Robert Murat to sue 4 of the Tapas friends of the McCanns.

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The Daily Express reports that Robert Murat, the first person to be named as an arguido, or official suspect, in the Madeleine McCann case, is to sue four of the 7 people the McCanns went on holiday with in May 2007.

"The estate agent has lodged a “criminal complaint” against Jane Tanner, 39, who claimed she saw a man carrying a child near the McCanns’ holiday apartment on the night Madeleine vanished.

A second complaint has been made against Ms Tanner’s partner, Dr Russell O’Brien, and Fiona Payne and Rachael Oldfield, also members of the so-called Tapas Seven.

It is understood that the complaints centre on allegations that the four gave evidence to Portuguese police which led to them making Mr Murat, 35, a suspect in the investigation.

The expat, who lived in Praia da Luz at the time, was found to have no involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.

Details of the allegations, lodged at a court in Lagos in the Algarve, are unclear because under Portuguese law the parties involved cannot discuss them."

A very thorough analysis of the changing nature of Jane Tanner's evidence and of how the other three came to "finger," Robert Murat was posted by Paulo Reis on the blog Madeleine McCann Disappearance on 23/04/09

"AN INCREDIBLE STORY

One thing that is obvious from the CD of evidence released by the Portuguese authorities in July 2008, in what was an inexplicably selective disclosure, is the identification by Miss Jane Tanner of Mr Robert Murat as Madeleine McCann’s “abductor”. She picked him out in a surveillance exercise on Sunday 13th May 2007 and persisted in her allegation against him and did not withdraw it until her interviews with the Leicestershire Police in April 2008. You have to dig deep into the CD and other sources to pull everything together, but here is what happened and it is incredible." **

In her original statement to GNR police officer, Nelson da Costa (statements at folios 417, 1340 and 3285) in the early hours of May 4th 2007, Jane Tanner said she had seen "an individual," running, carrying a child, who was wearing pyjamas. When asked for a description of the individual, she replied that it was too dark to see him clearly. She was challenged about how she could then have noticed that the child was wearing pyjamas.

In her further statement, late morning of the same day, Ms Tanner, whose statement was translated by Sylvia Baptisa, an employee of the Ocean Club, was able to render a fairly detailed description of the individual she had seen.

"Brown male between 35 and 40, slim, around 1.70m. Very dark hair, thick, long at the neck. (Noticed when the person was seen from the back). He was wearing golden beige cloth trousers (linen type) with a "Duffy" type coat (but not very thick). He was wearing black shoes, of a conventional style and was walking quickly. He was carrying a sleeping child in his arms across his chest. By his manner, the man gave her the impression that he wasn't a tourist."

"Concerning the child, who seemed to be asleep, she only saw the legs. The child seemed to be bigger than a baby. It had no shoes on, was dressed in cotton light-coloured pyjamas (perhaps pink or white). It is uncertain, but the interviewee has the feeling that she saw a design on the pyjamas like flowers, but is not certain about it."

"Concerning these details, the interviewee states not having known what Madeleine was wearing when she disappeared. She has not spoken to anyone about this. Concerning the man, she has only mentioned it to Gerald, but without going into details and with the police."

The interviewee has been invited to draw a sketch which we attach to this document. Questioned, she stated probably being able to identify the person that she saw if she saw him in profile and at the place where she saw him." **

Image from blog, "Madeleine McCann Disappearance," by Paulo Reis.

The drawing on the left is the first sketch, based on Jane Tanner's description of the alleged abductor. Even as it stands, it bears no relation to Robert Murat and neither does her original description.

On May 6th, a Leicestershire police officer faxed the incident room in Portugal with news that Lori Campbell, the Sky News journalist, had been in touch, raising suspicions about Robert Murat. Paulo Reis points out that the speed of relaying this information was in stark contrast to that with which the statements from the Drs Gasper were passed on: the Gaspers made their statements about David Payne in May 2007, but these were not forwarded to the PJ until months later.

After speaking to "some people that Kate and Gerry had brought in," (believed to be Control Risks Group, retained by Bell Pottinger as part of a "crisis management," team by Mark Warner), Jane Tanner was approached by Bob Small, a Leicestershire police officer, who was assisting the PJ in the Algarve. At this point, unlike her husband, Ms Tanner had not met Robert Murat. The scenario was set up for Jane to view Robert Murat walking across the top of the road, where she claimed to have seen the man carrying a child. On the way there, she was actually introduced to Robert Murat!

