été déterminée. C'est ainsi que l'on ne sait pas encore quand les détectives portugais pourront se rendre en Angleterre afin de participer aux interrogatoires."

A British police inspector went to Portugal this week in order to determine the methods for the new interrogations requested in the rogatory letters. Superintendent Stuart Prior came to Portugal and returned to the United Kingdom yesterday. The precise date when the interrogations will take place has not yet been determined. Thus, it is not known when the Portuguese detectives can go to England to take part in the interrogations.

"Metodo3 reste engagée.

"Selon la presse britannique, l'agence de détectives, Metodo3, reste "au service des parents". En effet et contre toute attente, les responsable du fonds pour trouver Madeleine ont voté le maintien de Metodo3 comme agence de détective et prolonge ainsi leur contrat."

Metodo3 contract extended

According to the British press, the detective agency Metodo3 remains, "in the service of the parents." In fact, the trustees of the Find Madeleine Fund voted to maintain Metodo3 as a detective agency and thus extend their contract.

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.

SOS Madeleine McCann on the Jet-Ski story

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

SOS Madeleine McCann blog says basically the same as Enfants Kidnappés about the new witness statements concerning Jet-ski man. The last paragraph is worth quoting.

"Source proche de l’enquête à confirmée que la Police judiciaire avait reçu cette information au mois de mai, via un membre du personnel de l’Océan Club, à qui le couple avait raconté toute l’histoire, mais que l’information n’avait aucune relation avec la disparition de Madeleine. "Cette information à été verifié et investigué", affirme la même source."

A source close to the enquiry has confirmed that the PJ had received this information in May, via a member of the Ocean Club's staff, to whom the couple had related the whole story, but that the information had no connection to Madeleine's disappearance. "That information was verified and investigated," stated the same source.

I wonder who is digging up all these old stories, which all seem to have been investigated and ruled out by the PJ.

Encore un nouveau témoignage: Another new witness statement

Enfants Kidnappés March 4th

"Visite des parents."

"Les parents de Madeleine, Kate et Gerry, ont visité une "association d'aide aux enfants disparus" de Richmond. Ils ont rencontré des représentants de East Sheen, oeuvre de charité dont l'objectif essentiel est: " les enfants disparus en Europe". Les parents se sont montrés très intéressés sur le rôle de la Fédération Européenne pour les Enfants Disparus et Sexuellement Exploités ainsi que sur leurs travaux. Kate et Gerry ont montré un intérêt particulier sur leur nouveau programme de recherche qui vise à combler les lacunes dans les informations actuellement disponible sur le nombre de personnes disparues, pourquoi elles disparaissent et l'impact sur ceux qui restent."

The Parents' visit

Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, visited a Richmond based, "association to help missing children." They met with the East Sheen representative of the charity, whose essential objective is: "missing children in Europe." The parents showed great interest in the role of the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children as well as in their work. Kate and Gerry showed particular interest in their new research programme, which looks to fill the gaps in the information actually available on the number of missing people, why they disappear and the impact on those who are left behind.

"De nouveaux témoignages"

"Madeleine serait sortie en cachette du Portugal à l'aide d'un jet-ski affirme un couple britannique. Ils disent avoir vu un homme sur la plage de Praia Da Luz le lendemain matin de la disparition de Madeleine."

New witness statements

A British couple states that Madeleine was taken stealthily from Portugal with the aid of a jet-ski. They say that they saw a man on the beach at Praia Da Luz, the morning after Madeleine disappeared.

(This is interesting because the Daily Mail of the same date states, A British couple saw a package being bundled onto a jetski on a beach just six miles from where Madeleine McCann went missing.
So, according to this article, it wasn't the beach at Praia Da Luz, surely!)

"L'homme portait un "colis suspect" sur ces genoux alors qu'à l'aide d'un jet-ski il a rejoint un bateau amarré au large. Selon ces touristes, le colis "était assez gros pour contenir le corps de Madeleine". Le couple a fait une déclaration à la police portugaise et le couple a affirmé "croire fermement à ce qu'ils ont vu et être certain que cela pourrait être relié à l'affaire Madeleine". Il est toutefois intéressant de noter que c'est la première fois que la presse britannique, dont est issu cette information, fait état d'un témoignage ne parlant pas de Madeleine en vie accompagnée d'untel mais bien de son corps dans un paquet! Notons toutefois que la presse ne précise pas s'il s'agit d'un corps en vie ou non."

The man was carrying a, "suspect package," on his knees while using a jet-ski and he joined a boat moored offshore. According to these tourists, the package, "was big enough to contain Madeleine's body." The couple have made a statement to the police and they stated that they, "firmly believed in what they saw and are certain that this could be related to the Madeleine case." It is, however, interesting to note that this is the first time that the British press, in issuing this information, refers to a witness statement which does not speak of Madeleine alive, accompanied by somebody, but of her dead body in a package! It is noted, however, that the press is not precise about whether it is a living body or not.

