False reporting of Madeleine in Sydney.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

"Faux signalement de Maddie à Sydney"

"La police australienne est intervenue après un appel signalant la présence de Madeleine McCann dans une station de trains, au centre du quartier d’affaires à Sydney. Une fois encore il s’agissait d’une fausse alarme car l’enfant, une fillette aux cheveux blonds, était bien accompagnée par son père."

The Australian police intervened after a call indicating the presence of Madeleine McCann in a train station in the business quarter of Sydney. Once again it was a false alarm as the child, a little girl with blonde hair, was accompanied by her father.

"Le temps que la police arrive, le personnel de la compagnie de trains surveillait discrètement le "suspect," un homme dans la quarantaine portant un béret noir. L’information à été révélé ce matin par le journal australien Daily Telegraph " (photo de Stephen Cooper)

By the time the police arrived, the train company's staff were discretely watching the, "suspect," a man in his forties wearing a black beret. The information was revealed this morning by the Australian journal, the Daily Telegraph.

"Depuis sa disparition, il y a presque un an, un nombre important de personnes, un peux partout dans le monde, ont affirmée avoir aperçue la petite britannique. Si certains témoignages sont considérées comme suspects par les autorités, notamment au Maroc, d’autres sont vus comme le résultat d’une trop grande médiatisation."

Since her disappearance, nearly a year ago, a significant numner of people, from all over the world, have claimed to have seen the little British girl. If certain witness statements were considered as, suspicious by the authorities, notably in Morocco, others were seen as the result of too much media attention.

Enfants Kidnappés: Robert Murat under surveillance?

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

"Des appareils de surveillances sophistiqués placés chez Robert Murat."

"Le britannique accusé dans l'enquête sur la disparition de Madeleine McCann, a trouvé des dispositifs de surveillance et de localisation dissimulés dans deux voitures, affirme la presse portugaise. La page internet du site immobilier on-line a été piratée. Il s'agit du site romigen.com (Robert - RO - Michaela -MI - et Gen de genèse, soit naissance)."

Sophisticated surveillance equipment placed on Robert Murat.

The Portuguese press states that the British man accused in the enquiry into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, found surveillance devices and tracking equipment hidden in two cars. The internet page of the online estate agents has been pirated. This is the site, romigen.com. (Robert - RO - Michaela - MI - Gen for genesis, being creation)

"Le compte de courrier électronique a été dévié vers une autre adresse. L'avocat de Robert Murat aurait reçu la semaine dernière la preuve la plus importante, une copie d'un e-mail pirate. L'intrusion informatique a été détectée par Robert Murat lui même vers Noël. Sergey Malinka, ami de Murat et informaticien, lui a téléphoné parce qu'il trouvait étrange la demande que Murat lui avait envoyé par e-mail. Or, Murat n'a pas envoyé cet e-mail."

The email had been diverted to a another address. Last week, Robert Murat's lawyer received the lost important proof, a copy of a pirate email. The intrusion had been detected by Robert Murat himself around Christmas time. Sergey Malinka, a friend of Murat and a computer expert, telephined him because he strange the request that Murat had sent to him by email. However, Murat did not send that email.

"Rappelons que dans la phase initial des recherches sur la disparition de Madeleine, la PJ avait enquêté sur Malinka et avait saisi son matériel informatique, mais le ressortissant russe n'a pas été placé sous statut d'arguido."

Let's remember that in the initial phase of the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, the PJ had investigated Malinka and had seized his computer equipment, but the Russian citizen had not been placed under arguido status.

"Avant le coup de fil de Malinka, Robert Murat avait fait d'autres découvertes. Un jour il a voulu réparer une panne de son utilitaire Volkswagen Transporteur vert. Il s'est mis en dessous du véhicule et a découvert un étrange dispositif collé sous le véhicule. Il a vérifié la Skoda Fabia qu'il avait prêté à Michaela Walczuch, et sous la voiture était collé également un dispositif de localisation."