"Miss Tanner dramatizes that she was “worried sick” that the “Spanish Police”* were about to cart her off to destinations unknown and got her husband to walk with her to the rendezvous with Mr Small. If, as she claims, she did not discuss the identification operation with her husband, what precisely did she say to him? What did he think was going on? Who looked after their kids and what did they tell them? It is beyond belief that Russell O’Brien and some of the other “Tapasniks” did not know what was afoot." **

(* Jane Tanner stated that Bob Small told her the Spanish police wanted to speak to her and that she was terrified that she was going to be abducted.)

"Why the police arranged Miss Tanner’s pick up so near to their main suspect’s home was at best foolish and was asking for trouble. On their way to the car park - and just outside his home - Robert Murat (who had met Russell O' Brien on the morning of Friday 4th May 2007) stopped, got out of his green VW van and chatted, showing the couple posters he had made to “Find Madeleine” and generally rattling on about nothing in particular. This was the first time Miss Tanner had been introduced to Mr Murat, but given the events that were about to follow it is amazing she did not cry out “That’s him… that’s the ‘person’ I saw: the abductor”. But she didn’t say a single word." **

Subsequently, as we know, Ms Tanner sat in a van with tinted window, while Robert Murat walked across the top of the road, accompanied by two police officers, and she clearly identified Murat as the man she had seen carrying the child, although physically he bore no resemblance to her detailed description.

And here come the Tapas 3 to join her!

"A report on Sky News caused Rachel Mampilly to scamper into the Tanner’s apartment saying she recognised Mr Murat from her sighting of him at the Ocean Club on the night of 3rd May 2007. Fiona Payne corroborated this and Russell O’Brien added that he had met Mr Murat, while the search for Madeleine had been taking place on the night and early morning of 3rd and 4th May 2007, and had entered the interpreter’s telephone number into his mobile’s memory at that time." **

Elsewhere, Daily Mail 01/01/08, we read what was reported to have been said by the Tapas 3 about not only seeing Robert Murat on the night of May 3rd, but of speaking with him.

"Three friends of the McCanns, Rachael Oldfield, Fiona Payne and Russell O'Brien, told police in July that they saw Mr Murat near the Ocean Club holiday complex while they were searching for Madeleine.

They are said to have given statements to Portuguese police saying he introduced himself to them and said: "I am Robert. Can I help in the search?"

Now, without this detail, it would be easy to accept a case of mistaken identity, but they spoke to Robert Murat, who identified himself and offered to help with the search? If Robert Murat was at his mother's house throughout the evening of May 3rd, then the above is outright lies.

"On 15th May 2007, Mr O’Brien, Fiona Payne and Rachael Mampilly made statements to the PJ putting Murat in the Ocean Club late on 3rd May 2007 (folios 1957). Their evidence appears to conflict with that from both Portuguese Police Officers and Mark Warner’s staff (Folio 1330 et seq) who say Mr Murat was not there that night. Activity on his own and his mum’s computers tend to confirm that he was at home, among other things, looking at mild porn sites (Folio 1166)" **

In summing up, we have Jane Tanner, who initially could not give a description of the "individual," she had seen, because it was too dark, who then gave a detailed description just hours later, who subsequently identified Robert Murat, though he was nothing like her original description, nor, I should add, any subsequent descriptions, which tallied with those of witnesses who had seen suspicious men hanging about in the vicinity of apartment 5A.

Then, we have the Tapas 3, who insisted that they had not only seen Robert Murat soon after Madeleine disappeared on the night of May 3rd, but that they had spoken to him, and obtained his telephone number, when those who knew Robert insisted that he had not been there.

It seems to me that we have more than a case of mistaken identity here and I hope that Robert Murat's legal action against the four of them, Jane Tanner, Russell O'Brien, Fiona Payne and Rachael Oldfield, helps to shed some light on what actually happened on the night of May 3rd. I am not optimistic, though, that the four of them will suddenly decide to come clean and explain why they appear to have lied in an effort to set up Robert Murat as the patsy in Maddie's disappearance.

Notes:

1) For the full, detailed analysis of Robert Murat and the Maddie case, read Paulo Reis here

2) All quotes marked ** are taken from the Paulo Reis blog as linked to above.