"38.6% des portugais pensent que les parents sont coupables."

"Selon un sondage pour le Correio da Manha, 38,6 pour cent des portugais pensent que les parents de Madeleine ont fait disparaître le corps de la petite. Par contre, 30,7 % considèrent que les parents n'ont aucune responsabilité dans ce qui s'est passé et 30,7 % n'ont pas d'avis sur la question. Ce sondage, pas si anodin que ça, n'apporte pas de réels informations sur l'affaire ni de véritables avancées. Toutefois ils nous a parut opportun d'en parler. Dans une dépêche d'agence tombée à l'instant, le porte-parole des parents, Clarence Mitchell se dit satisfait des résultats du sondage du quotidien portugais."

According to a survey for Correio da Manhan, 38.6 per cent of Portuguese people think that Madeleine's parents concealed the little girl's body. On the other hand, 30.7% consider that the parents bear no responsibility for what happened and 30.7% have no opinion on the subject. This survey, though not insignificant, does not carry any actual information about the case nor any real progress. All the same, it seemed appropriate for us to mention it. In an immediate reply, Clarence Mitchell, the spokesman for the parents, said he was satisfied with the results of the Portuguese Daily's survey.

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As far as I can tell, Enfants Kidnappés is usually accurate about details in its reporting. So, it seems odd to me that the author is reporting that the man on the jet-ski was seen on the beach at Praia Da Luz and the UK press is reporting that he was on a beach six miles away. I'm sure the beach at Praia Da Luz isn't that long.

Another odd thing is Clarence Mitchell's being satisfied with the results of the survey. Basically, more than 50% of those who voiced an opinion think that Kate and Gerry McCann concealed the body of their daughter. I don't think that would be satisfying to me if I were one of those involved in this case, especially if I were an official suspect. However, since public opinion is not what matters if this case goes to court, the results will not affect the final outcome.

Inspectors from the PJ are expected to visit the UK very soon to question three of the friends who were on holiday with the McCanns in order to confirm their initial statements. There has been much speculation about what evidence the Portuguese police may or may not have, and we have the reported statement from Clarence that there is an innocent explanation for any evidence the PJ may or may not have. However, since evidence in this case is subject to Portuguese laws of secrecy, I guess we will have to wait and see.

We can only hope, for Madeleine's sake, that there will be a resolution to this case in the not too distant future and we will finally know what happened to her on the evening of May 3rd, 2007. I spent months, praying, in the fervent hope that Madeleine would be found alive and unharmed, but that hope has gradually faded and, like many others, I now believe that Madeleine probably died on or around May 3rd 2007. My hope is now that her body may be found and she can be laid to rest.

Witness in the McCann case becomes advisor in the House of Commons

"Témoin du cas McCann deviens conseillère de la Chambre des Communs"

SOS Madeleine McCann 2/03/08

Witness in the McCann case becomes advisor in the House of commons.

"Sheree Dodd, un des experts en communication que le Ministère des affaires étrangers – Foreign Office – avait envoyé au Portugal pour aider le couple McCann à gérer la campagne de médiatisation de la disparition de leur fille Madeleine, viens d’être engagée par le porte-parole de la Chambre des communs, Michael Martin, pour "améliorer" sa réputation et sa relation avec les médias. "

Sheree Dodd, one of the communications experts that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Foreign Office - had sent to Portugal to help the McCann couple manage their media campaign on the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine, has just been appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, to improve his reputation and his relations with the media.

"Ancienne journaliste du Daily Mirror, Sheree Dodd à travaillé comme responsable en communication pour différents services gouvernementaux du Royaume-Uni. Elle travaille régulièrement pour le bureau central d’information comme expert indépendant."

A former Daily Mirror journalist, Sheree Dodd has worked as communication spokesperson for various United Kingdom government services. She works regularly for the Central Information Bureau as an independent expert.

"Dans la disparition de Madeleine, et après neuf jours de travail à Praia da Luz, Sheree Dodd avait soulevé plusieurs questions jugés délicates par le Foreign Office, étant remplacé immédiatement par Clarence Mitchell."

After nine days of work in Praia da Luz on Madeleine's disappearance, Sheree Dodd having raised several issues judged to be sensitive by the Foreign Office, was immediately replaced by Clarence Mitchell.

"Le nom de Sheree Dodd fait partie d’une liste de témoins dans le procès Madeleine McCann."

The name Sheree Dodd is part of a list of witnesses in the Madeleine McCann trial.

(Editor's note: yes it does say trial.)

