Enfants Kidnappés: Kate McCann's diary

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

1/08/08

Le journal de Kate 01 août 2008

Le journal de Kate.

Depuis quelques jours, la presse portugaise publie des éléments du journal intime de Kate. Ces éléments font parties du dossier. Il est probable que la partie publiée fasse partie des notes personnels d'un ancien inspecteur de la PJ et que le journal publie. Fort du soutien de leur rédacteur en chef, le dit journal n'hésite pas à révéler de nombreux éléments de l'enquête et ce en guise de réponse au menaces dictatoriales de Clarence Mitchell, porte-parole des McCann. Nous avons décidé à l'association de ne pas parler du contenu de ce journal car comme son nom l'indique, il s'agit d'un journal INTIME.

Kate's Dairy

For a few days, the Portuguese press has been publishing details from Kate's personal diary. These details form part of the case file. It is likely that the published part is part of the personal notes of a former PJ inspector, published by the newspaper. Powerfully supported by their editor-in-chief, the said newspaper does not hesitate to reveal numerous elements of the investigation in the guise of responding to dictatorial threats from Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesperson. We have decided not to talk about the contents of this diary because, as its name suggests, it is a personal diary.

En outre, son contenu ne constitue pas une preuve. Bien au contraire. Ce ne serait pas la première fois qu'un coupable essaye de manipuler la police e indiquant des choses contraire à sa culpabilité dans son journal sachant que tôt ou tard la police le lira. Attention, nous ne disons pas que c'est le cas pour Kate McCann. Nous voulons juste expliquer que ce journal ne constitue en aucun cas un élément de culpabilité ou d'innocence. L'accès au dossier n'étant pas encore autorisé, l'hypothèse qu'il s'agisse des notes personnelles d'un membre de l'enquête nous paraît plus que probable. Si on peut comprendre l'amertume d'avoir été retiré d'une enquête par une hiérarchie ayant courbé l'échine face à la pression politique d'une puissance étrangère, on est en droit de se poser des questions sur l'utilité de divulguer ce genre de détails. D'accord, il ne publie que les parties ayant trait à l'affaire mais malgré tout je ressens un certain malaise dans cette attitude.

In addition, its contents are not evidence. Quite the contrary. This would not be the first time that a guilty person tried to manipulate the police, suggesting things contrary to their guilt, knowing that sooner or later the police would read it. Look, we are not saying that this is the case with Kate McCann. We just want to explain that this dairy does not in any way constitute an element of guilt or innocence. While access to the case file is not yet authorised, the idea that these are the personal notes of a member of the investigation seems more than likely to us. If we can understand the bitterness of having been withdrawn from an investigation by a hierarchy giving way in the face of political pressure from a foreign power, it is right to ask questions about the usefulness of disclosing these details. OK, only the parts concerning the case are published, but in spite of that I am slightly uneasy with this attitude.

Malinka

Sergey Malinka âgé de 23 ans vivait à Praia da Luz et était un ami de Robert Murat nous rappel la presse portugaise. Il fut impliqué dans les remous de l'affaire parce qu'il fut le dernier à avoir contacté Robert Murat après la disparition de Madeleine. C'est lui, également, qui a fait la page Web de la société que Robert Murat dirige avec Michaela Walczuch. Malgré qu'il fût seulement entendu comme témoin, la PJ l'a soupçonné d'être impliqué dans la disparition de Maddie. L'interrogatoire à été dur et on pouvait l'entendre depuis l'extérieur. Les membres de la PJ étaient irrités que leurs questions restaient sans réponses. Son téléphone fut placé sous écoute mais rien n'en n'est ressorti. Le russe fut entendu le 16 mai soit deux jours après que Robert Murat ait été suspecté de l'enlèvement de Madeleine. Le passé de Malinka n'a pas joué en sa faveur. Ce dernier aurait entretenu des relations sexuelles avec des mineurs ce qui fait de lui un prédateur potentiel. La presse portugaise ne précise toutefois pas l'âge des mineurs. S'agissaient-ils de filles ou de garçon ? La réponse est certainement contenue dans le dossier de l'affaire. Une affaire qui sera bientôt rendue public..

Malinka

Sergey Malinka, aged 23, was living in Praia da Luz and was a friend of Robert Murat, the Portuguese press reminds us. He was implicated in the turmoil of the case because he was the last person to have contacted Robert Murat after Madeleine's disappearance. It was also him that built the web page for the company which Robert Murat was running with Michaela Walczuch. In spite of his only having been heard as a witness, the PJ suspected him of having been involved in Maddie's disappearance. The interrogation was hard and could be heard from outside. The members of the PJ were annoyed that their questions remained unanswered. His telephone was placed under surveillance but nothing came of it. The Russian was heard on May 16th, two days after Robert Murat had been suspected of abducting Madeleine. Malinka's past did not play in his favour. The latter had had sexual relations with minors, which made him a potential predator. The Portuguese press did not specify the age of the minors. Was it girls or boys? The answer is certainly contained in the case file, a case which will soon be made public.

L'accès au dossier.