Madeleine McCann case: Russell O'Brien's interview 11th May 2007

Enfants Kidnappés 21/10/08

21 octobre 2008

Being of British nationality with no command of the Portuguese language in spoken of written form, he will be accompanied during his interview by a translator: Alice D.A.

He totally confirms his previous statements as being true and which will be reproduced for the legal process.

Questioned about how he met the other members of the group who accompanied him on holiday, the informant states that he has known David Payne since 1989, when they were medical students at the same university. Subsequently, they worked on a few occasions at the same hospital, but with the medical faculty at the same university. He knew Fiona Payne through David Payne. They got married around 4 years ago and the informant was their witness.

He met Matthew Oldfield in 1994, both being doctors, they got along well. The informant was witness to the Marriage of Matthew Oldfield and Rachael Mampilly in 1990.

He got to know (Gerry) McCann more recently, around 2002 or 2003. The latter is also a doctor. Contact between them has essentially been through the Payne couple. The four couples get together when the opportunity presents itself but, living so far away from each other, they take advantage of holiday times to get together and spend time together. The couples all have children of a similar age, something they have in common.

Asked if they have had problems linked to their profession, the men of the group all being doctors as well as Kate Healy and Fiona Payne, the informant, for his part, doesn't recall having encountered a situation that was worth mentioning. However, he remembered that Matthew Oldfield had a difficult experience when someone's parents accused the medical team directed by Matthew, which was on duty that day, of a late diagnosis which led to the death of a patient. The informant has no knowledge of any threat directed at Matthew Oldfield or any other member of the medical team but only that a complaint was lodged at the hospital against the team in question. He has no knowledge of a similar situation concerning Gerry McCann or Kate Healy.

Asked if there were any problems between the couples or personal to the couples, which might be professional or emotional, even certain tendencies, the informant states that he has nothing particular to say which would be interesting to record in the present process. He states that he is not well enough acquainted with the intimate relationship of couples he is not involved with. That is the kind of agreement they have between them. They see each other when they have the opportunity to talk and do sporting activities in a friendly way. He adds that the couple with whom he has little involvement, is actually the McCann couple, but that is not because he is aware of any strange or complicated situations. He has no knowledge of any tendencies whatsoever, drugs or games on the part of people in the group.

Questioned, the informant states that this is the second time the four couples have been together (the first time was for the marriage of David and Fiona in Italy), although he has spent holidays with two or three couples but not with the group currently in Portugal. He recalls that in September 2005, three couples, not including the informant and his wife, spent their holiday in Majorca. The informant and his wife did not go with them because Jane Tanner was nearing the end of her pregnancy.

This holiday was planned by everyone, although it was David and Fiona who organised the details. The informant and his wife, Jane Tanner, traveled with the couple Matthew Oldfield and Rachael Mampilly and their respective children on the same flight. Owing to different travel times, the four couples met up at the "Ocean Club Resort" where they had dinner at around 6pm at the "Millennium" restaurant. During registration, it was requested that the four couples be placed in the same block in order to more easily supervise the children.

The "Millennium" restaurant is a long way from block 5 where the couples were lodged. As meals at the "Millennium" restaurant were served after 7.30pm, except on Saturdays for the reception of new clients arriving that day, they found that time late for the children. They opted for meals at the "Tapas" which is close to the swimming pool, back facing the apartment block where the couples were staying. The informant states that David and Fiona's children were very restless and they preferred to be as close as possible to the apartment. All the couples were in agreement with no objections.

Questioned, the informant states that during their holiday in Greece with the same tourist company the "Mark Warner" group, they found out that there was a service called "Baby Listening" which consisted of leaving the children to sleep in the apartment during dinner while the children were observed through the windows by supervisors listening for children crying and immediately informing the parents. The informant states that this service exists in Greece but not in Portugal. That is what they learned while registering.

At the Ocean Club. there is a baby-sitting service for the time when parents are dining. this service is free. The children don't stay in the apartment but in crèche buildings. The service for care in the residence is fee-paying (around 15 €/hour) and operates until 1am. For here, they opted for a kind of child monitoring similar to that used in Greece. Thus, a rota was organised between members of the couples for making checks. They thought that with the number of adults present, it would be easy to work in this way. Randomly, someone would get up and suggest going to listen, near the bedroom windows, for the children crying.

