Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Abdallah Ait Oud: the defence argues for acquittal (10/06/08)

La défense demande l'acquittemnt.

Au cours de sa plaidoirie devant la Cour d'assises de Liège, la défense d'Abdallah Ait Oud a réclamé l'acquittement de son client. Me Olivier Martins a tenté de démonter les certitudes qui ont été présentées au dossier, évoquant des versions à géométrie variable et des éléments systématiquement présentés à charge. L'avocat a soutenu que le dossier avait été traité depuis le début de son instruction à la manière du sensationnalisme.

The defence requests acquittal.

In the course of his oral arguments before the Liège court of assizes, Abdallah Ait Oud’s defence claimed acquittal for his client. Me Olivier Martins tried to deconstruct the certainties, which were presented in the dossier, mentioning diametrically opposed versions and details systematically presented against him. The lawyer argued that, since the start, the case had been dealt with in a sensationalist manner.

"Vous devrez être courageux pour rendre la justice, ne pas avoir peur et répondre "non" à toutes les questions", a lancé Me Martins aux jurés. "Tout pèse sur Ait Oud mais ce ne sont que des mensonges. Toutes les expertises ont été défavorables mais il y a de nombreuses contrevérités dans le dossier. Abdallah Ait Oud avait pourtant droit à un procès équitable. Mais personne, à part lui qui sait ce qu'il a fait ou n'a pas fait, ne connaît la vérité."

You have to be brave to take on the law, not be afraid and answer, “no,” to all questions”, Me Martins launched at the jury. “Everything is put on Ait Oud, but it’s only lies. All of the experts are unfavourable but there are numerous controversies in the case. Abdallah Ait Oud, however, had the right to a fair trial. But nobody, apart from him, who knows what he did or did not do, knows the truth."

Demi débile

L'avocat de l'accusé a remis en cause le fait que son client soit traduit devant une Cour d'assises. Il a précisé que, pour des faits similaires, les experts avaient jugé plusieurs années plus tôt qu'il devait être interné. Mais dans le cas présent, c'est de manière délibérée que la Justice aurait voulu éviter un internement. "On lui a donné un QI de 113 alors qu'il s'agit d'un demi débile", a précisé l'avocat. "Pourquoi? Parce qu'on ne voulait pas priver les victimes d'un procès devant la Cour d'assises!"

Half stupid.The lawyer challenged the fact that his client was brought before an assizes court. He stated that, for similar deeds, the experts had judged several years earlier that he should be imprisoned. But in the actual case, in a deliberate way, the law would have wanted to avoid imprisonment. “He has been given an IQ of 113 when he is half stupid,” stated the lawyer. “Why? Because no one wanted to deprive the victims of a trial before the court of assizes!”

Pour tenter de démontrer que son client n'est pas coupable, Me Martins a évoqué plusieurs pistes qui n'ont mené à rien, telle celle d'une voiture qui a démarré en trombe le jour des faits et dont le propriétaire aime se déguiser en fille ou celle de gitans qui ont tenté d'enlever un enfant le jour même. L'avocat a aussi précisé que personne parmi les témoins n'a vu Ait Oud en compagnie des deux petites filles le jour des faits. Me Martins a évoqué une enquête manipulée ou adaptée aux circonstances et aux témoignages récoltés.

In attempting to demonstrate that his client was not guilty, Me Martins mentioned several leads which came to nothing, such as that of a car that took off in a hurry on the day of the events and whose owner likes to dress as a girl or that of the gypsies who tried to abduct a child on the same day. The lawyer also stated that no one, amongst the witnesses had seen Oud in the company of the two little girls on the day of the events. Me Martins spoke of an investigation manipulated or adapted to the circumstances and to the witness statements collected.

Spontanément

La défense a aussi rappelé que c'est Abdallah Ait Oud qui s'est présenté de manière spontanée à la police le 13 juin 2006 alors qu'il se savait recherché. "Et si c'était vrai que, le soir des faits, il s'était vomi dessus et qu'il avait lavé ses vêtements?", a interrogé l'avocat. "Cette attitude d'une personne présentée comme coupable interpelle".

Voluntarily.

The defence also recalled that it was Abdallah Ait Oud who voluntarily presented himself to the police on June 13th 2006 when he knew he was being looked for. “And if it is true that, on the evening of the events, he had vomited on himself and that he had washed his clothes?” asked the lawyer. “That says something for the attitude of someone presented as guilty.”

Me Martins a soutenu que c'est bien en escaladant un mur et non pas en arrachant des ronces le long de la voie ferrée qu'Ait Oud s'est écorché le dos. L'avocat s'est ensuite attaché à démonter les expertises scientifiques telles que celle de l'ADN mitochondrial dont il estime les conclusions incertaines en termes de fiabilité. Pour les végétaux, il a évoqué d'autres sites qui n'ont pas été analysés pour justifier la présence de végétaux sur les vêtements de l'accusé. Pour les fibres, il a remis en cause la rigueur et la neutralité des expertises.

Me Martins argued that it was in climbing a wall and not in uprooting brambles along the railway line, that Ait Oud had scratched his back. The lawyer then set himself to deconstructing the scientific evidence such as the mitochondrial DNA, of which he estimated the results inconclusive in terms of reliability. As to the plants, he mentioned other sites that have not been analysed to justify the presence of plant material on the clothes of the accused. For the fibres, he called into question the thoroughness and the neutrality of the experts.

Je suis innocent

L'avocat a ensuite écarté les moyens de preuve avancés à la suite du test du polygraphe. "L'expert qui a réalisé ce test est indigne de la mission qui lui a été confiée", a lancé l'avocat. En conclusion, Me Martins s'est adressé à son client. "Si c'est vous, par respect pour les victimes, dites-le!", a-t-il lancé. "Moi, je suis innocent", a répondu Ait Oud.Avant Me Martins, Me Caroline Poiré s'était attachée à replacer l'affaire dans son contexte et à développer quelques éléments de personnalité de l'accusé. Elle a notamment évoqué une campagne de presse orchestrée contre Ait Oud et des dérives et violations dans l'instruction. "Abdallah Ait Oud a été présenté comme un parasite et un coupable idéal. Il est capable de commettre les faits mais il n'en est pas coupable. Il faut cesser de le juger sur son passé. Le doute doit lui
profiter." (7/7)

I am innocent.

The lawyer then dismissed all the evidence put forward following the polygraph test. “The expert who carried out this test is unworthy of the task entrusted to him,” the lawyer advanced. In conclusion, Me Martins addressed his client. “If it was you, out of respect for the victims, say it!”, he launched. “Me, I am innocent,” Ait Oud replied.Before Me Martins, Me Caroline Poiré set out to place the case in its context and to develop a few details of the personality of the accused. Notably, she mentioned an orchestrated press campaign against Ait Oud and slips and violations in the instruction. “Abdallah Ait Oud was presented as a parasite and the ideal culprit. He is capable of committing the deeds, but he is not guilty of them. Judging him on his past must stop. He must have the benefit of the doubt.” (7/7)

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

10/06/08

Abdullah Ait Oud: After so many slips, Ait Oud no longer has a fair trial.


Me Olivier Martins is the lawyer for Abdallah Ait Oud.


Me Martins a provoqué ce lundi matin un incident d'audience au début de la troisième semaine du procès d'Abdallah Ait Oud.
Après divers incidents qui se sont produits durant la seconde semaine et notamment vendredi dernier, journée consacrée aux plaidoiries des parties civiles, la défense de l'accusé estime que ce dernier n'a plus droit à un procès équitable et que les jurés ne sont plus à même de juger de manière sereine. Alors que l'avocat général Marianne Lejeune devait prononcer son réquisitoire, Me Martins a réclamé la parole et a demandé à ce que soit actée une série d'incidents qui, selon lui, conduisent à la conclusion que l'accusé ne peut plus être jugé de manière sereine et équitable.

At the start of the third week of the trial of Abdallah Ait Oud, Me Martins provoked an incident on Monday morning at the hearing.
After various incidents were produced during the second week and notably last Friday, the day devoted to the oral arguments for the civil parties, the defence for the accused estimated that the latter no longer has the right to a fair trial and that the jurors were no longer able to judge in an unbiased way. When the Attorney General, Marianne Lejeune, should have been pronouncing her closing arguments, Me Martins claimed the floor and demanded that a series of incidents be recorded which, according to him, lead to the conclusion that the accused can no longer be tried in an unbiased or fair way.

Vidéo sur RTL

L'avocat a d'abord évoqué la diffusion par la chaîne de télévision RTL-TVi, dans son journal de vendredi, d'une pièce à conviction du dossier relative au test du polygraphe auquel l'accusé a été soumis durant l'enquête. L'avocat a demandé à ce que le président Goux utilise son pouvoir discrétionnaire et instruise l'incident avant le réquisitoire afin de savoir dans quelles conditions la chaîne s'est fait remettre la pièce à conviction.

Video on RTL
First of all the lawyer mentioned the broadcast by television channel RTL-Tvi, in its Friday diary, of an opinion piece on the case, concerning the polygraph test which the accused was submitted to during the investigation. The lawyer demanded that the president, Goux, use his discretionary power to investigate the incident before the final summing up to find out under what conditions the channel provided the opinion piece.