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I find that second to last sentence rather ambiguous. I'm trying to decide if the author means that after Sheree Dodd left PDL, she was immediately replaced by Clarence Mitchell and it was nothing to do with the sensitive issues raised or if Sheree was immediately replaced because she brought up those issues.

Une lettre anonyme indique où se trouve le corps de Yeremi

An anonymous letter indicates where the body of Yeremi is to be found.

Enfants Kidnappés 1/03/08

"Suite à une lettre anonyme reçue au siège de la Police Locale de Pájara, a incité un groupe d'agent de la Garde Civile à faire de nouvelles recherches du petit Yeremi Vargas. La lettre anonyme, accompagnée d'un croquis, indiquait l'endroit où pourrait se trouver les "restes" du petite Yeremi. Après quatre heures de recherches infructueuses, le dispositif a été suspendu suite à la tombée de la nuit, les recherches pourraient reprendre demain. Le lieu décrit par la lettre est une des plus importantes îles de la région avec 810 mètres de long. Il faut disposer d'un véhicule tout terrain pour y accéder et à mi parcours, vous êtes obligé de poursuivre à pied dans des terrains escarpés. Un cadavre a été retrouvé par accident à l'endroit. Celui d'un étranger, en état avancé de décomposition et sans signe apparent de violence."

Following an anonymous letter received at the headquarters of the Pajara local police, a group of agents of the Civil Guard was led to make fresh searches for the young boy Yeremi Vargas. The anonymous letter, accompanied by a sketch indicated the place where the remains of little Yeremi could be found. After four hours of fruitless searching, the mission was suspended at nightfall; the searches could continue tomorrow. The place described by the letter is 810 metres long and one of the most largest islands of the region. You need to use an all terrain vehicle for access here and half-way through, you have to progress on on foot in the hilly areas. A body was found by accident in the area. It was that of a foreigner, in an advanced state of decomposition and with no apparent signs of violence.

"Il est supposé que l'homme aura été victime d'un malaise cardiaque alors qu'il effectuait une randonnée, le lieu étant très prisé par les touristes amoureux de la nature sauvage et des longues promenades. L'initiative de la Garde Civile, qui était soutenue par les membres de la Police Locale, fait partie d'une dynamique établie par la cellule de recherche afin de renforcer les vérifications de toutes les pistes possibles par rapport à la disparition du petit afin de ne rien laisser au hasard. Dans ce même esprit, les membres de la Garde Civile et de la Protection Civile, avaient inspecté, dans les jours suivant la disparition, un nombre impressionnant de puits situés dans un rayon autour du domicile de Yeremi. Selon la police, la lettre anonyme reçue n'était pas manuscrite - on ignore si elle était écrite par ordinateur ou taper à la machine à écrire - et était accompagnée d'un plan où, à l'aide d'un cercle, était indiqué le lieu probable où le corps du petit se trouverait. La police n'exclut pas la possibilité qu'il puisse s'agir d'un canular de mauvais goût. Si tel devait-être le cas, une enquête serait ouverte afin d'identifier l'auteur de cette lettre dans le but de le mettre à disposition des autorités judiciaires."

It is thought that the man had been the victim of a heart attack while on a hike. The area is a favourite with tourists who love the unspoilt nature and long walks. The initiative of the Civil Guard, which was supported by members of the local police, is part of a process set up by the search group with the objective of verifying every possible avenue in the disappearance of the little boy and leaving nothing to chance. In the same spirit, members of the Civil Guard and Civil Defence, in the days following the disappearance, had inspected an impressive number of wells located within a radius around Yeremi's home. According to the police, the anonymous letter they received was not hand-written - it is not clear whether it was written on a computer or on a typewriter - and it was accompanied by a map, where a circle indicated the likely place where the body of the little boy would be found. The police are not excluding the possibility that it could be a hoax, in very bad taste. It that were the case, an enquiry would be opened with the objective of identifying the author of that letter with the objective of bringing them before the judicial authorities.

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

I have not, as yet, seen an update on this story today, but I will add it when I find that it is available. The Enfants Kidnappés article states that the search could resume today.

Gerry McCann, wtf are you talking about?

(Pictured right, Javian Matthews)

On day 302 since the disappearance of Madeleine, Gerry McCann makes an entry in his blog about a couple of charities involved with missing and abducted children. Gerry refers to the Missing People organisation with whose representative he says he had a meeting.

"Missing People were responsible for displaying Madeleine’s image on Marble arch, along with 2 other missing children last summer. It was heartening to hear today that one of those children was recovered as a direct result and the other has also been successfully returned to his family."

Here Gerry refers to the display of images of three children, projected onto Marble Arch in May 2007.