Questioned, the informant states that the couple, David and Fiona Payne did not get up to check on the children because they had a baby monitor at the table, considered sufficiently reliable for there to be no need to check on the spot. He states he cannot say how many times each member of the group got up to check their respective children. Being worried about his child, the informant did the checks with his wife, which was more convenient. The informant advises that he only went once to the McCann couple's apartment but he doesn't recall if it was his own idea or if someone had asked him to. He states that he didn't know that the patio door, at the rear, which gives access to the apartment, was closed but not locked.

Gerry probably told him tonight, it was for going into the apartment and checking the children. The informant explains that as far as he and his wife are concerned, this kind of checking was safe and effective. So, each member of the group went regularly to check their children, usually every 15 to 30 minutes. For his part, he guarantees that all the doors and windows were closed and locked, while making clear that the windows and patio doors to the living room can be closed - and opened - from the inside of the apartment. He only noticed Gerald and Kate McCann using the patio door at the rear, that being the easiest access via a staircase, and the McCanns' apartment was the closest to the lane. During the check all he did was listen near the windows. He tried to hear if there were any noises or cries from inside the apartments.

Asked about the routines during the holiday, he confirms all his previous statements so his version coincides exactly with that of his wife, Jane Tanner and completely tallies with her statements. He has no knowledge of something strange/suspicious happening that Thursday, May 3rd 2007 with the group of friends or with the children. Everyone seemed normal to him amongst the swimming pool employees, the gardeners and the rest of the employees of the complex. Same at the beach, he never noticed any strange people or who appeared suspicious.

Questioned, he stated that no one in the group usued a vehicle, owned or rented, given that no one in the group went away from Praia da Luz.

The informant gave a version of what happened on May 3rd. In this version, it is to be noted that all the facts presented, about their activities and/or those of other members of the group, coincide with the version already presented by his wife Jane Tanner.

He states that only for the night, on May 3rd, at around 7.15/7/30 he was in the apartment. He stayed reading stories with Emie O'Brien, who was feeling slightly better but refusing to go to sleep. Nevertheless, his partner went to dinner at the "Tapas" restaurant at around 8.30/8.40pm. As the menu was always the same and the group knew its contents, the informant told his wife what he wanted to eat and she placed the order while he tried to get Emie O'Brien to sleep. When he arrived at the restaurant, the group was almost complete, without the children. Only David, Fiona and Dianne Webster, who arrived 10 minutes later, were missing.

At around 9pm, they all ordered dinner. As usual, every 15 to 30 minutes, someone from each apartment went to the apartments/bedrooms to check that the children were OK. That evening, as Emie wasn't well, the intervals were reduced. He recalls that Matthew Oldfield left the restaurant at around 9pm to make sure there were no problems with the children. He is not sure who went out first but, he thinks that, around five minutes later, Gerry McCann went to see his children. Around 5 or 10 minutes after Gerry McCann, the informant's wife left in her turn, to check the children. As with the other couples, the monitoring was only listening in nature. Jane Tanner, as was her habit, went personally to check how her children were. He doesn't recall who, Gerry or Jane, came back first to the table but he remembers that Jane said she had passed Gerry in the street and that he was talking with another tourist from the complex, the one called Jez.

Around 9.45pm, taking advantage of a pause between courses, the informant left the restaurant with Matthew Oldfield to see the children. When he got to his apartment, he immediately heard Emie crying. He stayed in the bedroom with her. He thinks that Matthew Oldfield checked his apartment but doesn't know if he was asked to also check that of the McCann couple. Matthew Oldfield, after going to the informant's apartment to see if he needed any help, want back to the restaurant and told Jane Tanner that the informant was staying in the apartment with Emie who was crying. In fact, the informant had completely changed Emie's clothes because she had vomited. His partner came to replace him around 15 minutes later so that he could finish his dinner.

At around 9.55, he went back to the restaurant where his meal had been waiting for 5 or 10 minutes. All the others gathered at the table had finished the meal.
At around 10pm, Kate left to see the children in her apartment from where she returned desperate, shouting as she entered the restaurant for the attention of our table, that Madeleine had disappeared. We all went out running, with the exception of Dianne Webster. With several people it was decided to go around the apartment blocks and our own apartments to see if Madeleine was there. During the searches that were done after Madeleine's disappearance, the informant did not notice any suspicious detail/person/object.