L'affaire sera rendue public dès ce lundi annonce la presse portugaise. Mais on n'imagine pas à quel point. En effet, le dossier sera à disposition des journalistes qui en ont exigés l'accès à partir de lundi matin au tribunal de Portimao et ce de source officielle. Le contenu du dossier va donc s'étaler au grand jour par journaux interposés. Je pense que Clarence Mitchell va avoir beaucoup de procès à préparer. Aura-t-il le temps d'encore chercher Madeleine ?

Access to the case file.

The case will be made public from this Monday, the Portuguese press announces, but I cannot imagine how. Indeed, the file will be available to journalists who have requested access from Monday morning at the court in Portimao and that is official. The contents of the dossier will therefore be open to public scrutiny through the press.*** I think that Clarence Mitchell will have lots of legal actions to prepare. Will he still have the time to look for Madeleine?

Une partie du dossier reste sous le secret de justice.

Les parents ont envoyés au Portugal quelques-uns de leurs avocats britanniques afin de rejoindre le cabinet portugais en charge des intérêts des parents. Ensemble ils vont consulter une partie importante du dossier. Près de 20.000 pages. Ces pages seront copiées puis envoyées au R-U. Après quoi, les parents enverront le dossier à l'agence de détectives qu'ils ont engagé. Cependant, les parents tout comme les journalistes n'auront pas accès à l'entièreté du dossier. Le PGR a décidé de garder sous le couvert du secret de justice une partie du dossier. Le juge responsable de l'affaire a reçu et accepté une demande de maintenir certaines informations sous le secret de justice. Très rapidement de nombreuses personnes se sont imaginés que la PJ était derrière et que cette dernière serait sur quelques pistes intéressantes. C'est, évidemment, possible au vu d'une certaine effervescence qui règne depuis quelques jours au sein de la PJ et des enquêteurs. Mais il existe une autre explication dont nous nous faisions écho le 20 juillet dernier.

Part of the case file remains under the secrecy of justice.

The parents sent a few of their British lawyers to Portugal to join up with the Portuguese office responsible for the parents' interests. Together they will look at a substantial portion of the file, nearly 20,000 pages. These pages will be copied then sent to the UK, after which the parents will send the file to the detective agency which they have hired. However, the parents, like the journalists, will not have access to the whole file. The PGR decided to keep part of the file under the secrecy of justice. The judge in charge of the case received and accepted a request to keep certain information under the secrecy of justice. Very quickly many people imagined that PJ were behind this and that it would be about a few interesting leads. This is obviously possible, in view of a certain excitement prevailing for a few days on the part of the PJ and the investigators, but there is another explanation for which we hark back to July 20th last.

Souvenez-vous:

Un magistrat et deux policiers, parmi lesquels Stuart Prior, officier de liaison avec la PJ, se sont rendu au Tribunal de Portimao afin de demander au Ministère Public de ne pas libérer le secret de justice sur la totalité du dossier "Maddie". Les motivations de cette démarche seraient diverses, selon la presse portugaise. Il y aurait, d'une part, le fait que la police britannique souhaite maintenir secret le contenu de la liste des ressortissants britanniques classés "pédophiles" vivant en Algarve. Ces pédophiles connus ont été clairement identifiés sur une liste que les autorités britanniques ont remise à la PJ et qui fait partie du dossier "Maddie". La levée du secret de justice rendrait le contenu de la liste accessible au publique. L'autre raison, toujours selon la presse portugaise, serait la demande de ne pas levée le secret de justice sur les résultats des tests ADN. Il semblerait que les anglais ne souhaitent pas voir divulguer le rapport préliminaire du labo de Birmingham dans lequel est établi que 15 des 19 marqueurs génétiques coïncident parfaitement avec l'ADN de Madeleine McCann. Ce rapport a été contre dit par la suite. Les vestiges rassemblés derrière le sofa, selon le premier rapport, coïncident, également, avec le profil ADN de Madeleine McCann. C'est ce rapport qui a réconforté la PJ, ainsi que l'officier de liaison britannique, dans leurs soupçons quant au fait que Madeleine soit morte entre 17h30 et 22h00 à l'Ocean Club de Praia da Luz et que le corps fut transporté dans la voiture loué par les parents, 22 jours plus tard.

Remember:

A magistrate and two police officers, amongst them Stuart Prior, liaison officer with the PJ, went to the Portimao court to ask the Public Minister not to open the secrecy of justice on the whole of the, "Maddie," case. There would be various reasons for this approach, according to the Portuguese press. On the one hand, there would be the fact that the British police wish too keep secret the contents of the list of British citizens, classified as paedophiles, living in the Algarve. These known paedophiles were clearly identified on the list that the British authorities handed over to the PJ and that forms part of the, "Maddie," file. The lifting of the secrecy of justice would make the contents of the list accessible to the public. The other reason, still according to the Portuguese press, would be the request not to lift the secrecy of justice on the results of the DNA tests. It would seem that the English do not want to see the disclosure of the preliminary report from the Birmingham lab in which it is established that 15 out of 19 genetic markers are perfectly matched with Madeleine McCann's DNA. It was this report which reassured the PJ, as well as the British police liaison officer, in their suspicions that Madeleine had died between 17.30 and 22.00 at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz and that the body was transported in the car rented by the parents, 22 days later.