Before the phone call from Malinka, Robert Murat had made other discoveries. One day he wanted to repair a problem with his green Volkswagen Transporter. He got under the vehicle and discovered a strange device stuck underneath it. He checked the Skoda Fabia which he had lent to Michaela Walczuch, and under that car was stuck a tracking device.

"La PJ a été appelée sur place et les deux appareils ont été saisis. Les policiers ont garanti ne rien à voir avec ces appareils. Les appareils utilisés enregistrent les déplacements des véhicules sous lesquels ils se trouvent. Après quoi il suffit de les relier à un PC via un port USB pour obtenir les informations voulues. Notons que ce genre d'appareils est en vente libre sur le Net pour environs 180 €"

The PJ was called to the site and the two devices were seized. The police guarantee that they have nothing to do with these devices. The devices used record the movements of the vehicles under which they are placed. After that it is sufficient to connect to a PC via a USB port to obtain the wanted information. We note that this type of equipment is openly sold on the net for around €180.

"Les deux véhicules avaient été saisis en août dernier par la PJ et y sont restés deux jours. Notons que ce genre de procédé est monnaie courante dans de nombreux pays européen, malgré le fait, que bien souvent, ce procédé est formellement interdit par la loi de ces mêmes pays. Souvent utilisé par diverses polices mais toujours niés officiellement."

Both vehicles had been seized by the PJ last August and had been kept by them for two days. We note that this type of procedure is common practice in a number of European countries, in spite of the fact that quite often this procedure is strictly forbidden in law in these same countries. Often used by different police forces, but always officially denied.

"Ceci ne signifie pas que la PJ soit "coupable" de les avoir placé. En effet, d'autres auraient pu avoir intérêt à placer un "mouchard" sur ces véhicules... Metodo3 en tête. D'autant que ces méthodes entrent assez bien dans leur façon d'agir. Mais d'autres, encore, auraient pu avoir recours à ce dispositif.... certains journalistes d'investigation auraient très bien pu faire installer ce genre d'appareils... Mais également certains "auteurs" ou "co-auteurs" dans la disparition de Madeleine auraient pu avoir intérêt à suivre les déplacements de Robert Murat."

This does not mean that the PJ is guilty of having placed them. In fact, others could have had an interest in placing a, "spy," in these vehicles...Metodo3 comes to mind. Especially as these methods are well within their way of working. But there are others who could have had recourse to this activity....certain investigative journalists could very well have installed this type of equipment...But equally certain, "authors," or, "co-authors," in Madeleine's disappearance could have an interest in following Robert Murat's movements.

Telecino5: update on Mari Luz autopsy news

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

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.the3arguidos.net

Rodney Reed oral arguments before notorious judge March 19th

Oral arguments in the quest for a new trial for Rodney Reed will be heard on Wednesday March 19th at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The presiding judge of the CCA, Judge Sharon Keller, has come under fire recently for denying the appeal of Michael Richard -- the last person to be executed in Texas as national de facto moratorium on executions took effect -- because she was unwilling to keep the court open after 5 PM.

Rodney Reed deserves a new trial, where evidence of his innocence can finally be heard in court. Evidence was hidden by police and prosecutors that implicate another suspect in the murder of Stacey Stites. Read the attached fact sheet for an overview of the case. Rodney’s defense has long posited that Jimmy Fennell, the fiance of Stacey, is the more likely suspect in this crime. For recent developments surrounding Jimmy Fennell check out:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/07/0107fennell.html

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/09/0309fennell.html

"Who is Rodney Reed?"

"Rodney Reed has been on Texas’ death row since 1998. He was convicted for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in the small town of Bastrop. Stacey’s brutal murder struck at the very heart of the community, not only for its brutality, but for the sinister chain of events it would set into motion. Rodney’s case is a troubling mixture of prosecutoral misconduct, police corruption, poor defense, and institutional racism. Evidence of Rodney’s innocence is overwhelming and the need for a new trial is indisputable."

To read more about this disturbing case visit:

http://freerodneyreed.org/who.html

To voice your support for Rodney, you can call on one of these numbers:

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
(512) 463-1551

ATTORNEY GENERAL GREG ABBOTT
(512) 463-2100

If you live anywhere near the court, you can attend.