In answer to our question, he responds that he cannot describe what the childrens' bedroom was like after Madeleine McCann's disappearance, because he never went in there. As soon as they were alerted, they immediately left the table and the informant started the searches in the area around the apartment blocks then in the village and in the area of the beach.

Questioned, he does not know if the shutters of the McCanns' childrens' bedroom window were open or closed. He cannot answer the question because he noticed nothing. He adds that when he went to see the children with Matthew Oldfield, they were busy talking and they didn't look towards the windows.

Asked if he knows whether or not Matthew Oldfield checked the McCann children, he reports that he doesn't know because he stayed with his daughter Emie in his apartment. But he subsequently heard that Matthew went to check the McCann children and that he apparently saw the twins but not Madeleine's bed because it was in a corner where he didn't have a line of sight.

Questioned, he states having no suspicions to put forward and that he doesn't recall any detail or situation which could be associated with Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

At our request, he states that he doesn't recall any incident or discussion between any members of the group. The informant only recalls a fact that doesn't have much significance for him but which he tells us given the circumstances. Thus, between the tennis courts and the beach, he made the acquaintance of a British man named Nigel, married with a child of around 3/4 years. He had superficial conversations with that person. On the day of Madeleine's disappearance, mid-morning, while he as going to the tennis courts with his children, Nigel approached him. He was busy filming his daughter with a video camera. Faced with the various news items about paedophile films, they ended up having a conversation which the informant considered to be perfectly normal and inoffensive in which Nigel commented that he was almost afraid to film his own daughter. The informant was in agreement and both talked about the stupidity of the situation and the "state of our world." The informant states that he has no reason to suspect Nigel and that he seemed to be a normal citizen with a normal family. He thought no more of that conversation but he reports it with all the situations he has experienced this week.

He states that this is the truth as he knows it. At this point we ask him for a buccal sample, taken by the specialist Irene T. He quickly agreed to this request while signing the present document.

Enfants Kidnappés 6/09/08: Russell O'Brien's statement 04/05/07

Enfants Kidnappés 6/09/08

The interview begins at 9.45pm on May 4th 2007. Being a British citizen and not understanding Portuguese, in written or spoken form, the informant is accompanied during his statements by a sworn translator: Filipa M.

The informant completely corroborates the statements by his partner Jane Tanner and Rachael Mampilly. Interview taken by the signatory to the present deed, J.C., police inspector. Concerning the journey, the make-up of the group and the usual routines of the adults and children of the group, of which the informant is part, at the Ocean Cub, he states that:

Apart from his partner, he is on holiday with their children **** O'Brien, aged three years and **** O'Brien aged one year. He works as a doctor. He is a colleague of (Gerry) McCann, having worked together for six months. His partner became pregnant around the same time as Gerry's wife. The informant's daughter, ****, and Madeleine Beth McCann are more or less a month apart in ages. **** and Madeleine go to the same room at the Kids Cub, near the reception. The staff are Cat and another person named Emma.

Until yesterday, May 3rd 2007, he has no knowledge of anything suspicious or strange happening around the group of friends or their children. Everybody seemed normal to him from the cleaning staff, to the gardeners, to the rest of the employees of the complex. In Praia, he never noticed anything strange or people who could have been thought of as strange enough to attract his suspicions.

Yesterday, as his daughter **** was feeling ill, the informant dropped **** (his other daughter!) at the Kids Club at around 10am after breakfast. He completely corroborates his partner Jane Tanner's statements for the rest of the day.

Comment: Why on earth was a witness to such a serious incident allowed to get away with the above? He corroborates his partner's statements!!! Surely, he should have been obliged to give his own account in his own words!!

At around 7.15/7.30pm, the informant went back to his apartment. He read stories to his daughters, including **** who was feeling better. His partner, Jane, went to have dinner at the "TAPAS" restaurant at around 8.30pm and he went there at around 8.45pm. When he arrived at the restaurant, nearly all the adults were present, without children, with the exception of David, Fiona and Diane. They arrived more or less 5 minutes later.