Les résultats ADN

Dans un article prochain nous vous parlerons plus en détails des résultats ADN et une généticienne experte en analyse ADN répondra à certaines questions que nos lecteurs se posent... (à suivre...)

The DNA results.

In an article to follow, we will tell you in more detail about the DNA results and a geneticist expert in DNA analysis will answer a few question raised by our readers. (to be continued....)

*** With thanks to Cinnabar at the 3Arguidos for a very elegant translation of that phrase which I found awkward.

Correio da Manha 2/08/08: Goncalo Amaral responds to Clarence Mitchell

Correio da Manha 2/08/08

Translation courtesy of Carilina at the 3 Arguidos.

"Discover the differences."

"A criminal investigation does not have to be politically correct."

"Those who knew me through Social Communication got an opinion based on my connection with the so-called Maddie Case. During the investigation and after being separeted, I was a target of the most terrible accusations from the British press, some local commentators and a man named Clarence Mitchell, whose role is not very well understood. On the eve of the publication of the book you already know, this gentleman was sending me threats : "that I should take care" - I was stunned!

Let me make it clear that I consider this to be an unacceptable tone, coming from a citizen of the oldest democracy in the world. Take care, why? Because I might step on a banana peel while walking? Is Mr Mitchell concerned about my health? I do not think so. We all perceive his threatening tone.

In Portugal, we are not used to people speaking that way. Nor is this the view we have of the British people, but there are always some people that fall out of standards. A criminal investigation need not be politically correct, nor fear veiled threats. The book only contains facts and contains no indictment. So the differences stand out."

Gonçalo Amaral, former coordinator criminal investigation

Gonçalo Amaral interview in English

http://www.the-news.net/cgi-bin/google.pl?id=970-2

Exclusive in English: Former ‘Maddie Cop’ interview
2/8/2008

In an interview staged only a short walk from the regional PJ police headquarters in Faro over the weekend, Gonçalo Amaral, the former leading detective in the case involving the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has an open and frank conversation with The Portugal News. Lambasted by the British media, and ignored by much of the Portuguese written press since the launch of his controversial book last week (which the Correia da Manhã newspaper has assisted in promoting), Gonçalo Amaral explains his reasoning behind certain methods of investigation, and stresses his actions to date have not been to accuse anyone, rather, he argues, his focus has been about the pursuit of truth.

The Portugal News: Did you leak information about the investigation to the media?

Gonçalo Amaral: I never had anything to do with leaks. We have to look at from where these leaks could have originated. A number of entities worked with us during the investigations and we cannot rule out the possibility that some of these leaks originated in Britain. As a matter of fact, when the FSS handed over their report to Portuguese police, we kept it under wraps, but a British daily was the first to appear with extracts of the FSS’s findings.

TPN: But how does that explain that some sections of the Portuguese press have printed confidential information that later proved to be accurate?

GA: Perhaps they had good sources of information, but we cannot conclude that they were given information by police in the Algarve.

TPN: The report leaked last week says that Gerry and Kate were made arguidos on the “merest possibility” that they were involved in the disappearance of their child. Is that accurate?

GA: They were made arguidos on suspicion of two crimes: concealing a body and simulating an abduction and potentially the crime of abandonment. But saying they were made arguidos on the merest possibility that they were involved in the disappearance of their child is not true. The conclusions reached by the team investigating the crime, including colleagues in Britain, are the same as the five points I mention at the end of my book. Perhaps the conclusions reached in this latest report were made to facilitate the archiving of the case and findings were put across in a mild manner. Once you gain access to the case files, you will find that it was not due to a mere possibility.

TPN: What do we know about Madeleine’s disappearance?

She was here on holiday. There is obviously no doubt that Madeleine existed. There is also no doubt that she went missing. The scheme employed to visit the children does, to a large extent, not correspond with the truth, it was probably used to safeguard the view that the children were safe [in the apartments on their own as their parents dined at the Tapas restaurant].

TPN: How often were the children checked upon?

GA: One of the first lines of the investigation was to interview the party that was on holiday with the McCanns to establish this.

TPN: What did you find at the apartment?

No signs of forced entry. There were no signs of glove marks on the window. We compiled a report of the evidence we collected, but we are not here to accuse anyone.

TPN: Do you think more could have been done before archiving or closing the case?

GA: In my opinion, a number of things are still lacking: We should have continued investigating the parents in order to either charge them or rule them out as suspects. If I represented this couple, I would have insisted that police investigations continue. Not everything we do is to incriminate a suspect. Often a phone will be tapped in order to obtain information that will clear a suspect.

We worked long hours discussing a number of potential explanations for Madeleine’s disappearance; we did not insist solely that she had been abducted.

TPN: You say that politics prevented you from doing certain things during the investigation. What were those actions you would like to have taken?

GA: I found the intervention of the [then] British Ambassador strange, as besides the British Consul in Portimão already being involved in the case from the first morning of Madeleine’s disappearance, all diplomatic channels had been opened and were functional. With the arrival of the Ambassador, my colleagues and I thought it was odd, and to a certain extent made us feel limited in our investigations.

TPN: Did you ever receive orders to investigate in a certain manner?

GA: No we did not receive any orders. I don’t like talking about orders. But we felt limited.