Publication controverséeAutre sujet qui concerne la couverture médiatique du procès, la publication dans la presse écrite des explications relatives au témoignage d'un expert avant qu'il soit entendu par la Cour. Me Martins a relevé, de plus, que cet expert s'était exprimé hors audience et a réalisé des commentaires faisant état de la culpabilité de l'accusé.

Controversial publication.

Another subject which concerns the media coverage of the trial, the publication in the printed press of explanations concerning the witness statement of an expert before he was heard by the court. Me Martins revealed further, that the expert was talking before the hearing and referred to the guilt of the accused.

Pressions

La défense d'Ait Oud a aussi fait acter deux systèmes de pression qui auraient été effectués sur les jurés. Me Martins a soulevé que, lors de l'audience de vendredi, Pol et Betty Marchal (les parents d'Ann Marchal) se sont installés sur le banc des parties civiles à proximité des jurés. Ensuite, durant les plaidoiries des avocats, les parents des victimes ont exhibé des photos des victimes en direction des jurés. L'avocat a estimé qu'il s'agissait de pressions et que les jurés ne pouvaient plus juger son client de manière sereine. "Où va-t-on?", a commenté Me Martins. "Je n'ai jamais vu autant de dérives dans un procès. Nous avons accepté de prendre la défense d'Abdallah Ait Oud dans un procès difficile où depuis 2 ans il est présenté comme le coupable idéal. Mais après cette série de dérives, nous estimons qu'il n'existe plus aucune sérénité dans ce procès et que notre client n'a plus droit à un procès équitable".

L'audience a été interrompue pour permettre à toutes les parties de prendre position sur ces arguments. (belga/7sur7)

Pressure.
Ait Oud’s defence also made note of two ways in which pressure had been brought to bear on the jury. Me Martins raised that, during the hearing on Friday, Pol and Betty Marchal (parents of Ann Marchal**) were present on the benches for the civil parties close to the jury. Then, during the lawyer’s oral arguments, the victims’ parents displayed photos of the victims in the direction of the jury. The lawyer estimated that this was pressure and that the jury could no longer judge his client in an unbiased way. “Where is it going?” commented Me Martins. “I have never seen so many slips in a trial. We agreed to take on Abdallah Ait Oud’s defence in a difficult trial, where for two years, he has been presented as the ideal culprit. But after this series of slips, we estimate that there is no clarity existing in this trial and that our client no longer has the right to a fair trial.

The hearing was interrupted to allow all the parties to state their position on the arguments.
(belga/7sur7)

Le président de la Cour d'assises de Liège, Stéphane Goux, a prononcé ce lundi en début d'après-midi un arrêt écartant la demande formulée par le conseil d'Abdallah Ait Oud de suspendre le procès et de faire procéder à des devoirs d'instruction. La Cour a estimé qu'aucune pièce à conviction n'avait été détournée du dossier dans le cadre de la publication de documents par certains médias, dont celui relatif au test du polygraphe subi par Abdallah Ait Oud. La Cour a également estimé qu'aucun trouble n'a résulté de la présence de la famille Marchal sur les bancs de la partie civile lors de la journée de vendredi et que la demande de la défense devait être écartée. Enfin, le président a constaté qu'il n'existe aucune violation de la présomption d'innocence par la manière dont le procès s'est déroulé et notamment dans la manière dont il a été rapporté dans la presse. (belga)

Before the start of the afternoon session on Monday, the president of the Liège court of assizes, Stéphane Goux, announced a judgment, dismissing the formal request from Abdallah Ait Oud’s lawyer to suspend the trial and to instruct the court. The court decided that nothing had distracted from the case in the context of publication by some media, of that which concerns the polygraph test submitted to by Abdallah Ait Oud. The court also decided that no trouble had resulted from the presence of the Marchal family on the benches for the civil parties during the day on Friday and that the request from the defence was dismissed. Finally, the president stated that there was no violation of the presumption of innocence by the way in which the trial has unfolded and notably by the way in which it has been reported in the press.

** Pol and Betty Marchal are the parents of Ann Marchal, a victim of Marc Dutroux.


9/06/08

Monday, 9 June 2008

Abdullah Ait Oud: oral arguments for the civil parties

As we go into the third week of the trial of Abdullah Ait Oud, we read about Friday's session when the oral arguments for the civil parties were heard, as reported by Enfants Kidnappés.

Les parties civiles ont débuté leurs plaidoiries ce vendredi matin aux assises de Liège.

Durant presque trois heures, la maman de Nathalie, Catherine Dizier, a tenu sur ses genoux ou a brandi, les bras tendus vers le box de l'accusé, un cadre contenant des photos noir et blanc des fillettes. Pendant presque trois heures, elle a défié l'accusé du regard, ne baissant jamais les yeux. Dans son box, l'accusé n'a pas bronché. A quelques reprises, il s'est remué sur sa chaise. Mais la plupart du temps, il a gardé les bras croisés, regardant le plaideur et, dans le même axe de regard, la maman de Nathalie.

The civil parties began their oral arguments on Friday morning at the Liège assizes.

For almost three hours, Nathalie’s mother, Catherine Dizier, held on her knees or waved towards the dock, a frame containing black and white photos of the little girls. For nearly three hours, she defied the accused to look, never lowering her eyes. In the dock, the accused did not react. He stirred in his seat a few times, but most of the time, he kept his arms crossed, looking at the litigant ad, in the same line of sight, Nathalie’s mother.

Regard de haine"Je suis stupéfait par sa voix douce aux accents sincères mais aussi par son absence d'émotion, même quand son regard croise celui des parties civiles", remarquera d'ailleurs Me Vincent Sauvage, le conseil de Didier Mahy. "Abdallah Ait Oud, vous n'êtes pas le coupable idéal; vous êtes le coupable!", a clamé Me Denis Drion, le conseil de Thierry Lemmens. "Vous êtes coupable d'avoir donné la vision de votre regard plein de haine et de concupiscence comme dernière image aux deux petites filles", a-t-il ajouté. Pour Me Moureau, le conseil de Christiane Granziero, la culpabilité de l'accusé ne fait non plus aucun doute. "Ce n'est pas parce qu'il ne peut ou ne veut avouer que ça doit générer le moindre doute", a-t-il remarqué, dénonçant le "cynisme d'un psychopathe qui ne peut pas rentrer dans son propre esprit pour savoir ce qu'il s'est passé", et qui n'avouera jamais.

A look of hatred.

I am amazed by his gentle, sincere-sounding, voice but also by his lack of emotion, even when his gaze meets that of the civil parties,” Me Vincent Sauvage, lawyer for Didier Mahy, noted elsewhere. “Abdallah Ait Out you are not the ideal culprit; you are the culprit!” shouted Me Denis Drion, lawyer for Thierry Lemmens. “You are guilty of having given the vision of your eyes full of hate and lust, as the last image for the two little girls.” He added. For Me Moureau, lawyer for Christiane Granziero, there is no longer any doubt of the guilt of the accused. “It is not because he cannot or will not confess that this generates the least doubt,” he remarked, denouncing the, “cynicism of a psychopath, who is unable to look inside himself to know what he did,” and who will never confess.

Ca l'excite!"

Il est constitutionnellement incapable de se remettre en question et d'avouer. Lui qui ne peut pas admettre perdre au kicker par sa faute, comment pourrait-il avouer?", a-t-il souligné. Sans aveu de l'accusé, les familles ne connaîtront pas le déroulement des faits."Je suis donc contraint de vous raconter mon histoire; la version de mon intime conviction", a annoncé Me Moureau, décrivant les derniers moments des enfants qui ignoraient, alors qu'elles jouaient, "que tout près d'elles, un homme s'était mis en chasse; un homme méchant; un pédophile récidiviste et psychopathe". Selon lui, l'auteur a abordé les fillettes, qu'il avait auparavant repérées. "Les petites filles, ça l'excite", ajoutera même Me Moureau. Il a proposé gentiment à Nathalie et Stacy d'aller voir des tortues et les a emmenées sans force dans un terrain vague. Quand Nathalie a voulu partir, ils les a empoignées par le bras, comme en témoignent les hématomes retrouvés sur le bras gauche de l'une; sur le droit de l'autre. Il les a traînées dans un endroit discret. Nathalie a crié. Il l'a assommée.

That excites him.

He is constitutionally incapable of questioning himself and of confessing. He is incapable of admitting to losing at table football through his mistakes, how could he confess?” he stressed. Without the accused’s confession, the families will not know how the events unfolded.
I am therefore obliged to tell you my story; the version of my personal beliefs.” Announced Me Moureau, describing the children’s last moments, unaware while they were playing,"that very close to them, a man was hunting, a wicked man, a recidivist paedophile and psychopath.” According to him, the perpetrator approached the little girls, whom he had previously marked out. “Little girls, that excites him.” Me Moureau also added. He politely suggested to Nathalie and Stacy that they go and see some tortoises and he led them, without force, into a vacant lot. When Nathalie wanted to leave, he grabbed them by the arms, as evidenced by the bruises found on the left arm of one, the right of the other. He dragged them to a secluded place. Nathalie shouted. He knocked her out.