ATTEND ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE OF RODNEY REED
WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 9 AM
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS 201 14TH STREET

Enter through glass doors on plaza which face out to Congress on north side of Capitol. The courtroom should be on the right, or ask at the desk for directions

Update: Rodney Reed's mother, Sandra, will be speaking at this event in Austin, Texas, on April 9th.

CEDP’s 2007 – 2008 National Speaking Tour
A Broken System – Crying out For Justice

In Austin, April 9, 2008
At UT, The Texas Union, Chicano Culture Room

Featuring Mothers of Texas Death Row Prisoners:

Anna Terrell - mother of Reginald Blanton
Lee Greenwood – mother of Joseph Nichols, killed March 7, 2007

Sandra Reed – mother of Rodney Reed

Also a “Live From Death Row” Event, with a live call from a death row prisoner.

So Save the Date!

Arade dam: reports of a bag of bones being found

There have apparently been reports on Spanish TV this evening that a bag of bones was found in the lake of the Arade dam, today, Friday. The bag was covered in mud and was found only a metre away from where the sock was found this week. Inside the bag was a plastic bag and inside that were small bones. The bag was set aside and the PJ contacted. It was reported that th bag was found at just after 3pm.

Esta PasandoTele 5 and Telecino the Spanish channel are both reported to have carried the story. A vet was brought in and was shown on TV washing the bones in the water. It seems to have been confirmed that the remains found in the bag are animal bones and some pieces have been taken for laboratory examination.

Ex-PJ inspector Pavlo Christovao was interviewed on Esta Pasando Tele 5 and he is reported as saying, "We know what happened and we are now very close to the truth. The problem," he went on to say, "is knowing what happened and proving it. The two concepts are completely different but we are very close."

So, it looks like what was found was the evidence of some person's cruelty to animals; small bones in a bag, tied with ropes and weighed down. Some vile person has disposed of unwanted small animals by the look of it.

Very interesting comments from Pavlo Christovao.

SOS Madeleine McCann: "Metodo3 detective paid witnesses in Morocco."

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

"13.03.2008

"Détective de M3 à payé des témoins au Maroc"

M3 à tout fait pour garder les McCann

"Un des détectives travaillant pour Metodo 3 aurait payé des témoins qui ont affirmé avoir aperçue Madeleine au Maroc. L’accusation est faite par une source de la sureté marocaine, responsable de l’interrogatoire des témoins dans le royaume, ou les méthodes de travail de Metodo 3 sont mises en cause par les autorités."

A Metodo3 detective paid witnesses in Morocco.

M3 did everything to keep the MCanns

One of the detectives working for Metodo 3 had paid witnesses who claimed to have seen Madeleine in Morrocco. The accusation is made by a source from Morroccan security, responsible for witness interrogation in the kingdom, where Metodo 3's working methods are criticised by the authorities.

"L’arrestation, d’António Jiménez, un des détectives privés au service des McCann, accusé d’implication dans le vol de plusieurs centaines de kilos de cocaïne et de corruption de fonctionnaires publics, est venu renforcer les suspicions des autorités à propos du travail de l’agence."

The arrest of Antonio Jimenez, one of the private detectives working for the McCanns, who is accused of links to the theft of several hundred kilos of cocaine and corruption of public servants, has reinforced the authorities suspicions regarding the work of the agency.

"Dans le rapport d’audition, un des témoins entendues par la sureté marocaine à admis avoir reçu plusieurs milliers d’euros du détective espagnol qui lui avait demandé de garder l’arrangement secret "pour ne pas affecter les investigations".

In the report of the interview, one of the witnesses heard by Morroccan security admitted to having received several thousand Euros from the Spanish detective, who asked him to keep the arrangement secret, "in order to not affect the investigations"

"António Jiménez, ancien inspecteur-chef de l’Unité de Drogues et Crime Organisé (Udyco) de la police à Barcelone, était l’homme de confiance de Francisco Marco, le directeur de M3, au Maroc. C’est lui qui avait "retrouvée" plusieurs témoins qui ont affirmé avoir vu Madeleine dans le nord du pays. L’homme à même conduit plusieurs journalistes britanniques à la rencontre des témoins."