TPN: Did the police offer a plea bargain to Kate McCann?

GA: No.

TPN: But did you not suggest she consider a plea bargain?

GA: We only explained the nature of certain crimes. Her lawyer was there, you can ask him.

TPN: Did Kate and Gerry McCann answer all the questions that you posed to them as fully as possible?

GA: Up until being declared an arguido, Kate, at the request of her lawyer, co-operated. When questions became of a nature that could incriminate her, she was made an arguido, her rights and duties were read out to her in English and thereafter she opted for the right to remain silent.

TPN: And Gerry McCann?

GA: He answered all questions, before and after being made an arguido.

TPN: When did the police first learn of the intention of the McCanns to leave Portugal?

GA: With the arrival of the sniffer dogs, I think back in August, the couple started showing a keenness to leave the country. As for these dogs, I have not seen or heard any scepticism in Britain, contrary to Portugal.

TPN: How can you explain the theory that Kate and Gerry used their hire car in the disappearance of their daughter when it was hired 25 days after she vanished?

GA: I don’t know. I was not the one who hired the car.

A bodily fluid was detected in the trunk of the car which was similar to that of Madeleine McCann in 15 of the 19 indicators of her profile.

TPN: Has this evidence been investigated further?

GA: No.

TPN: Why not?

GA: You will have to ask my former colleagues that question.

TPN: What evidence was there that someone had been watching apartment 5A prior to Madeleine’s disappearance?

GA: We spoke to a number of people who came forward.

TPN: Anyone suspicious mentioned in these statements?

GA: No. Perhaps just a British musician we later tracked down.

But in a reconstruction, witness testimonies, such as that of Jane Tanner and others, including restaurant workers, could be clarified further.

TPN: At what stage did you become suspicious of the McCanns and why?

GA: There were a number of inconsistencies detected during the first interrogations.

TPN: Such as?

GA: We were initially told by the parents that when they checked on the children they would use the front door. But Kate later said they used the other door. Because had they used the front door, they would have detected someone had forced their way into the room [where Madeleine and the twins had been sleeping].

But during these initial rounds of questioning, my team and I believed these inconsistencies were due to the McCanns and their friends trying to cover the fact they had left their children unattended, along with their possible lack of trust in the Portuguese police. This had a lot of weight for me in the beginning, especially as the law in Britain is far tougher concerning the abandoning of children.

TPN: Did you look into sex offenders, and what was the outcome?

GA: It is very difficult that a paedophile pre-selected Madeleine. It had to be very well planned. But all known sexual predators were investigated.

TPN: Did you have any evidence that Robert Murat and the McCanns or their friends knew each other previous to Madeleine’s disappearance?

GA: We tried to confirm this, but along with the assistance of the British police, we were unable to establish any connection. But we looked into all possibilities. Robert Murat purchased a last-minute ticket to come to Portugal a couple of days before Madeleine went missing, perhaps as it was cheaper to do so. But we had to investigate whether or not his visit coincided with Madeleine’s disappearance a couple of days later and whether he had been contacted to come here.

TPN: How do you see the lawsuit that you might face over your book?

GA: My book is based on facts. It could be a good occasion to take all the case files to court and compare what I wrote with that which is contained in the files.

TPN: What next lies ahead for you?

GA: I have had a number of proposals, but in October I am intending on starting my practical training as a lawyer, as I already have a law degree, but never practised.

Brendan de Beer

Edition: 970

http://www.the-news.net/cgi-bin/google.pl?id=970-2

Madeleine McCann: Correio da Manha articles in English

Articles published by the Portuguese journal Correio da Manha are available in translation on the Joana Morais blog. Translations by Joana and Astro.

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/

Some recent titles:

Kate tried to hide twins’ tantrums - Correio da Manhã

McCanns Pressured Judiciary Police

Gonçalo Amaral Admits That Investigators Protected the McCanns

PJ report vs. Amaral's book - a comparison in three parts

Kate tried everything to accuse Robert Murat- Correio da Manhã

Policeman irritates Kate for not offering coffee - Correio da Manhã

Kate managed the news and controlled the English - Correio da Manhã

Madeleine McCann: Reversed Investigation

The Truth of The Lie by Francisco Moita Flores

Kate McCann Forced Political Pressure on the Investigation

Here is the link again:

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Joana and Astro for all the work that's obviously gone into making these articles available in English.

SOS Madeleine McCann: Secrecy of justice blocks access to some parts of the Madeleine McCann files

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

30/07/08

Secret de Justice bloque l’accès à une partie des dossiers de l’enquête Madeleine

Le cabinet du Procureur public (PGR) a confirmé aujourd’hui que “certaines informations” contenues dans les dossiers d’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine McCann vont rester sous couvert du secret de justice.

The office of the Public Prosecutor (PGR) confirmed today that, "certain information," contained in the investigation files into Madeleine McCann's disappearance will remain covered by the secrecy of justice.

Un porte-parole du cabinet du Procureur-Général de la République (PGR) à confirmée que le juge Pedro Frias, responsable de l’affaire Madeleine, a reçu et accepté une demande de maintenir confidentielles, sous secret de justice, certaines informations bien spécifiques.