Irracontable

"Et puis c'est l'horreur", dira Philippe Moureau. Il a mis ses mains et a serré le cou de l'enfant de 7 ans. Entre quelques secondes et quelques minutes, l'air s'est échappé et la petite Stacy est morte. "Il a alors pu s'occuper de Nathalie, mais ça, c'est irracontable", a-t-il souligné. Depuis les faits de 2001, Abdallah Ait Oud a amélioré sa technique. "Et si vous le relâchez, il l'améliorera encore et brûlera les preuves scientifiques", ont prévenu les avocats des parties civiles. Le modus operandi de 2006 est cependant fort similaire à celui des faits de 2001, a remarqué Me Vincent Sauvage. Les deux fois, il a approché ses victimes grâce à un stratagème; demander sa route à la jeune fille de 14 ans en 2001, chercher des tortues en 2006. A deux reprises, il a assommé ses victimes. A deux reprises, il a commis des viols. Les deux fois, il a commis son méfait suite à une frustration; après avoir été traité de pédophile en 2001, après s'être disputé avec sa compagne en 2006. Après les deux faits, il a disparu pendant plusieurs jours.

Irreconcilable.

And then it’s the horror,” said Philippe Moureau. He took his hands and shook the seven year-old child by the neck. Between a few seconds and a few minutes, the air was gone and Stacy died. “He could then occupy himself with Nathalie, but that, it is irreconcilable,” he stressed. Since the events of 2001, Abdallah Ait Oud has improved his technique. “And if you release him, he will improve it even further and will burn the forensic evidence,” the lawyers for the civil parties warned. The modus operandi of 2006 are, however, very similar to those of 2001, remarked Me Vincent Sauvage. On both occasions he approached his victims using a ploy; asking the way of a young 14 year-old in 2001, looking for tortoises in 2006. On both occasions he knocked his victims out. On both occasions, he committed rapes. Both times he committed his wickedness following a frustration; after having been treated as a paedophile in 2001, after arguing with his partner in 2006. After both events, he disappeared for several days.

Erreur de diagnostic

Suite aux faits de 2001, Abdallah Ait Oud a été interné puis libéré 4 ans plus tard car un psychiatre a évoqué une erreur de diagnostic. "La justice a laissé une grenade dégoupillée dans la société", a déploré Me Sauvage, avant de s'adresser aux jurés et de citer le philosphe Edmund Burke: "pour triompher, le mal n' a besoin que de l'inaction de gens de bien". Vendredi après-midi, la cour entendra les plaidoiries de Mes Swennen et Henrard, les conseils de Mme Dizier; de Me Greffe, le conseil du demi-frère de Stacy et de Mes Balland et Delicourt, défendant les intérêts de l'ex-compagne de Thierry Lemmens. (7S7)

Diagnostic error.

Following the events of 2001, Abdallah Ait Oud was imprisoned then freed 4 years later because a psychiatrist made an error in diagnosis. “The law left an unexploded grenade in society,” lamented Me Sauvage, before addressing the jury and citing the philosopher Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” On Friday afternoon the court heard the oral arguments of Mes Swennen and Henrard, lawyers for Mme Dizier, and Me Greffe, lawyer for Stacy’s half-brother and Mes Balland and Delicourt, defending the interests of Thierry Lemmens’ ex-partner. (7S7)

There are echoes here of the Fourniret case. Michel Fourniret also had a well worked out strategy for getting young girls and young women to trust him. Fourniret, too, asked several of his victims to direct him, claiming that he could not find his way. Fourniret too, had been to prsion previously for sexual assaults on young women. If Abdallah Ait Oud had not been caught, I wonder if he would have gone on to repeat his wicked crimes. Research seems to show that serial killers often progress from rape to murdering their victims. Fourniret had a wife who colluded with him. I guess we can be thankful, for the potential victims of Ait Oud, who have been saved, that Ait Oud did not have such a wife. His partner tried to say that she had confidence in him, but she did refer to his, "unexplained absence," and of course, the Dutroux case has made the Belgian police more aware of looking for recidivist paedophiles in the community.

I am aware that Ait Oud has not yet been found guilty by the court, but this seems to be inevitable, given the evidence so far. On Monday his lawyers tried to have a motion accepted by the judge, claiming that because of the publicity, and other factors, that Ait Oud could not have a fair trial. This was rejected by the court.

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

8/06/08

Sunday, 8 June 2008

SOS Madeleine McCann 8/06/08: the British Foreign Office helped the McCanns return home


Le Foreign Office britannique a aidé les McCann à rentrer à la maison.

Entre 7 et 10 septembre de l'année dernière, Kate McCann luttait pour sa vie, selon The News Of The World parce que les autorités portugaises essayaient de l'incriminer. "Ils veulent que je mens- je suis incriminé", dit Kate McCann au Sunday Mirror. La raison, explique Kate, était le fait que la Police Judiciaire "manquait de budget pour poursuivre les investigations et voudrais y mettre un terme". Une autre raison, dit’ elle, était que la police portugaise "ne veut pas d’un meurtre au Portugal ni de la publicité à propos du fait qu’ils n’ont pas de lois contre la pédophile ici, ainsi ils nous accusent."

Between September 7th and 10th last year, Kate McCann was struggling for her life, according to the News Of The World, because the Portuguese authorities were trying to incriminate her. “They want me to lie – I am incriminated,” Kate McCann told the Sunday Mirror. The reason, explains Kate, was the fact that the PJ, “lacked the budget to continue with the investigation and wanted to bring it to a close.” Another reason, she says, was that the Portuguese police, “do not want a murder in Portugal nor publicity about the fact that they have no laws against paedophilia here, so they accuse us.”

Au même temps, Gerry McCann a admis qu'il avait déjà été informé par ses avocats de que la PJ "a pu rassembler assez d’éléments pour les accuser." Malgré qu’il était "absolument confiant de qu’il n’y avait preuve que puisse lier Kate et lui a tout soupçon du meurtre" de leur fille, Gerry a admis que la "dernière tournure des événements", pendant les premières semaines de septembre, "l'avait provoquait quelques 'inquiétudes". Selon l'édition du 9 septembre du The News Of The World, "les McCann craignent maintenant que les enquêteurs puissent être sur le point de les arrêter et accuser. Gerry a dit : "Notre avocat a dit que le poids est tell que, sous le système légal portugais, ils ont assez pour avancer contre nous."

At the same time, Gerry McCann admitted that he had already been informed by their lawyers that the PJ, “could have gathered enough evidence to charge them.” In spite of his being, “absolutely confident that there was no proof that could link Kate and himself to any suspicion of murder,” of the daughter. Gerry admitted that the, “last turn of events,” during the weeks of September, “had given him some anxiety.” According to the September 9th edition of The News Of The World, “the McCanns now believe that the investigators could be at the point of arresting and charging them.” Gerry said: “Our lawyer said the balance is such that, under the Portuguese legal system, they have enough to proceed against us.”

Le père de Madeleine McCann a considéré également la possibilité de que "tôt ou tard, il y aura un processus formel dans lequel nous pourrons réfuter les choses devant le tribunal. Alors il sortira tout". Gerry a expliqué que les McCann "étaient en pourparlers avec la police" de manière "à être autorisés à rentrer à leur maison au Royaume-Uni," après avoir été constitués "arguidos", ou suspects formels dans la disparition de Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine McCann’s father also considered the possibility that, “sooner or later, there will be a formal trial in which we will be able to refute everything before the court. Then it’ll all come out.” Gerry explained that the McCanns, “were in talks with the police, “ so as, “to be allowed to return to their home in the United Kingdom,” after having been made, “arguidos,”, or formal suspects in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

Pendant que ces négociations continuaient, "le Foreign Office était en feu sur tous fronts" dans ses efforts pour aider les McCann", comme The Telegraph l’écrit le 10 septembre.
Et l'accord autorisant le retour de Gerry et Kate au Royaume-Uni a été conclu par des contacts directs entre le Foreign Office, les ministres des affaires étrangers, de la Justice et la PJ, avec l'aide de John Buck, à l’époque l’ambassadeur britannique au Portugal.

While these negotiations continued, “the Foreign Office was firing on all cylinders,” in their efforts to help the mcCanns.” As the Telegraph wrote on September 10th.
And the agreement authorising Gerry and Kate’s return to the United Kingdom was concluded by direct contact between the Foreign Office, the ministers for foreign affairs, the prosecutor and the PJ, with the help of John Buck, at that time British ambassador to Portugal.

Justine McGuiness et David Hughes, membres de l'équipe de conseillers des McCann, ont également joué un rôle important dans ces contacts.
Une source de PJ a expliqué que si le couple avait essayé de quitter le Portugal avant les interrogatoires qui ont eu lieu entre 7 et 8 de septembre, le cabinet du Procureur avait instruit les inspecteurs de PJ de les arrêter et était prêt à les constituer "arguidos" imposant des restrictions plus sévères à leurs mouvements. Les autorités portugaises ont accepté un accord verbal, après que le Foreign Office a garanti que le couple reviendrait au Portugal, toutes les fois que le cabinet du Procureur demanderait leur présence.