At around 9pm, they had all ordered their meals. While they were eating, it was normal that every 15 minutes, one person from each apartment went to make sure the children were ok. Yesterday, as **** was not well, the interval between checks was reduced. He recalls that Matthew Oldfield left the restaurant at shortly after 9pm to check the children. He is no longer sure who went out first, but five minutes later, Gerry McCann and his own partner, Jane, went out, almost at the same time, to check the children. He thinks that Gerry must have gone out first because Jane saw him chatting with a person on holiday at the complex, a certain Jez. He thinks that Jane only checked their apartment, being worried about ****. Then Gerry came back at around 9.25/9.30 and they started to eat the main course.

At around 9.35/9.40, taking advantage of the lull between two courses, the informant left the restaurant with Matthew to check the children. When he got there, his daughter **** was crying. He stayed in her bedroom with her. He supposes that Matthew checked his apartment. Matthew returned to the restaurant five minutes after leaving it. His partner came to take his place in ****'s bedroom around 15 minutes later after finishing dinner.

At around 9.55, he went back to the restaurant where his food had been waiting for 5 or 10 minutes. All the other adults had finished.

At a round 10pm, Kate Healy went out to check her children in her apartment. When she came back, she came towards our table, shouting that Madeleine had disappeared. We all went out, running, and with the help of a few people we decided to search in the area around the apartment blocks. The search proved fruitless.

Comment: And what did you do then, Russell? You went to bed? You ran round shouting? You joined the local people frantically searching more widely?

After reading with the translator, who explains to him, he goes on and signs.

Comment: Times! They started to eat the main course at around 9.25/9.30 and at 9.35/9.40, taking advantage of a break between courses...? Russell must have eaten his main course really quickly!

Enfants Kidnappés 6/09/08

Addendum: I know that the names of the other Tapas children are fictitious in these articles, but I have got used to just using asterisks!!!

SOS Madeleine McCann: Russell O'Brien was allowed to refer to Jane Tanner's statements before he was questioned.

SOS Madeleine McCann 4/08/08

The Maddie investigation: O'Brien was questioned after having referred to Tanner's statements.

At the time of his interview, in April 2008, Russell James O'Brien was able to refer to the report of his partner Jane Tanner's statements in order to respond to questions from Andrew Gierc, a Leicestershire police officer, about the events that surrounded Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

The access of one witness to the statements of another, even when it is the same couple, is worrying and outside the norm, above all in the course of an investigation of the importance of the Madeleine McCann case. It is also judged by experts from several European police forces, consulted by SMM, as more than a simple professional error: "this can direct the witness or even worse, allow him to answer questions in a way that protects his position in the investigation," states an officer of the French gendarmerie, stressing, "that it is an error capable of compromising an entire investigation and that no professional worthy of that name would make it....The only explanation that remains is the possibility that the investigator wanted to confuse the witness for a specific reason."

"I was given the opportunity to refresh my memory about the report made by Jane Tanner (my wife) and I was allowed to see these documents. That was done in the presence of DC 1578 Gierc," O'Brien admits.

O'Brien was interviewed twice, on April 8th and 10th 2008, but strangely, his his first interview would not have been recorded on video, because, according to the British police, there was a, "technical fault." However, it now looks like the video, which was never sent to Portugal, exists but would not be attached to the report of the April 8th interview.

Russell O'Brien's second interview by police officer Andrew Gierc, was indeed recorded on video, to which we have had access.

All the other, "Tapas 7," were also interviewed: Payne was questioned for 259 minutes by police officer I. Messiah, Diane Webster for 151 minutes by police officer Fergusson, Fiona Payne for 277 minutes by police officer Messiah, Matthew Oldfield for 157 minutes and Rachael Mariamma Jean Mampilly, by police officer Andrew Gierc for 236 minutes.

Jane Tanner was interviewed for 279 minutes by police officer Fergusson, an interview with seven interruptions, the first also very hectic after only 18 minutes when the fire alarm went off.

196 witnesses and 3 arguidos.

At the time when the Portuguese Public Minister decided to place the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance on hold pending further evidence, there was a total of 196 witnesses, including the McCanns' seven friends, and three arguidos, registered in the process.

Several witnesses, who made themselves known to the British authorities, have remained unknown to the Portuguese investigators, for a reason yet to be determined. Brian Kennedy, the millionaire who would be financing Clarence Mitchell and the McCanns' team of lawyers, has even visited several of the investigation's witnesses, in particular those who were less favourable to the couple.