Antonio Jimenez, former chief inspector of the Unit for Drugs and Organised Crime, of the Barcelona police, was the trusted man in Morrocco of Francisco Marco, the director of M3 in Morocco. It was he who had "found" several witnesses who claimed to have seen Madeleine in the north of the country. The man even took several British journalists to the meet the witnesses.

"Selon la même source, le versement d’argent aurait pu avoir été fait à l’insu de Gerry et Kate McCann, ce que poussent les investigateurs à croire que le détective aurait agit avec l’intention de permettre à l’agence de Barcelone de "marquer des points" auprès de l’opinion publique et de garder ainsi, pour plus longtemps, le contrat avec les parents de Madeleine, leur plus gros client en ce moment"

According to the same source, the payments could have been made without the knowledge of Gerry and Kate McCann, which would push the investigators to believe that the detective had acted with the intention of allowing the Barcelona agency to, "score points," with public opinion and to keep for longer, the contract with Madeleine's parents, who are their biggest clients at the moment.

"Nous avons pu déterminer, avec ce que le témoin nous à appris et les informations que nous avons reçu d’Espagne, que les parents de Madeleine n’ont pas demandé au détective d’agir de la sorte," affirme le responsable de la sûreté marocaine, rajoutant "qu’il n’est pas exclu que l’agence de détectives puisse être la seule responsable de ces faits".

"We have been able to determine, with what the witness told us and the information that we have received from Spain, that Madeleine's parents did not ask the detective to behave in this way," stated the head of Moroccan security, adding that, "it is not ruled out that the detective agency could have been solely responsible for these acts ."

"Déjà en novembre de 2007, en marge de la 76éme assemblée-générale d’Interpol, à Marrakech, le Ministre de l’Intérieur marocain, Chakib Benmoussa affirmait "qu’il n’y avait aucune raison de penser que la petite Madeleine McCann puisse être au Maroc", une opinion confirmée par les investigateurs sur le terrain."

Previously, in November 2007, on the sidelines of the 76th Interpol General Assembly, in Marrakech, Morocco's Minister for the Interior, Chakib Benmoussa, stated that, "there has been no reason to think that little Madeleine could be in Morocco," an opinion confirmed by investigators on the ground.

"Plusieurs voix liées à la police portugaise et britannique se sont soulevées, à diverses occasions, pour critiquer le travail de Metodo 3. C’est le cas de Mark Williams-Thomas, criminaliste britannique et expert en matière de protection d'enfant, pour qui la piste invoquée par Metodo 3 de que Madeleine aurait été enlevée, sur commande, par un réseau pédophile et transportée vers le Maroc, "démontre un manque de connaissance des pédophiles et de comment ils fonctionnent."

Several voices, linked to the Portuguese and British police, have been raised on different occasions, to criticise the work of Matodo3. This is the case with Mark Williams-Thomas, British criminologist and expert on the subject of child protection, for whom the trail followed by Metodo3 that Madeleine had been abducted, to order, by a paedophile network and taken to Morocco, "demonstrates a lack of understanding of paedophiles and how they operate."

"Depuis la disparition de Madeleine McCann, le 3 mai 2007, plusieurs dizaines de témoins ont affirmé avoir aperçue la petite britannique, mais c’est après l’engagement de Metodo 3 que les témoignages dans les médias sont devenues plus réguliers, indiquant à chaque fois une piste vers le Maroc, sans que l’agence de détectives puisse, à ce jour, apporter la moindre preuve."

Since Madeleine McCann's disappearance, on May 3rd 2007, several dozen witnesses have claimed to have seen the little British girl, but it is after Metodo3 were contracted that the witness statements in the media have become more regular, indicating each time a trail towards Morocco, without the detective agency, to this day, being able to offer the least proof.

"Francisco Marco, le directeur très médiatique de Metodo 3, avait fait son apparition avec la promesse de que la fillette serait retrouvée avant la fin d’un contrat de six mois avec Kate et Gerry McCann. Francisco prétendait même connaître l’identité des auteurs de l’enlèvement et que Madeleine serait auprès de ses parents pour noël."