Justime McGuiness and David Hughes, member of the McCanns’ team of advisors, also played an important role in these contacts.
A PJ source explained that if the couple had tried to leave Portugal before the interrogations, which took place between September 7th and 8th, the Prosecutor’s office had instructed the PJ inspectors to arrest them and be ready to constitute them, “arguidos,” imposing more strict restrictions on their movements. The Portuguese authorities accepted a verbal agreement, after which the Foreign Office guaranteed that the couple would go back to Portugal, any time the Prosecutor’s office requested their presence.


Le changement soudain d’attitude des McCann, prétendent rentrer à nouveau au Royaume-Uni, après qu’ils ont promis qu'ils ne partiraient jamais sans Madeleine, s’est produit deux mois après qu’une équipe spéciale de la police britannique soit venu à Praia da Luz, avec Eddie et Keela, les chiens dressés pour détecter l'odeur du sang et des cadavres.

Mais, un mois avant qu’ils soient constitués "arguidos", le porte-parole de la PJ, Olegário de Sousa, avait déjà indiqué, dans une entrevue a la BBC, le 10 août, que la police suivait une nouvelle ligne d'enquête qu’inclus la possibilité de que Madeleine était morte.

The sudden change in the McCanns’ attitude, intending to return to the United Kingdom, after having promised that they would never leave without Madeleine, happened two months after a special British police team went to Praia da Luz, with Eddie and Keela, the dogs trained to detect the odours of blood and corpses.

But, one month before they were constituted, “arguidos,” the PJ’s spokeman, Olegário de Sousa, had already indicated, in an interview with the BBC, on August 10th, that the police were following a new line of enquiry, which included the possibility that Madeleine was dead.

Duarte Levy & Paulo Reis.

SOS Madeleine McCann 8/06/08

SOS Madeleine McCann 7/06/08: what are the McCanns fleeing from?


De quoi fuient-ils ?*


Encore une fois, Clarence Mitchell apparait avec une histoire pour essayer de justifier une chose que le commun des mortels a des difficultés à accepter. Une partie des amis des McCann ont refusé de retourner au Portugal pour participer à la reconstitution des événements de la nuit de la disparition de Madeleine McCann. Analysons le dialogue entre Pat Kelly et Clarence Mitchell lors d’une interview radiophonique sur RTE Radio 1.


What are they fleeing from?


Once more, Clarence Mitchell appears with a story to try to justify something that the ordinary person has difficulty accepting. A group of the McCanns’ friends refused to return to Portugal to participate in the reconstruction of the events of the night of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance. Let’s analyse the dialogue between Pat Kelly and Clarence Mitchell during a radio interview on RTE Radio 1.


Pat Kenny a eu la gentillesse de poser les questions de manière très “sympathique”: (...)
Pat: "Bon, la dernière chose (en fait il voulait dire : ce qui est arrivé dernièrement) est un développement assez incroyable (…) dans le sens qu’il s’agit de l’annulation de la reconstitution de ce qui était arrivé ce soir-là. Mais, la reconstitution n’allait pas être filmée pour la télé, alors quel en était le but? "


Pat Kenny was polite enough to ask questions in a very “friendly” way. (…)
Pat: “OK, the latest thing (in fact he meant: what happened recently) is an incredible development (…) in the sense that it concerns the cancellation of the reconstruction of what happened that evening. But the reconstruction wasn’t going to be filmed for the telly, so what was the point of it?”


CM: "Et bien, voilà exactement la question que se posaient Gerry, Kate et leurs amis. Il y a tout un tas de raisons pour lesquelles ils ont été fortement préoccupés par ce que cela pourrait réellement apporter. Ils ont tous dit, de manière constante - et ils continuent à le dire - qu’ils feraient n’importe quoi qui pourrait aider à retrouver Madeleine. Cette proposition en particulier… sa formulation, la manière dont elle a été présentée… ils ont eu le sentiment que cela n’aurait aidé d’aucune manière à la retrouver. Et comme vous aviez dit, elle (la reconstitution) n’aurait pas été filmée pour la télé, donc elle n’aurait pas généré de nouvelles pistes… Pourquoi… à quoi est-ce que cela aurait pu servir une bonne année après les faits ? Personne ne semble avoir pris en compte le bien-être mental de Kate, vous savez, est-ce qu’on s’attendait à ce qu’un enfant joue le rôle de Madeleine devant elle ? Toutes sortes d’autres questions… (...)


CM: “Well, that’s exactly the question that Gerry, Kate and their friends are asking themselves. There are a whole lot of reasons why they were strongly concerned about what could realistically be achieved. They all said consistenly – and they continue to say it – that they would do anything at all that might help find Madeleine. This proposal in particular…its formulation, the way it was presented…they had the feeling that it would not help in any way to find her. And as you have said, it (the reconstruction) would not have been filmed for TV, so it would not have generated any new leads. ..Why…what purpose would that serve a good year after the events? No one seems to have taken into account Kate’s well-being, you know, do they expect a child to play the role of Madeleine in front of her..? All sorts of other questions…(…)

J’admets trois possibilités comme explication de ce charabia cité de cette interview :

1 – Clarence Mitchell et les avocats des McCann au RU s’en fichent de ce que les avocats portugais essaient de leur expliquer ;
2 – Rogério Alves et Carlos Pinto de Abreu sont nuls comme avocats et ne connaissent même pas les procédures de base d’une enquête criminelle ;
3 – Clarence Mitchell ment.

I list three possibilities as explanation for this gibberish spoken in that interview.

1 – Clarence and the McCanns’ lawyers in the UK don’t give a damn about what the Portuguese lawyers are trying to explain the them.
2 – Rogerio Alves and Carlos Pinto de Abreu are useless as lawyers and don’t even know the basic procedures of a criminal investigation.
3 – Clarence Mitchell is lying.

Pourquoi? Parce que, selon le Code pénal portugais, la reconstitution des événements et/ou des faits liés à un crime est une façon d’obtenir des preuves admissibles pour un tribunal, à la suite d’une décision formelle de la PJ et des autorités judiciaires, sous certaines circonstances et conditions spécifiques.

Why? Because according to the Portuguese penal code, the reconstruction of the events and/or the actions linked to a crime is a way of obtaining admissible evidence for a court, following a formal decision by the PJ and the judicial authorities, under certain circumstances and specific conditions.

Voici une traduction de l'article 150 du code pénal portugais

Chapitre V – Concernant la reconstitution des événements
Article 150

Conditions et procédure

1 – S’il y a un besoin de déterminer qu’un fait aurait pu arriver sous certaines circonstances, la reconstitution de celui-ci est admissible. Cette reconstitution consiste en la reproduction, aussi exacte que possible, des conditions sous lesquelles les faits sont supposés avoir eu lieu et la répétition de la manière dont se sont déroulés les événements.

2 – La décision formelle octroyant la reconstruction d’un fait doit contenir une brève mention du sujet, du jour, de l’heure et de l’endroit où cela aura lieu, et comment, et éventuellement en effectuant un enregistrement sur vidéo. La même décision formelle peut désigner un expert pour l’exécution de certaines opérations.

3 – Autant que possible, toute publicité par rapport à la reconstitution devrait être évitée."

Here is a translation of article 150 of the Portuguese penal code.

Chapter V - concerning the reconstruction of events.
Article 150

Conditions and procedure.

1) If it is necessary to determine if something could have happened under certain conditions, a reconstruction of this is admissable. This reconstruction consists of the reproduction, as exact as possible, of the conditions under which the actions are supposed to have taken place and the repetition of the way in which the events unfolded.

2) The formal decisions granting the reconstruction of an event must contain a brief mention of the subject, the date, the time and place where it would take place, and how, and possibly the making of a video recording.

3) Wherever possible, any publicity relating to the reconstruction should be avoided.

Pat Kenny était surpris par le fait que la PJ souhaitait utiliser les McCann et leurs amis pour la reconstitution, plutôt que des acteurs : (...)

Pat: "C’est… ils allaient utiliser les McCann et les gens qui étaient effectivement là ce soir-là plutôt que des acteurs."

Pat Kenny was surprised by the fact that the PJ wanted to use the McCanns and their friends rather than actors for the reconstruction: (...)

Pat: "It is....they were going to use the McCanns and the people who were actually there on that evening rather than actors."

CM: "Et bien, exactement, et de combien de reconstitutions en avez-vous entendu parler en Irlande, en Grande Bretagne ou n’importe où ailleurs, dans lesquelles les gens originellement impliqués dans une affaire y ont effectivement participé ? C’est pratiquement inconnu. Et donc, encore une fois, ceci nous a fait… ceci a fait que nos avocats se sont demandés, vous savez, qu’est-ce qui se passe ici ?

CM: "Well, exactly, and how many reconstructions have you heard about in Ireland, in Great Britain or anywhere else, in which the people originally implicated in a case, actually take part? It is practically unknown. And so, once again, that made us...that made our lawyers wonder, you know, what is happening here?

Et, en plus, normalement, les Portugais ne font pas de reconstitutions. L’année dernière, juste après l’abduction de Madeleine, BBC Crimewatch avait proposé une telle reconstitution avec des acteurs. Et la PJ avait dit : « Non, non, on ne fait pas cela ici, on ne pratique pas de reconstitutions. » Puis, tout à coup, ils reviennent plus d’une année plus tard pour dire : "Si, on en fera une, selon nos termes." Et, vous savez, il y a eu un peu de débat à l’intérieur du groupe.