Robert James Queriol Eveleigh Murat, Kate Marie Healy, (also addressed as Kate McCann) and Gerald Patrick McCann were the three arguidos.

Amongst the witnesses, there are a few names already known to the general public. The, "nannies," Amy Ellen Tierney, Catriona Treasa Sisile Baker, Charlotte Elizabeth alice Pennington, Emma Louise Wilding, Jacqueline Mary Williams, Kirsty Louise Maryen, Lyndsay Jayne Johnson, Lynne Rhiannon Fretter, Sarah Elizabeth Williamson, Sinead Maria Vine, Stacey Portz, Susan Bernadette Owen and Pauline Frances McCann.

The tennis coaches, Daniel James Stuk and Georgina Louise Jackson.

George Robin Crosland (Ocean Club manager) George William James, Jennifer Anne Murat, Jeremy Wilkins, John Elliot Hill, Michaela Walazuch, Pamela Isobel Fenn, Robert James Queriol Eveleigh Murat, Sergey Malinka (Murat's friend) José Manuel Conceição Pacheco, Susan Hubard and Svetlana Malinka.

The “Tapas 9”: David Anthony Payne, Dianne Webster, Fiona Elaine Payne, Gerald Patrick McCann, Jane Michelle Tanner, Kate Marie Healy, Rachael Mariamma Jean Mampilly, Russel James O´Brien and Matthew Oldfield.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

4/08/08

SOS Madeleine McCann 27/05/08: four of the McCanns' friends refuse to return to Praia da Luz for the reconstruction.

SOS Maddie 27/05/08

Maddie : Quatre amis des McCann ont refusé la reconstitution de la nuit du crime

La PJ va maintenant discuter avec le Ministère Public pour savoir si celui-ci avance avec l'accusation ou si la reconstitution reste indispensable.

Quatre des amis qui avaient accompagné Gerry et Kate McCann pendant leurs vacances au Portugal ont refusé de retourner à Praia da Luz pour y participer à la reconstitution des événements liés à la disparition de Madeleine, une diligence prévue pour jeudi et vendredi prochains et que la Police Judiciaire (PJ) considérait "extrêmement importante" pour consolider l’enquête.

Maddie: Four of the McCanns' friends have refused the reconstruction of the night of the crime. The PJ are now going to discuss with the Public Ministry to find out if they will proceed with the prosecution or if the reconstruction is still necessary. Four friends who had accompanied Gerry and Kate McCann during thier holiday in Portugal have refused to return to Praia da Luz to participate in the reconstruction of the events linked to Madeleine's disappearance, an action planned for next Thursday or Friday and which the PJ would consdier, "extremely important," to consolidate the enquiry.

L’information, confirmée aujourd’hui par une note du cabinet du Procureur Générale de la République (PGR), avance encore que, faute de leur présence, la diligence serait pure et simplement annulée.

L’annonce du refus de coopération des quatre britanniques, et la conséquente annulation de la reconstitution, n’a pas surpris les enquêteurs car ils avaient déjà reçu, il y a plus d’une semaine, l’information de leurs collègues au Royaume-Uni de qu’au moins deux des "Tapas sept", le couple Jane Tanner et Russell O’Brien, n’allaient pas revenir.

The information, confirmed today by a note from the office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) further states that, without their presence, the action would purely and simply be cancelled. The announcement of the refusal to cooperate by the four British people, and the consequent cancellation of the reconstruction, has not surprised the investigators because they had already received, over a week ago, the information from their colleagues in the United Kingdom that at least two of the, "Tapas seven," the couple Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien would not be going to return.

Vendredi passé, un haut responsable de la police britannique à Enderby, avait révélé que "Kate et Gerry McCann ont établie un accord avec leurs sept amis visant empêcher la réalisation de la reconstitution demande par les autorités portugaises," soulignant "qu’ils savent que cette reconstitution n’aura pas lieu si le groupe n’y est pas au complet."

Last Friday, a senior officer of the British police at Enderby, had revealed that, "Kate and Gerry have established an agreement with their seven friends to prevent the setting up of the reconstruction requested by the Portuguese authorities," stressing that, "they know that this reconstruction will not take place if the whole group is not there."