Le porte-parole du cabinet du PGR a également souligné que les détails qui vont rester sous secret de justice “ne sont pas considérés comme preuve”. Le cabinet du PGR n’a pas voulu identifier qui était à l’origine de la demande de manutention du secret de justice.

A spokesperson for the office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) confirmed that the judge, Pedro Frias, responsible for the Madeleine case, received and accepted a request to keep confidential certain very specific information, under the secrecy of justice.

The spokesperson for the PGR also stressed that the details which would remain under the secrecy of justice, "are not considered as evidence." The office of the PGR did not wish to identify who was behind the request to maintain the secrecy of justice.

New evidence could clear death row inmate Rodney Reed.

I am very pleased to read that there is new evidence which could finally clear Rodney Reed, who has been on death row in Texas since 1998 and I send my very best regards to Rodney and to his mother, Sandra Reed, who has worked tirelessly to clear her son's name since his conviction. Good luck Rodney and Sandra.

Who is Rodney Reed?

http://www.freerodneyreed.org/who.html

"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.

Rodney was convicted on the basis of one piece of evidence. His DNA was found in a semen sample taken from Stacey’s body at the scene of the crime. Conventional wisdom would suggest such evidence is the nail in the coffin of any capital murder case, not least of all one including an alleged rape. However, Rodney’s court-appointed attorneys (two African American lawyers afraid to spend nights in a small Texas town like Bastrop) neglected to provide witnesses who would testify that Rodney and Stacey were engaged in a sexual relationship at the time of her tragic death. No other evidence in the case connected Rodney to Stacey or the crime scene. Yet, Rodney, his family, and his supporters would soon learn that evidence of a Black man engaged in sexual relationship with a white woman in a small Texas town would be more than enough to frame him for murder and send him to death row.

Stacey was also engaged to Giddings police officer Jimmy Fennell at the time of her murder. Witnesses would later testify – both inside and outside the courtroom – that Fennell had a violent temper and was prone to jealousy. During one of Rodney’s appeals, a fellow police academy graduate would swear under oath that she heard Fennell say he would strangle his girlfriend with a belt (in order to hide fingerprints) if she ever cheated on him. Stacey’s recorded cause of death was strangulation with a belt. Shortly following Stacey’s murder, Fennell was transferred to the Georgetown Police Department just north of Austin. Last year, a grand jury indicted him on abduction and sexual assault charges. The alleged victim was a woman in his custody."

An article in the Austin Chronicle, dated July 25th reports on new evidence submitted to the Court of Criminal Appeals on July 16th, which could clear Rodney.

"In a writ filed with the Court of Criminal Appeals on July 16, attorneys for death row inmate Rodney Reed are arguing that new evidence uncovered about the conduct of victim Stacey Stites' police-officer fiancé bolster Reed's claim of innocence. In court filings, Reed attorney Bryce Benjet tells the court not only that a witness has come forward to confirm that Reed and Stites were having an affair prior to her death, but also that there is additional evidence regarding Jimmy Fennell's apparent proclivity toward sexual violence."

The Austin Chronicle

Enfants Kidnappés 30/07/08: Was Madeleine Abducted?

Enfants Kidnappés

30/07/08

Madeleine a été enlevée ? Dans de nombreux forums on peut lire des commentaires à propos du délai qu'ont mi les parents à prévenir les forces de l'ordre de la disparition de Maddie. Certes, le fait que la presse britannique fut très vite avertie n'est pas normal. Tout comme il n'est pas normal que le Directeur de la PJ soit dérangé en plein dîner à Lisbonne par la diplomatie britannique lui demandant s'il était au courant de la disparition alors que la PJ n'était pas encore contactée à ce sujet !! Cependant, le fait que les amis du couple et Gerry, à l'exception de Kate qui est restée à discuter avec une amie, aient d'abord cherché Maddie dans les environs, me semble indubitablement logique. Il est tout à fait naturel que l'on cherche d'abord son enfant dans les environs avant d'avertir la police. L'enfant s'est peut-être tout simplement égaré. Seule, Kate parlait déjà de la thèse de l'enlèvement.

Was Madeleine abducted?

On many forums we can read about the parents' delay in informing the police about Madeleine's disappearance. Certainly, the fact that the Brirish press was very quickly alerted is not normal. In the same way, it is not normal that the PJ Director should be disturbed in the middle of having dinner in Lisbon by a British diplomat asking him if he was aware of the disappearance while the PJ had not yet been contacted on the matter. However, the fact that the couple's friends and Gerry, with the exception of Kate who stayed to talk with a friend, had first of all looked for Maddie in the immediate vicinity, seems to me to be undoubtedly logical. It is totally natural that someone should first look for his child in the vicinity before alerting the police. The child could simply have wandered off. Only Kate was already talking about the idea of abduction.

Que fait la police ?