(CM) And also, usually the Portuguese don't do reconstructions. Last year, just after Madeleine's abduction, BBC Crimewatch suggested such a reconstruction with actors. And the PJ had said: "No, we don't do that here, we don't do reconstructions." Then suddenly, they come back a year later to say: "If one is done on our terms." And you know, there was a little disagreement within the group.

Bon, Gerry et Kate, en tant qu’arguidos, en tant que suspects, auraient été obligés d’y retourner s’ils y avaient été forcés -légalement – à y retourner. Il n’en était pas question qu’ils disent : "Non, on ne peut pas y aller." Mais les amis ne sont suspectés de rien, ou n’y sont pas impliqués directement dans ce sens-là, à ce degré-là. Et donc, comme résultat, ils en avaient la liberté du choix. Et, ils en ont discuté entre eux – longuement – et ont décidé de faire savoir à la PJ que, vous savez, que : "Merci de cette offre, mais à cette occasion-ci, nous ne pensons pas que ce soit utile." Et voilà ce qui est arrivé. Et la PJ a fait également savoir qu’elle voulait que tout le monde y soit, sinon la reconstitution n’aurait pas lieu. Et dès qu’un ou deux des amis ont dit non, et bien, c’est tombé à l’eau."

(CM) So, Gerry and Kate, being arguidos, being suspects, would have been obliged to return if they had been forced - legally - to go back there. There was no question of their saying: "No, we can't go there." But the friends are not suspected of anything, or are not implicated directly in this sense - to that degree - and they decided to let the PJ know that, you know, that: "Thank you for the offer, but on this occasion, we don't think this would be useful." And that's what happened. And the PJ also let us know that they wanted everyone there, or else the reconstruction would not take place. And when one or two of the friends said no, well, it was dead in the water."

Pat: "Il y avait une certaine suspicion qu’ils essayaient de confondre les gens. Vous avez fait une déposition… Bon, allez-y, effectuez les gestes selon votre déposition et voyons voir si on peut y trouver des incohérences."

CM: "Je dois faire très attention à ce que je dis, Pat, car la police est toujours en train d’investiguer, et nos avocats sont toujours en train de l’examiner, mais, hmm, vous pouvez en tirer cette conclusion si vous le souhaitez… je ne voudrais pas commenter là-dessus." (...)

Pat: "There was some suspicion that they were trying to confuse people. You have made a statement...OK, come here, carry out the actions according to your statement and let's see if we can find inconsistencies."

CM: "I must be very careful what I say, Pat, because the police are still investigating, and our lawyers are still working on it, but, hmm, you can draw that conclusion if you wish....I would not like to comment on that."

Donc, certains des amis des McCann ont refusé de participer à la reconstitution, en la rendant impossible d’un point de vue juridique. Ils ont "discuté entre eux" – longuement – et ont décidé de faire savoir à la PJ: "Merci de cette offre, mais à cette occasion-ci, nous ne pensons pas que ce soit utile." (…) Est-ce que la raison aurait pu être la "suspicion qu’ils essayaient de confondre les gens. Vous avez fait une déposition… Bon, allez-y, effectuez les gestes selon votre déposition et voyons voir si on peut y trouver des incohérences," comme disait Pat Kenny?

So, some of the McCanns's friends refused to participate in the reconstruction, making it impossible from a legal point of view. They, "discussed between themselves" - at length - and decided to let the PJ know: "Thank you for the offer, but on this occasion, we don't think it would be useful." (...) Is the reason that there might have been the, "suspicion that they were trying to confuse people. You have made a statement...OK, come here, carry out the actions according to your statement and let's see if we can fond inconsistencies," as Pat Kenny said?

"Vous pouvez en tirer cette conclusion, si vous voulez," était la réponse de Clarence Mitchell.

"You can draw that conclusion, if you wish," was Clarence Mitchell's response

Oui, on peut le faire, comme diraient les supporters de Barak Obama..

Yes, it can be done, as Barak Obama's supporters would say.

Original title: "Why did the chickens run away.?"

Duarte Levy & Paulo Reis




7/06/08
The, "Illusionist," image is by Dixoncox of the 3 Arguidos forum.

Saturday, 7 June 2008

SOS Madeleine McCann: Book at Bedtime controversy.


I used to listen to the BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime, years ago, driving home through darkened country roads when my shift at work ended at 10pm. So, "Book at Bedtime," now conjures up for me, silent winding lanes, my own swathe of light leading me through the darkness, black night folding softly and seamlessly behind me, the occasional twin swords of light strobing the sky from a further hill, and the soft voice reading me a story.

The recent book at bedtime, which has elicited complaints from listeners, would probably have been ideal for me, alone in my car, tired, anticipating what might be just beyond the reach of my headlights. It would have grabbed my attention, held it and definitely kept me awake better than any other reading at the sandman hour.

The book in question was, "Sans Personne," by the Canadian author, Barbara Gowdy, translated as, "Helpless." Here, the controversy surrounding its reading as a, "Book at Bedtime," is related by Duarte Levy on SOS Madeleine McCann.


Auditeurs demandent la censure d’un livre à cause de la disparition de Madeleine

Listeners demand censorship of a book because of Madeleine’s disappearance.

Au Royaume-Uni, l’émission de radio “Un livre à l’heure du coucher” (Book at Bedtime) sur BBC 4 qui prétend apaiser ses auditeurs par la lecture d’un roman avant qu’ils partent dormir, a été inondée de plaintes à propos du choix du livre “Sans Personne” (Helpless) de l’écrivaine canadienne Barbara Gowdy Selon les auditeurs, suite à la disparition de Madeleine McCann, le choix d’une œuvre qui traite d’un cas de pédophilie était "totalement inadéquat".

In the United Kingdom, the radio broadcast, “Book at Bedtime,” on BBC 4 which claims to calm its listeners by the reading of a novel before they go to sleep, was inundated with complaints about the choice of book, “Sans Personne,” (Helpless) by the Canadian author Barbara Gowdy. According to the listeners, following Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, the choice of a work that deals with paedophilia was, “totally inappropriate.”

L’œuvre, selon son éditeur, "est un thriller psychologique, mais aussi le tableau d'une détresse intime immense déjà exprimée par son titre, et qui résume la vie de beaucoup au sein de nos grandes villes".
Dans "Sans Personne" la jeune Rachel, neuf ans, est enlevée un soir d'orage, pendant l’absence de sa mère. Ainsi débute un singulier cas de disparition d'enfant.

The work, according to its publisher, "is a psychological thriller, but also the setting for great personal distress already expressed by its title, and which typifies the life of many people in our large towns." In, "Sans Personne," young Rachel, aged nine, is abducted on the night of a storm, during her mother's absence. Thus starts a strange case of a missing child.

"Le sujet est insipide et donné la société dans laquelle nous vivons totalement inadéquat. Je ne peux pas croire que vous avez choisi de nous soumettre aux détails sinistres de l'obsession qui hante un adulte pour un enfant," accuse une auditrice.
Barbara Gowdy, qui a obtenu les plus grands prix littéraires au Canada, est l’auteur de sept romans et recueils traduits dans de nombreux pays, notamment en France et en Belgique.

"The subject is banal and given the society in which we live, totally inappropriate. I cannot believe that you have chosen to subject us to the sinister details of the obsession that haunts an adult for a child," accuses a listener. Barbara Gowdy, who has gained Canada's best literary prizes, is the author of seven novels and anthologies which have been translated in many countries, notably in France and in Belgium.

Gone Baby Gone
Avant les critiques à "Sans Personne", le film
"Gone Baby Gone", réalisé par Ben Affleck, avait vu sa sortie retardé à cause de la disparition de Madeleine McCann.
Dans un pays qui compte quelques milliers d’enfants disparues, la plupart sans avoir eu la moindre médiatisation, l’affaire McCann est devenu une exception,
un cas unique.
"Les films à propos de l’enlèvement d'enfant ne seront jamais agréables à regarder," écrivait un journaliste outre-manche soulignant que "Gone Baby Gone n’est pas exception".

Gone Baby Gone.

Before the criticism of "Sans Personne," the film "Gone Baby Gone," produced by Ben Affleck, saw its release postponed because of Madeleine McCann's disappearance. In a country which reports a few thousand missing children, most without having the least media coverage, the McCann case has become an exception, a unique case. "Films about child abduction are never comfortable to watch," a journalist on the British side of the channel wrote, stressing that, "Gone Baby Gone," is no exception.

La sortie du film au Royaume-Uni avait été retardée de plusieurs mois en raison de la ressemblance existent entre Maddie et l’actrice Madeline O’Brien qui joue le personnage d’Amanda McCready.
Dans le film, Amanda McCready, âgée de quatre ans, disparaît après que sa maman l’a laissé seule à la maison pendant qu’elle sort s’amuser, tout comme l’avaient fait Kate et Gerry McCann. Les similitudes avec la réalité de l’affaire McCann s’arrêtent la mais le public britannique a du attendre 2008 pour connaître le film.