"Her picture featured on a huge projected poster along with two other missing children, Javian Matthews, 14, from London and Samantha Osborn, 15, from Buckinghamshire who both disappeared in April this year."

Sky News Friday June 1st 2007

Javian Matthews is reported as having been found, though I cannot find very much in the way of details about his return to his family. Ellee Seymour reports the good news about Javian on her blog. Scroll down to comments.

"Ellee says:

June 26th, 2007 at 5:21 pm

Excellent news, Javian has been found. I have had this email from Missing People:

I have just seen your latest missing case.
Javian Matthews was found on 25 May 2007.

Some websites have out of date information on them. We have noticed SKY news site has 5 cases that have now been found. http://news.sky.com/skynews/madeleine

Javian was found the day after his image was projected on Marble Arch and media coverage. I have no idea if there is a connection and if it helped reunite him with his family, I would assume it did."

Ellee Seymour June 26th 2007

So, let's return to what Gerry McCann has written in his blog.

"It was heartening to hear today that one of those children was recovered as a direct result and the other has also been successfully returned to his family."

One of those children was, "recovered," and the other was, "also," reunited with his family. My understanding of this is that the child referred to as, "recovered," was reunited with her family. I say, "her," because Gerry can only be referring to Samantha Osborn, the other female child whose image was projected onto Marble Arch.

Gerry, are you implying that this information was given to you at your meeting with a representative of the Missing People organisation? The reason I ask this is that I am quite sure that that organisation is well aware of the situation regarding Samantha and I doubt they would say she had been, "recovered," and she has definitely not been reunited with her family.

Did they really say that about Samantha, Gerry? And just what do you understand by, "recovered."? Samantha disappeared aged 15 and it was thought she had left home to meet a man she had met on the internet. Her, "recovery," if such it was, took the form of Samantha's contacting the police soon after her 16th birthday and arranging to be interviewed at the home of David Manning, the man in his 20s, whom she met on the internet. She is still, to my knowledge, living with David Manning. A few months ago, a schools truancy officer paid her a visit as she is under school-leaving age and has not been attending any place of education.

Would you still say that Samantha had been, "recovered," Gerry? And do tell us; where on earth did you get that information from? I would be surprised if Missing People were to describe Samantha as having been, "recovered." Her whereabouts discovered maybe, but she has hardly been, "recovered." And I repeat, Gerry, she has not also been reunited with her family.

For more information click on the link in the menu on the right, "Samantha Osborn."

That doggie can sniff through concrete!

Eddie, that amazing doggie, trained by South Yorkshire police officer Martin Grime, has been helping the Jersey police with their investigations at the former children's home, "Haut de la Garenne." Here is some information from the BBC about Eddie, his training and his remarkable skills.

BBC 26/02/08

"A child's remains were discovered under several inches of concrete at a former children's home in Jersey after police bought in dogs to search the site. But how can they sniff through concrete?"

Eddie is described as, "an advanced human remains discovery dog," in the UK press and as a, "cadaver dog," in US parlance. By Philomena McCann, Eddie is referred to as, "Lassie," who would bark at anything! So, Philomena, now that Eddie has found human remains under several inches of concrete, do you really think he barks at anything or that he reacted to the scent of soiled nappies and rotting meat?

"Jersey Police said the seven-year-old dog located parts of a child's body even though they were buried under several inches of concrete. So how did he do it?"

"The specialist training techniques - which are highly confidential - were developed by Eddie's handler Martin Grime, along with the UK's National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)."

"We don't discuss what the training involves, but it's a lot more than putting bits of meat on the ground for them to hunt out," says Mr Grime, a retired South Yorkshire Police officer who now works as an independent consultant."

"A standard sniffer dog is like a basic tool. An enhanced dog goes through much more training and is a lot more discriminating about smells, basically its nose is super sensitive. It's also about getting the dog to really focus on a task."

"Other dogs have to do other police duties but mine work full-time in this area, making them very sharp and highly skilled."

The dogs have been used by police forces across the world and were called in to help with the Madeleine McCann investigation."

So, there we have it! Eddie has not been trained using bits of meat nor do I imagine is he fooled by bits of meat in the course of his work. He is specially trained to sniff out human remains and he has shown his effectiveness in Jersey by sniffing out the skeletal remains of a child, hidden, it is thought, since the 1980s.

Will this help Philomena to change her mind about, "Lassie."? Perhaps it will give more credence to the way that Eddie reacted to traces of bodily fluids alleged to have been found in the vehicle Kate and Gerry McCann rented 25 days after their daughter's disappearance.

Eddie's reactions are not thought to be solid evidence in themselves and the samples analysed by FSS are reported to be, "inconclusive," but there are probably a few people changing their minds about the reliability of Eddie and his friend Keela.