La police, une fois avertie d'une disparition d'un enfant de l'âge de Maddie, se rend immédiatement sur les lieux. Sur place, les policiers prennent contact avec la famille et essaye d'obtenir une description précise de la fillette ainsi qu'une photo. Les policiers cherchent, dans un premier temps à éliminer diverses hypothèses toutes simples. A moins qu'un ou plusieurs éléments ne viennent étayer la thèse d'un crime quelconque, c'est la piste de l'incident qui est privilégié. On interroge de façon informel la famille, les amis, les passants etc. Ainsi on cherche à savoir si l'enfant aurait pu sortir de sa chambre. On cherche à savoir si d'autres enfants manquent auquel cas on pourrait supposer qu'ils soient ensemble quelque part. On demande aux amis si l'enfant n'est pas dans leur chambre respective. Ce n'est que plus tard que l'on se rendra compte dans les auditions prisent par la PJ que les amis n'ont pas été voir si leurs enfants étaient toujours là et qu'ils n'ont pas vérifiés si Maddie était dans une de leur chambre.

What do the police do?

Once the police have been alerted to the disappearance of a child of Maddie's age, they immediately go to the scene. Once there, the police make contact with the family and try to obtain a clear description of the little girl as well as a photo. In the first instance, the police officers seek to eliminate various simple hypotheses. Unless one or several elements are present to support any crime, the procedure for an incident is followed. The family, the friends, passers-by etc are questioned informally. Thus they try to find out if the child could have left her bedroom. They try to find out if other children are missing in which case it could be supposed that they were together somewhere. The friends are asked if the child is not in their rooms. It is only later that it is realised during the hearings by the PJ that the friends have not been to see if their children are still there and that they have not checked to see if Maddie is in one of their rooms.

Les policiers se basent sur les déclarations de tous sans mettre en doute leur véracité. On parle, ici, d'un enfant perdu, pas encore d'un crime. Il n'y a donc aucune raison valable de mettre en doute les propos recueillis. Si on leur dit que les chambres ont été vérifiées, la police n'y passe pas afin de contrôler. Chaque minute compte. Il s'agit toujours d'une enfant perdue. Si les premières recherches sont vaines, la police demande du renfort en homme afin d'organiser un ratissage plus large. On entre dans l'hypothèse de l'accident. A cet instant et pour autant qu'aucun éléments ne permettent de penser le contraire, on cherche une enfant victime d'un accident. Peut-être est-elle tombée dans un ravin, une rivière proche, une cave, par une taque d'égout etc... Le ratissage commence. Si, au bout de la première phase du ratissage, aucune trace ou indice du passage de l'enfant ne peut-être trouvé, on entre dans la phase dite de "disparition inquiétante". C'est à ce moment que la police, en l'occurrence la GNR, fait appel à un service plus spécialisé, dans le cas qui nous occupent, la PJ. A partir de là, toutes les hypothèses seront étudiées, analysées, comparées et tous les mobiles possibles seront envisagés. C'est à ce moment que l'on peut envisager un périmètre de sécurité mais, hélas, trop tard dans ce cas-ci. En effet, l'appartement des parents a déjà été contaminé par un va et vient continu. Par des dizaines de personnes qui sont entrées et sorties de la chambre. Sans compter le fait que le ménage avait été fait dans la chambre avant l'arrivée de la police

The police work with the statements from everyone without doubting their truthfulness. We are talking here about a lost child and not yet about a crime. There is therefore no valid reason to doubt the statements collected. If they are told that the rooms have been checked, the police don't go and check. Every minute counts. It is still about a lost child. If the initial searches find nothing, the police request reinforcements to organise a wider sweep. The idea of an accident is considered. From that time and as long as no other elements suggest the contrary, the search is for a child who is the victim of an accident. Perhaps she has fallen into a gully, a nearby river, a cellar, through a sewer manhole etc...The sweep begins. If at the end of the first phase of sweeping, no trace or clue as to where the child has gone is found, the phase called, "worrying disappearance," begins. This is when the police, in this case the GNR, call upon a more specialised service, which in the case we are concerned with is the PJ. From then on every hypothesis is studied, analysed, compared and all possible motives will be considered. This is the time when a security perimeter could be considered but, alas, too late in this case. In fact the parents' apartment has already been contaminated by continuous comings and goings, by dozens of people going in and out of the room, without taking into account that cleaning had been done in the room before the police arrived.

A ce stade de l'enquête, la PJ va procéder à de nombreuses auditions. Va continuer à organiser une battue. Va relever les indices et les contradictions dans les témoignages. Il s'agit de procéder par élimination. On "ferme les portes" comme on dit au sein de la police. Ce principe consiste à vérifier chaque piste jusqu'à ce quelle conduise à une impasse. On peut donc dire que la porte de cette piste est fermée.

At this stage of the investigation, the PJ will proceed to countless hearings. They will continue to organise a search. They will look at the clues and contradictions in statements. They will proceed by elimination. We "close the doors," as the police say. The idea is to check every lead until it comes to a dead end. It can then be said that the door to that lead is closed.

Des détectives à la rescousse.