The release of the film in the United Kingdom had been postponed for several months because of the similarity existing between Maddie and the actress Madeline O'Brien who plays the character Amanda McCready. In the film, Amanda McCready, aged four, disappeared after her mother left her alone in the house while she went out to enjoy herself, just as Kate and Gerry McCann did. The similarities with the reality of the McCann case stop there, but the British public has had to wait until 2008 to see the film.

Selon Clarence Mitchell, le chargé en communication de Kate et Gerry McCann, le couple était reconnaissant au réalisateur pour avoir retardé la sortie du film.

According to Clarence Mitchell, communication spokesperson for Kate and Gerry McCann, the couple were thankful to the producer for having postponed the release of the film.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

6/06/08

SOS Madeleine McCann blog




Friday, 6 June 2008

Josef Fritzl may never stand trial. If his heart doesn't kill him, the other inmates might!


Authorities in Austria are concerned that Josef Fritzl, who kept his daughter locked in a cellar for 24 years and fathered seven chilren by her, may never stand trial. Originally, it was predicted that the trial would start in the autumn this year. However, prosecutors now feel that it may be two years before Elisabeth Fritzl and her children, who were confined with her, may take at least two years to be ready to give evidence at a trial.

Meanwhile, it is reported widely that Josef Fritzl is afraid to leave his prison cell for fear of being attacked by fellow prisoners.

The Daily Star

"
Violent lags there call him Satan and have vowed to kill him."

Typical Daily Star language. Anyone who is in prison is a, "violent lag." Yet it seems to me that ordinary prisoners tend to have some kind of code of conduct with regard to children. This is why the, "nonces," are kept separate from the general prison population. Someone may be incarcerated for crimes against other adults of a fairly serious nature, but crimes against children are very different and those who commit crimes against children are likely to be targeted.

Ninemsn Australia

"Inmates vow to kill 'Satan' Fritz"

"Inmates at the prison where Josef Fritzl is locked up have branded the Austrian criminal "Satan" and vowed to kill him, a former prisoner has claimed.

Fritzl, who held his daughter captive for 24 years in an underground den and had seven children by her, has refused to leave his cell for fear of being attacked, according to the inmate.

"At night the other cons shout out 'We're going to get you Satan, come out and play', and they bang on the door when they walk past his cell," he was quoted in the Austrian Times as saying."

And then there's Fritzl's heart condition.

The Daily Mirror

"Cellar monster Josef Fritzl could cheat justice by dying before his trial, it was feared last night.

The 73-year-old has a heart condition and doctors want to test him for an unspecified blood disease.

An inmate released from the Austrian jail where Fritzl is being held, said: "He really looks unwell. He's lost a lot of weight and hasn't left his cell for fear of being attacked. He is suffering."

Sify News India

"London: Austrian incest fiend Josef Fritzl, who imprisoned his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathered seven kids with her, might never face trial for his evil deeds, it has emerged."

"Police officials fear that the 73-year-old brute who has a heart condition – will die in prison before his victims reveal exactly what happened to them."

"They say daughter Elisabeth, 42, is still too traumatised to be quizzed, reports The Sun."

"And police have been unable to question the three of her seven kids fathered by Fritzl who also lived in the cellar.

Medical experts have warned cops it could be two years before the victims reveal all about the cellar in the Austrian town of Amstetten."

So, there we have it. After 24 years of doing what he liked with his daughter's life, he may never be punished for his crimes. I guess he is already being punished since his liberty has been taken from him and I am sure he already knows that he will never again see the light of day outside of a prison. For justice to be done, though, perhaps we should hope that he will eventually have to stand in a courtroom and face what he has done.
I do wonder if it would be a welcome release for Elisabeth and her children if they did not have to go through that. If Josef Fritzl were to die before the case came to trial, Elisabeth and the children could possibly just get on with trying to make a life for themselves and not have to face the glare of the world's media
and they would know that the man being called, "The Austrian Monster," was gone from the world and their lives.

Traditional herbal remedies.

I have a herb garden and I use herbs in a variety of ways. I use them in cooking and in salads and I also use them as home remedies.

Herbs have been used medicinally for thousands of years and plant extracts form the basis of many well-known medicines:

Aspirin is derived from a willow. The active constituent of the plant was extracted refined and pressed into tablet form and aspirin has been more widely used possibly than any other pharmaceutical product since its introduction to the medicine counters. It is anti-inflammatory and also has blood-thinning properties. The most common side-effect is irritation of the digestive tract. This is because only what is seen as the active ingredient in the plant is used. The willow, from which aspirin was originally derived, produces other compounds which act synergistically with
acetylsalicylic acid to soothe the digestive tract
. I call this left-brain thinking! I guess there is some logic in it. If we identify what looks like the active ingredient and extract it, then we may increase its efficacy and we also produce a more potent remedy.

I am going to start a series of posts looking at various herbs and their properties. Most of the ones I mention can be grown in a small space in your garden, in a tub or bed, or even in a window box. There is not likely to be any particular or logical order to how I list the herbs. Perhaps I will list alphabetically after a few posts! For now, just as I think about them!

Since I have been talking about aspirin, which we all know has been a popular headache remedy since its introduction in 1899, I shall start with feverfew.

Feverfew: this is a traditional remedy for migraine. The plant is bushy, grows to a height of about 18" and spreads rapidly.

Feverfew has been used for reducing fever, for treating headaches, arthritis and digestive problems. It is thought to stop the inflammation of blood vessels in the head and therefore to inhibit the spasm of blood vessels, causing migraine.

Feverfew is available from many health and wholefood stores in tablet and capsule form, but some herbalists believe that it is more efficacious if used in its natural form. Many garden centres stock the plant, and as I said, it spreads quickly. It is just as happy in a container as it is in the ground.

Tablets/capsules: use as directed by the manufacturer.

Plant: chew one leaf a day. Don't expect and instant cure! Natural remedies tend to take longer than pharmaceuticals. So, be patient. Feverfew in plant form or tablet form will not stop a migraine once it has started. Its benefits are preventative. So, if you are prone to migraine, get yourself a plant and start religiously chewing a leaf every day. Be warned, though, it tastes revolting!

Sage: very popular culinary ingredient and also has many medicinal properties, indigestion, throat and mouth problems being the most common uses.
Indigestion: one teaspoon of the fresh herb, chopped finely and brewed for five minutes in a cup of boiling water.
Mouth and throat: as above. Gargle with the brew when it's cool enough not to burn your mouth!
Sage is also available in tablet form from health and wholefood shops, but so easy to grow.

Black cohosh: a traditional remedy for menopausal problems and PMS. Taken as a herbal tincture, in tablet or capsule form.

Valerian: a common ingredient in natural relaxation remedies and for insomnia. Best used in a combination remedy with other herbs. Can be bought as tablets, herbal tincture or as the loose herb.
Loose herb: one teaspoon brewed for five minutes in a cup of boiling water. For insomnia, drink one hour before retiring.
Best used in combination with: chamomile, hops, vervain, scullcap and passiflora, all of which are readily available from wholefood shops. Scullcap is comparatively expensive, but all of the others are very cheap to buy as loose herbs.

To finish with today, here are the lists of ingredients in my special, "Sleep Tea," and, "Digestive Tea."

Sleep Tea:
Chamomile, scullcap, motherwort, damiana, passiflora, red clover blossom, vervain, valerian.

Digestive Tea:
Raspberry leaves, meadowsweet, caraway, aniseed, fennel, dandelion, wood betony, peppermint, lemongrass, rosehip, hibiscus, gentian root.

Leave me a message if you would like the recipe (proportions of ingredients) for either of the above special teas.

Thursday, 5 June 2008

SOS Madeleine McCann: Clarence Mitchell joins the campaign for Amy Fitzpatrick

Well, I guess Clarence had to do something to restore his credibility, which seems to have been gradually eroded by his spin, spin, spin for the McCanns. Public opinion is not on their side, Clarence, which leaves you where? Needing a more plausible campaign to attach your name to?

Porte-parole des McCann rejoint campagne d’Amy Fitzpatrick

fe5ba8a0d72b97c185835116aeab38d2.jpgClarence Mitchell, le chargé en communication de Kate et Gerry McCann, a accepté d’aider la famille d’Amy Fitzpatrick, la jeune irlandaise disparu depuis le premier janvier en Mijas, dans la région de Malaga, en Espagne.

The McCanns' spokesman joins the campaign for Amy Fitzpatrick.

Clarence Mitchell, the communications spokesperson for Kate and Gerry McCann, agreed to help the family of Amy Fitzpatrick, the young Irish girl who disappeared on January 1st in Mijas, in the Malaga region of Spain.

Audrey Fitzpatrick, mère d'Amy, et son compagnon, Dave Mahon, ont maintenu des contacts téléphoniques avec Clarence Mitchell, avec lequel ils s'auront une entrevue en Irlande le 17 juin, coïncidant avec une nouvelle campagne de la famille Fitzpatrick auprès des médias irlandais destinée à relancer les recherches d'Amy, profitant d’une période ou des milliers de touristes britanniques préparent leurs valises pour voyager vers les côtes espagnoles.