Francisco Marco, the high-profile director of Metodo3, had made an appearance with the promise that the little girl would be found before the end of a six month contract with Kate and Gerry McCann. Francisco even claimed that he knew the identity of the perpetrators of the abduction and that Madeleine would be with her parents for Christmas.

"Ce n’est pas la première fois que les membres de M3 sont mis en cause. Dans le passé, cinq membres de l'agence de Barcelone avaient déjà été arretés par la police dans une sombre histoire d’ecoutes illégales et de corruption, notamment Francisco Marco, sa mère, Maria Fernandez Lado, son père, Francisco Marco Poyuelo, son frère Francisco Gabriel Fernandez Lado, et un employé, Oscar Trujillo."

This is not the first time that members of M3 have been involved. In the past, five members of the Barcelona agency were arrested by the police in a serious story about illegal phone-tapping and corruption, notably Francisco Marco, his mother Maria Fernandez Lado, his father Francisco Marco Poyuelo, his brother Francisco Gabriel Fernandez Lado, and an employee Oscar Trujillo.

"Tous les moyens sont bons"

"Clarence Mitchell, questionné à propos des accusations faites à Metodo 3, commence par affirmer "qu’il n'en sais rien", et qu’il "n’est pas en mesure de faire un commentaire," mais vite il reprend son rôle de responsable en communication et relativise affirmant que "tous les moyens sont bons" pour les investigations des détectives privées : "C’est possible que au cours de l’investigation ils ont pu payer des renseignements", à admis le responsable en communication au service des McCann."

Clarence Mitchell, questioned about the accusations made against Metodo3, begins by stating, "that he knows nothing about it," and, "he is unable to comment," but quickly he takes up his role again as PR spokesperson and rationalises, stating that, "all methods are good," for the investigations of the private detectives: "It is possible that in the course of the investigation that they could have paid for information," admitted the PR spokesperson working for the McCanns.

"Metodo 3, affirme Clarence Mitchell, "garde la confiance de ceux qui paient leurs frais, car ils trouvent qu'ils démontrent leur engagement et passion à retrouver Madeleine"

Clarence Mitchell states that Metodo3, "keep the trust of those who pay their fees, because they find that they demonstrate their commitment and passion to find Madeleine. "

"Les mécènes sont contents avec leur travail sur le terrain... des fois ils ont pu traquer des signalements très rapidement… dans certains cas dans l'espace de trois heures et ils sont tout simplement plus rapides, beaucoup plus rapides qu'Interpol ou les services de police dans les pays où ils opèrent et donc les mécènes pensent qu''ils font du bon travail," affirme Clarence rajoutant "bien sûr, ils n'ont pas encore trouvé Madeleine, mais la police non plus". Nous savons que M3 travaille bien, ils n'ont pas besoin de le prouver", conclu Clarence Mitchell"

"The patrons are happy with their work on the ground....the times they were able to track down the alerts very quickly...in certain cases in the space of three hours and they are, quite simply, faster, much faster than Interpol or the police forces in the countries where they operate and so the patrons think that they are doing good work," states Clarence Mitchell, adding, "of course they have not yet found Madeleine, but neither have the police. We know that M3 work well. They have no need to prove it," concludes Clarence Mitchell.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Update from Enfants Kidnappés

"MISE A JOUR:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mari Luz's father may request a second autopsy.

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

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

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

First of all, Gerry's blog!

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

http://www.findmadeleine.com/


And the Daily Mail 10th August, 2007




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

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

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

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

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

Mari Luz linked to Madeleine case?

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

This Is London Updated Sunday 9th March

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Telegraph 17th January 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

Staying with the Daily Mirror, 17th January;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Both children are female.

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

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

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

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

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

The only links I can see are that:

• They both disappeared.

• They are both female children.

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

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

Mari Luz: autopsy being carried out today

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

El Semanal Digital

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

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

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

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

http://www.the3arguidos.net

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

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

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.

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

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.