Il existe une multitude d'agences de détectives de tous poils. En règle générale, ces agences fonctionnent principalement sur des enquêtes simples. Filature de mari/femme infidèles, recherche d'antécédents d'associés, recherche de famille, recherche de descendance etc etc. Tous les détectives, un tant soi peu professionnels, vous le diront: "Dès que l'enquête devient compliquée ou dangereuse ou côtoient des milieux illégaux, bref dès que l'on sort d'un contexte d'enquête simple, l'affaire est transmise à la police qui prend le relais". Rappelons que nos lois n'autorisent pas les détectives à être armé. Ceci explique peut-être cela. Parfois, derrière la façade d'agence de détectives, se cache une organisation criminelle. Pratiquant le chantage, l'intimidation, les écoutes illégales, l'espionnage industrielle etc. etc. Ceci m'amène à parler de l'agence espagnole, Metodo3. Certains détectives de cette agence sont suspectés d'extorsions et d'une tentative d'homicide durant leur travail pour le couple McCann. Nous passerons sous silence le détective impliqué et arrêté pour trafic de drogue. Toutefois nous restons perplexes quant au fait que cette agence paye des témoins afin qu'ils déclarent avoir vu Madeleine comme le révèle SOS Maddie!

Detectives to the rescue.

There is a multitude of detective agencies of all kinds. As a rule, these agencies work mainly on simple investigations. Tailing an unfaithful husband/wife, background research on associates, family research, genealogy, etc etc. All detectives, those who are a little professional, will tell you: "As soon as the investigation becomes complicated or dangerous or verges on the illegal, in short when it stops being a simple investigation, the case is forwarded to the police who take over." Remember that our laws do not authorise detectives to be armed. That perhaps explains it. Sometimes, a criminal organisation is hidden behind the facade of a detective agency, practising blackmail, intimidation, illegal wiretapping, industrial espionage etc etc. This leads me to talk about the Spanish agency, Metodo3. Certain of that agency's detectives are suspected of extortion and attempted murder in the course of their work for the McCann couple. We will pass over without comment on the detective implicated for drug trafficking. All the same, we are still perplexed about the fact that this agency pays witnesses to state they have seen Madeleine as revealed by SOS Maddie.

Soit Madeleine a été enlevée, et dans ce cas l'attitude de Metodo3 est criminelle. Le fait de prétendre que Madeleine est à tel ou tel endroit, sur base de faux témoignages payés par leurs soins, les rends complices de l'enlèvement. Si Maddie à été enlevée, leurs témoignages ne fait que brouiller les pistes et c'est criminelle. Moi, à la place des parents, je les révoque sur le champ.

Soit Madeleine n'a pas été enlevée et est bien morte par accident dans l'appartement des parents et dans ce cas, l'attitude grotesque de Metodo3 n'a pas d'autre but que d'essayer de rallier une partie de l'opinion publique à la thèse défendue par les parents, en essayant de faire croire que Maddie est en vie quelque part. Et dans ce cas on peut se demander pourquoi vouloir manipuler l'opinion publique? Quelle vérité doit être cachée ?

Right, Madeleine was abducted and in that case, the attitude of Metodo3 is criminal. The act of claiming that Madeleine is at such and such a place, on the basis of false witness statements paid for by them, renders them complicit in the abduction. If Madeleine was abducted, their witness statements only blurr the tracks and that is criminal. If I were in the parents' place I would dismiss them on the spot.

Right, Madeleine was not abducted and indeed died by accident in the parents' apartment and in that case, the ludicrous attitude of Metodo3 has no other objective than trying to win over a section of public opinion to the idea defended by the parents, in trying to make people believe that Maddie is alive somewhere. And in that case we may wonder why they want to manipulate public opinion? What truth must be hidden?

La loi McCann

Clarence Mitchell porte-parole des parents McCann a déclaré que les journaux qui publiaient des contenus du livre de Gonçalo Amaral, la vérité du mensonge, étaient très courageux ou très stupide. Laissant sous entendre que les procès risquaient de tomber ainsi que les dommages et intérêts qui vont de pair. Ainsi Clarence Mitchell veut museler tous ceux qui ont une opinion différente de celle officielle des parents. Les forums et blogs en tous genres pourraient être leur prochaine cible. Que Monsieur Mitchell se souvienne que nous sommes dans un état de droit et non pas sous une dictature. Les gens ont le droit d'exprimer une opinion et de donner leur point de vue même s'il n'entre pas dans la ligne des McCann. Comme la précisé le rédacteur le chef du Correio da Manha, il existe la liberté d'expression qui, sans offenser personne, permet encore d'écrire et de dires des choses différentes que celles dîtes par les McCann et par Clarence Mitchell.

The McCann law.

Clarence Mitchell, spokesperson for the McCann parents, has stated that journals which publish the contents of Gonçalo Amaral's book, "The Truth of The Lie," were very brave or very stupid, implying that legal action could follow as well as damages and compensation that go hand-in-hand. Thus, Clarence Mitchell wants to muzzle all those who hold a different opinion to the parents' official one. Forums and blogs of all kinds could be their next target. Mr Mitchell should remind himself that we are in a state of law and not under a dictatorship. People have the right to express an opinion and to state their point of view even if it does not fall into line with the McCanns. As the editor in chief of Correio da Manha makes clear, there exists freedom of expression which, without offending anyone, still allows the writing and saying of different things to those said by the McCanns and by Clarence Mitchell.