Amy's mother Audrey Fitzpatrick, and her partner, Dave Mahon, have maintained telephone contact with Clarence Mitchell, with whom they will have a meeting in Ireland on June 17th, coinciding with a new campaign by the Fitzpatrick family in the Irish media, planned to relaunch the search for Amy, taking advantage of the time when thousands of British tourists are packing their cases to travel to the Spanish coast.

Amy, installé en Espagne depuis cinq ans, était âgé de 15 ans au moment de sa disparition.

Selon le porte-parole de la Guardia Civil, la jeune serait disparue vers les 22 heures entre la zone Calypso et l’urbanisation Riviera del Sol, a Calahonda (Malaga), un endroit connu pour accueillir une importante communauté d’expatriés britanniques.

Amy, who had been living in Spain for five years, was aged 15 when she disappeared.

According to the apokesperson for the Guardia Civil, the young girl would have disappeared around 10pm between the Calypso area and the town area of Riviera del Sol, in Calahonda (Malaga) a place known for its large British ex-pat community.

Selon l’ancien responsable de l’unité de surveillance des médias au Royaume-Uni, "la famille d’Amy est très inquiète avec sa disparition, qui n'a pas la couverture dans les média qui ont d'autres disparitions de mineurs".

Pendant plusieurs semaines, centaines de policiers et militaires accompagnés par des chiens-pisteurs, avec l’aide de la croix rouge et des volontaires, ont recherché la jeune irlandaise sans succès. Même les chiens-pisteurs n’ont réussi à retrouver la moindre trace d’Amy.

According to the former head of media monitoring in the United Kingdom, "Amy's family is very worried by her disappearance, which has not had the same media coverage as other missing children."

For several weeks, hundreds of police and army personnel, accompanied by sniffer dogs, with the help of the Red Cross and volunteers, searched without success for the young Irish girl. Even the sniffer dogs had no success in finding the least trace of Amy.

6534e8a5a32a851d6aff2013d06d3adc.jpgEgal à lui-même, Clarence Mitchell a déjà accusé les voisins –à majorité des expatriés d'origine britannique– d’arracher les affiches avec la photo d’Amy "chaque fois que ses parents les remettent parce qu'ils sont préoccupés par l'effet que la disparition du mineur pourrait avoir sur le tourisme".

True to form, Clarence Mitchell has already accused the neighbours - the majority of them ex-pat British in origin - of tearing down the posters bearing Amy's photo, "Each time the parents put them back because they are bothered about the effect the disappearance of a minor might have on tourism."


http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

5/06/08

Josef Frtizl has received over 200 love letters in prison. (Enfants Kidnappés 4/06/08)

Good God in Heaven! Are these from women who have no idea what Elisabeth Fritzl has been through? What kind of fantasies do these women harbour about a monster like Fritzl? I am sure that the reality would totally destroy any and all of them. Strange or what?

04 juin 2008

Le monstre autrichien Josef Fritzl a reçu plus de 200 lettres d'amour en prison.

Lettres dans lesquelles des femmes lui déclarent leur flamme et expliquent que Fritzl n'est pas mauvais et a bon coeur.Dans la majorité des lettres, ces femmes qui écrivent du monde entier expliquent que Fritzl a simplement voulu protéger sa fille Elisabeth en l'enfermant dans cette cave et ce pour l'écarter du mauvais chemin, pour éviter qu'elle n'entre en contact avec la boisson et la drogue.

The Austrian monster Josef Fritzl has received over 200 love letters in prison.

These are letters in which the women declare their love for him and explain that Fritzl is not evil and has a good heart. In most of the letters, these women who write from all over the world, explain that Fritzl simply wanted to protect Elisabeth by locking her in that cellar and to save her from the wrong path, to keep her away from alcohol and drugs.

Maternité

La joie de la maternité est un sujet qui revient souvent sur le tapis dans ces lettres. Pour ces femmes, Fritzl aurait fait sept enfants à sa fille pour qu'elle connaisse la joie d'être maman. Josef Fritzl, 73 ans, a été arrêté le 27 avril dernier dans son village d' Amstetten en Autriche. Il abusait de sa fille depuis qu'elle avait onze ans. En août 1984, alors qu'elle venait d'avoir 18 ans, il l'a séquestrée dans la cave de la maison.De ces abus répétés sont nés sept enfants âgés de 5 à 19 ans. Trois d'entre eux, Lisa, Monika et Alexander ont été élevés par Fritzl et sa femme Rosemarie. Michael, un des jumeaux engendrés par Elisabeth est décédé quelques jours après sa naissance. Fritzl a brûlé le corps dans un four. (7sur7)

Motherhood.

The joy of motherhood is a subject which comes up often in these letters. For these women, Fritzl had seven children with his daughter so that she would know the joy of being a mother. Josef Fritzl, aged 73, was arrested on April 27th this year in his village Amstetten in Austria. He had abused his daughter since she was eleven years old. In August 1984, when she reached tha ge of 18, he imprisoned her in the cellar of the house. From the repeated abuse seven children were born, aged from 5 to 19 years. Three of them, Lisa, Monika and Alexander were raised by Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie. Michael, one of the twins borne by Elisabeth, died a few days after his birth. Fritzl burned the body in an incinerator. (7sur7)

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


4/06/08

I wonder how many of these women would have thought Fritzl had a good heart if they had been locked in an underground cellar for 24 years, repeatedly raped by him and left without medical attention through six pregnancies and births? Would any of them think he was saving them from taking the wrong path in life? Somehow I doubt that anyone would feel grateful to him.

Abdallah Ait Oud is psychopathic but not insane (Enfants Kidnappés 5/06/08)

Enfants Kidnappés reports on psychiatric evaluation of Abdallah Ait Oud presented to the court at his trial in Liège. On first meeting him, there is no noticeable sign of mental illness, but the experts suggest that he has psychopathic tendencies.

A première vue, on ne remarque aucune pathologie mentale

La cour d'assises de Liège a poursuivi ce jeudi le procès à charge d'Abdallah Ait Oud par l'audition des experts psychiatriques. Selon eux, l'accusé présente des traits narcissiques et psychopathiques mais n'était pas en état de démence au moment des faits.
Au premier abord, Abdallah Ait Oud est poli, correct, bien habillé, s'exprimant bien, bien orienté dans l'espace. « A première vue, on ne remarque aucune pathologie mentale », a souligné le neuropsychiatre, Philippe Schouteden. Mais l'accusé révèle un caractère différent lorsqu'on évoque des faits qui le dérangent. Les experts évoquent alors son irritabilité. « Il est loquace et détaillé sur certains sujets, il est plus évasif ou ne souhaite pas répondre, sur d'autres sujets », a remarqué la psychologue, Séverine Louwette, soulignant aussi « l'autoritarisme » et la « méfiance » de l'accusé, qui veut se montrer sous un jour favorable, en ne retenant que les éléments en sa faveur.

At first sight, no noticeable mental pathology. The trial of Abdallah Ait Oud continued at the Liège court of assizes with statements from psychiatric experts. According to them, the accused presents narcissistic and psychopathic traits but was not in a state of insanity at the time of the events. Initially, Abdallah Ait Oud is polite, decent, well dressed, expresses himself well, well-adjusted. "On first meeting, there is no noticeable mental pathology," stressed the neuropsychiatrist, Philippe Schouteden. But the accused reveals a different character when the facts that upset him are mentioned. The experts then spoke of his irritability. "He is articulate and detailed on some subjects. He is more evasive or does not wish to answer, on other subjects," the psychologist Séverine Louwette remarked, stressing also, "the authoritarianism," and the, "distrust," of the accused, who wants to show himself in a favourable light, only holding onto the details that are in his favour.

Ainsi, quand les faits de moeurs sont évoqués, l'accusé préfère changer de sujet et dénoncer ses conditions carcérales. Les experts ont également noté une tendance à la déresponsibilisation et à attribuer les faits à d'autres plutôt qu'à lui-même. Il justifie certains comportement par des éléments extérieurs qui ne lui sont pas imputables. Il utilise également sa toxicomanie comme « cause de justification ».

Thus, when the facts of morals are mentioned, the accused prefers to change the subject and complain about his prison conditions. The experts also noted a tendency to deny responsibility and to attribute the facts to others sooner than to himself. He justifies certain behaviour by outside influence for which he is not accountable. He also uses his addiction as, "mitigating factor."

Victime de son charme

Abdallah Ait Oud, aux capacités intellectuelles moyennes mais au mauvais parcours scolaire, se dit aussi « victime de son charme » auprès des femmes. L'homme, à la pensée rigide, manque de logique et de cohérence, a encore souligné la psychologue. Les experts ont remarqué qu'il ne fallait pas s'attendre à une modification radicale dans la personnalité de l'accusé. « On ne fait pas un stradivarius avec un vulgaire morceau de bois », a souligné M. Schouteden, notant l'absence d'introspection de l'accusé qui aurait des difficultés à suivre un traitement psychologique. D'autre part, la cour a également entendu un ingénieur de l'AIDE qui a confirmé que le premier corps d'enfant avait été déposé dans le dévidoir le dimanche 11 juin, vers 5H du matin. Des perturbations ont en effet été constatées dans le débit à ce moment.

Ce jeudi après-midi, la cour entendra la famille de l'accusé. (rtl)

Abdallah Ait Oud, of average intelligence but poor academic achievement, also describes himself as, "a victim of his charm," with women. The man, with his rigid thinking, lacks logic and consistency, the psychologist stressed again. The experts remarked that a radical change in the personality of the accused was not to be expected. "You cannot make a Stradivarius with a rough piece of wood," stressed M. Schouteden, noting the absence of introspection in the accused who would have difficulty following psychological therapy. On the other hand, the court also heard from an engineer from AIDE who confirmed that the first child's body had been disposed of in the drainage channel at around 5 o'clock in the morning of Sunday June 11th. Disturbancies were reported in the flow at that time.

This thursday afternoon, the court will hear the family of the accused. (rtl)

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


5/06/08

Wednesday, 4 June 2008

SOS Madeleine McCann: the McCanns have not yet informed the police about their holiday.

4th June 2008

McCann n’ont pas encore informé autorités de leurs vacances

7417648b86f5c12b308e80a3ca5f6837.jpgLes McCann n’ont pas encore informée les autorités portugaises de leur départ en vacances ni de leur destination exacte comme exige leur statut d’arguidos dans l’enquête en cours à la disparition de leur fille cadet, Madeleine.

The McCanns have not yet informed the police about their holiday.

The McCanns have not yet informed the Portuguese authorities of their going on holiday nor of their exact destination as required by their arguido status in the ongoing investigation into their younger daughter Madeleine's disappearance.

Hier, le porte-parole du couple a confirmée que Kate et Gerry McCann, accompagnés par les jumeaux Sean et Amélie, se préparent à partir en vacances pour la première fois depuis la disparition de leur fille Madeleine.

C’est précisément au cours de leur dernières vacances, en mai 2007, dans le village de Praia da Luz, au sud du Portugal, que leur fille Madeleine, âgé de trois ans, a disparue après que ses parents aient laissé les trois enfants seules et sans aucune surveillance pendant qu’ils dinaient en compagnie d’autres couples.

Yesterday, the couple's spokesman confirmed that Kate and Gerry McCann, accompanied by their twins Sean and Amélie, were preparing to leave on holiday for the first time since the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.

It was actually during their last holiday, in May 2007, in the village of Praia da Luz, in the south of Portugal, that their daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared after her parents had left the three children alone and without supervision while they were dining in the company of other couples.

Selon une source proche de l’enquête, le Ministère Public n’a pas encore été informée de l’éventuel voyage du couple mais confirme que, vu le statut d’arguidos de Kate et Gerry McCann, assujettis a terme d’identité et résidence, ils ne doivent pas quitter Rothley pour une période supérieur à cinq jours sans informer au préalable les autorités portugaises de leur destination exacte.

According to a source close to the investigation, the Public Ministry has not yet been informed about the couple's possible trip but confirm that, given Kate and Gerry McCann's arguido status, which is subject to conditions of identity and residence, they must not leave Rothley for a period exceeding five days without informing the Portuguese authorities in advance of their exact destination.

(Comment: did I read somewhere that Kate and Gerry were planning to be away for five days? Interesting if so.)

805c6fca74362fd420231b03e54f797b.jpg"Rien n'a encore été réservé, mais une chose est certaine - ils n'iront pas au Portugal," a dit Clarence Mitchell soulignant que le couple, depuis la disparition de Madeleine en mai 2007, n’a eu que quelques jours de loisirs en dehors de leur maison de Rothley.

Depuis mai 2007, Kate et Gerry McCann ont effectué plusieurs voyages en Europe et aux Etats-Unis laissant les deux autres enfants du couple, Sean et Amélie, avec des familiers.

"Nothing has yet been booked, but one thing is certain - they will not be going to Portugal," said Clarence Mitchell, stressing that since Madeleine's disappearance in May 2007, the couple had only had a break of few days away from their Rothley home.

Since May 2007, Kate and Gerry McCann have made several trips to Europe and to the United States, leaving the couple's other two children, Sean and Amélie with family.

Contactées par SOS Madeleine, les enquêteurs portugais et britanniques n’ont pas été surpris par l’annonce du départ en vacances de Kate et Gerry McCann mais ont avoué "qu’ils suivent avec attention les déplacements du couple et de ses amis, en particulier dans leurs deplacements à l’étranger".

Contacted by SOS Madeleine, the Portuguese and British investigators were not surprised by the announcement of Kate and Gerry McCann's going on holiday, but confessed, "that they were given close attention to the movements of the couple and their friends, in particular their movements abroad."

Pas de violation du secret de justice

""Je n’est pas retiré le jugement du site pour considérer qu’il y a eu violation de secret de justice, mais parce que je voulais l’améliorer avec des références d’autres cas liés à l’accès au trafic de communications," explique Chambel Mourisco, le juge conseiller des cours suprêmes de justice, en réponse à l’information avancée par le quotidien 24 Horas.

No violation of the secrecy of justice.

"I have not withdrawn the cited judgment in consideration that there has been a violation of the secrecy of justice, but because I would like to improve on it with reference to other case linked to communications traffic," explains Chambel Mourisco, the the judge of the Supreme Courts of Justice, in response to the information advanced by the daily newspaper, 24 Horas.

Selon son édition d’aujourd’hui, le 24 Horas affirme que l’arrêt du Tribunal de la Relation d’Évora à propos de l’interdiction d’accès des enquêteurs au contenu des messages écrits (SMS) reçus et envoyés par Gerry McCann, aurait été retiré du site internet de l’Institut des Technologies d’Information de la Justice (ITIJ) pour constituer une violation du secret de justice à l’enquête en cours dans le cas de disparition de Madeleine.

According to today's edition, 24 Horas affirms that the ruling of the Evora Court of Appeal on the banning of access by investigators to the contents of text messages (SMS) received and sent by Gerry McCann, has been removed from the internet site of the Legal Institute for Information Technologies (ITIJ) as constituting a violation of the secrecy of justice in the ongoing enquiry in the case of Madeleine's disappearance.

Sans jamais mentionner directement l’identité des arguidos, le document, le premier arrêt de justice divulgué jusqu’à présent publiquement à propos de l’affaire Madeleine McCann, confirme que l’enquête des autorités portugaises et britanniques portent bien sur l’éventualité des crimes d’abandon, mise en danger, enlèvement, homicide et dissimulation de cadavre (lire aussi "Enquêteurs voulaient confondre le 10éme Tapas" sur ce blog. )

Note : le document est toujours disponible pour download ICI

Without ever directly mentioning the identity of the arguidos, the document, the first legal ruling disclosed until now about the Madeleine McCann case, confirms that the investigation by the Portuguese and British authorities is dealing with the crimes of abandonment, placing at risk, abduction, murder and concealing of a corpse. (Also read "Investigators would like to unmask the 10th Tapas" on this blog.)

Note: the document is still available for download.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

4/06/08


Abdallah Ait Oud: three of Stacy's hairs found in his trousers. (Enfants Kidnappés 4/06/08)

3 Cheveux de Stacy dans le pantalon d'Ait Oud


Three of Stacy's hairs found in Ait Oud's trousers.

Ces trois cheveux ne sont pas tombés de manière naturelle mais ont été arrachés de manière violente.

Seuls deux experts ont été entendus mercredi au cours de la 8e journée du procès d'Abdallah Ait Oud devant la Cour d'assises de Liège. Les experts de l'INCC ont mis en évidence la présence de trois cheveux de la petite Stacy dans le pantalon que portait l'accusé le jour des faits.

These three hairs did not fall in a natural way, but were pulled out in a violent manner.

Only two experts were heard on Wednesday in the course of the eighth day of Abdallah Ait Oud's trial before the Liège court of assizes. The experts from INCC highlighted the presence of three of little Stacy's hairs in the trousers that the accused was wearing on the day of the events.


C'est à des experts de l'INCC qu'ont été confiées les analyses des différents cheveux et poils (complets ou de manière fragmentée) retrouvés sur les corps de Stacy et Nathalie ainsi que sur les vêtements que portait Abdallah Ait Oud le jour des faits. Des analyses microscopiques et génétiques ont été effectuées sur ces prélèvements. Les experts ont pu démontrer que trois cheveux qui présentent les mêmes caractéristiques que ceux de Stacy Lemmens ont été retrouvés dans le pantalon d'Abdallah Ait Oud. Ces trois cheveux ne sont pas tombés de manière naturelle mais ont été arrachés de manière violente. Cette analyse tendrait à démontrer la thèse selon laquelle ces cheveux sont arrivés dans le pantalon d'Ait Oud lorsqu'il a agressé Stacy. (Le vif)

It was these experts who were entrusted with the analysis of the different hairs and (pubic?) hairs (complete or fragmented) found on the bodies of Stacy and Nathalie as well as on the clothes that Abdallah Ait Oud was wearing on the day of the events. Microscopic and genetic analyses were carried out on these samples. The experts were able to show that three hairs which present the same characteristics as those of Stacy Lemmens were found in Abdallah Ait Oud's trousers. These three hairs did not fall in a natural way but were pulled out in a violent manner. This analysis would support the theory, according to which these hairs happened to get into Ait Oud's trousers while he was assaulting Stacy. (Le vif)

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

4/06/08