Rappelant à Monsieur Mitchell, qui semble en avoir besoin, que l'archivage du dossier n'est pas une déclaration d'absolution. Cet archivage ne blanchit pas les parents rappel Gonçalo Amaral. De fait, monsieur Mitchell, faire la guerre à tous ceux qui parlent autrement que vous, qui tiennent un autre discours que ce soit sur les forums, dans les journaux ou sur les blogs est une utopie. Les lois étant différentes d'un pays à l'autre, Mr Mitchell va très vite être confronté aux mêmes problèmes que la police pour lutter contre les sites pédophiles. Il est presque impossible d'arriver à faire museler tous ces sites. Certes, guider par l'argent, peut-être essayera-t-on de faire un exemple au R-U. De récolter un peu plus d'argent encore. Argent qui ira au Fonds pour sauver Madeleine, bien sûr. Fonds qui doit servir à ne laisser aucune pierre retournée. Sauf, peut-être celle de la reconstitution. Qu'avait-on peur de trouver sous cette pierre ? Peut-être justement... LA VERITE. Alors que les parents se plaignent de ne plus être partis en vacances depuis la disparition de Madeleine, Clarence Mitchell veut se battre avec tous ceux qui ne tiennent pas le même langage que lui et les parents. Que d'énergie et de temps dépensé pour imposer son point de vue. Pour rien! Ne devrait-on pas dépenser cette énergie à retrouver Madeleine ou a-t-on déjà oublié ?

Reminding Mr Mitchell, who seems to need it, that the archiving of the case is not a statement of absolution. This archiving does not clear the parents Gonçalo Amaral reminds us. In fact, Mr Mitchell, making war on all those who speak otherwise than you, who say other things whatsoever on forums, in journals or on blogs is pie in the sky. The laws being very different from one country to another, Mr Mitchell will very quickly be faced with the same problems as the police in fighting against paedophile sites. It is almost impossible to manage to muzzle all these sites. Of course, led by money, perhaps he could try to make an example of the UK to collect a little more money. Money which would go into the fund to save Madeleine, of course. Funds which may help to leave no stone unturned, save perhaps that of the reconstruction. What is there to be afraid of finding under that stone? Perhaps only....THE TRUTH. While the parents complain about not having been on holiday since Madeleine's disappearance, Clarence Mitchell wants to battle with everyone who does not speak the same language as him and the parents. What energy and time spent to impose his point of view. For nothing! Shouldn't that energy be spent in finding Madeleine or has she already been forgotten?

SOS Madeleine McCann: Forums under attack. Blogs will be next.

26.07.2008

Les forums sous attaque, les blogues seront les prochains (I)

“Les 3 Arguidos” est un forum crée pour discuter le cas de Madeleine McCann. Il a été établi après que The Mirror – quotidien britannique proche des McCann — ait interdit de son forum n'importe quelle discussion en rapport avec le sujet. Jusqu'ici, “3A” a été un forum ouvert. Ceci signifie que tout le monde pouvait lire les commentaires, sans avoir besoin d’y être enregistré. Dorénavant, le contenue d'une partie du forum sera “fermée” aux membres non enregistrés. Pour lire les commentaires, vous devrez être membre. Les modérateurs de “3A” l’ont annoncé aujourd'hui :

"The 3 Arguidos," is a forum created to discuss the Madeleine McCann case. It was established after The Mirror - British daily close to the McCanns - had banned from its forum any discussion whatsoever concerning the subject. Until now, "3A," has been an open forum. That means that everybody could read the comments, without having to be registered there. From now on the contents of part of the forum will be, "closed," to non-registered members. To read the comments, you must be a member. The moderators of, "3A," announced this yesterday.

"CHANGEMENTS DANS LE FORUM APRÈS LE 26 JUILLET 2008"

“En raison du changement des circonstances quant au cas McCann, nous avons tenu une réunion et nous allons fermer les forums suivants, dorénavant accessibles uniquement aux membres enregistrés. Ces forums sont :

· Madeleine McCann — The Way Ahead

· Madeleine' s voice Forum

· The Reference Forum

· Justice for Maddy Forum

· Translations Forum

Tous les autres forums seront ouverts et visibles à tous les invités. Nous avons également décidé de supprimer toutes les membres non participantes, sans commentaires publiés. Tous ceux qui veulent s’y joindre maintenant doivent y faire au moins un commentaire, autrement votre compte sera considéré inactif et supprimé.”

"Ceci sera fait encore aujourd'hui et tous les membres devront maintenant ouvrir une session pour regarder ou commenter sur les forums en rapport avec Maddy sur le “the3arguidos.” “Merci de votre coopération dans le sujet et bienvenue à tous les nouveaux membres.”

CHANGES TO THE FORUM AS OF 26TH JULY 2008

Due to the change in circumstances with regards to the McCann case, we have held a meeting and we are going to close the following forums, from now on accessible only to registered members. These forums are:

Madeleine McCann - the way ahead.

Madeleine McCann — The Way Ahead

· Madeleine' s voice Forum

· The Reference Forum

· Justice for Maddy Forum

· Translations Forum

All other forums will be open and accessible for guests. We have also decided to delete all non-participating members, with no published comments. Anyone who wants to join now must post at least one comment, otherwise your account will be considered inactive and deleted.

This will be done today and all members must now sign in to read or comment on the forums concerning Maddy on, "the 3 Arguidos." Thank you for your cooperation in this matter and welcome to all new members.