Selon le même officier, le couple McCann ne voulait pas "refuser directement et en public leur participation, sous peine de voir l’opinion publique au Royaume-Uni se retourner contre eux. "

"Si leur présence est exigé, ils iront, ils doivent y aller," avait dit Clarence Mitchell à propos de Kate et Gerry McCann soulignant que le couple avait toujours le statut d’arguidos, ce que n’était pas le cas des amis.

According to the same police officer, the McCann couple would not want to, "directly and publicly refuse their participation, at the risk of seeing public opinion in the United Kingdom turn against them."

"If their presence is necessary, they must go," Clarence Mitchell said about Kate and Gerry McCann, stressing that the couple still had arguido status, which was not the case with the friends.

Les sept amis - Jane Tanner et Russell O’Brien, Matthew et Rachael Oldfield, David et Fiona Payne, et la mère de celle-ci, Diane Webster – ont été interrogés comme témoins au Portugal et au Royaume-Uni affirmant vouloir aider l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine, une position que la PJ avait déjà remise en cause par le passé et que le refus annoncé aujourd’hui semble confirmer.

The seven friends - Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien, Matthew and Rachael Oldfield, David and Fiona Payne, and her mother Diane Webster - were questioned as witnesses in Portugal and in the United Kingdom, stating being willing to help the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, a position which the PJ had already questioned in the past and which their refusal announced today seems to confirm.

**********Transcript ends**********

On Friday May 2nd, Enfants Kidnappés reported that a reconstruction had already taken place last year in October, without the principal, "players," in the case.

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

"Une reconstitution a déjà été faite.

C'est dans un certain silence, voire une certaine indifférence qu'une première reconstitution a déjà été faite en octobre 2007. Une reconstitution, en langage criminel, signifie rassembler tous les éléments et intervenants d'une même affaire et les replacer dans les circonstances du crime ou du délit. Permettant d'avoir une vue complète sur les évènements. Ce qui n'est pas possible sur papier ou bien des éléments peuvent ne pas paraître aussi évident. Ainsi, une reconstitution permet de révéler bien des éléments. Or une première reconstitution a déjà été faite en octobre dernier avec tous les éléments et figurants présent à Praia de Luz le 03 mai entre 18h30 et 22h40. Seuls, les intervenants principaux n'étaient pas présents. C'était voulu! En effet, maintenant la PJ dispose d'une vue précise de ce qui s'est passé ou plutôt de "qui faisait quoi" et surtout "où et à quel moment" précis

A reconstruction has already been done.

It was in a certain silence, even a certain indifference that the first reconstruction was done in October 2007. A reconstruction, in criminal language, means bringing back together all the elements and players in the case and putting them back into the circumstances of the crime or offence, allowing a complete view of the events. This is not possible on paper, where many of the details would not be clear enough. Thus a reconstruction allows the details to be revealed more clearly. Now, a first reconstruction has already been done last October with all the elements and the people present in Praia da Luz on May 3rd between 18.30 and 22.40. Only the principal players were not present. It was valuable. In fact, now the PJ has a clear view of what happened or rather of, "who did what," and above all, "where and at what time," precisely."

"Praia da Luz one year in the past."

Perhaps the Public Prosecutor will be willing to allow the PJ to proceed with the case based on what was discovered during this previous reconstruction in October 2007. When the PJ state that the planned reconstruction with the principal, "players," Kate and Gerry and friends, would allow them to compare the points of view of witnesses and suspect, perhaps this is where the comparison would be made, between details gleaned from witnesses in the previous re-enactment, and that including the Tapas Nine.

So, what now? The McCanns are still official suspects in the enquiry and the PJ consider the reconstruction to be necessary. Four of those who were present on the evening of Madeleine's disappearance are unable to attend and participate in a reconstruction. You'd think the McCanns, who vowed to, "leave no stone unturned," in the search for their child, would be begging their friends to participate in anything which might have the remotest chance of helping to discover what had happened to that child. I don't think I'd be ready to accept, "Sorry, I can't make it," if this had been my child.

The McCanns were made arguidos and departed pretty sharpish on the next available plane, promising to returns when requested to do so by the PJ, the Tapas seven have stated that they would be willing to help in any way, yet none of them look as though they making any great shakes to get their asses over there to the Algarve. Public opinion turning against the McCanns? That seems to have happened quite some time ago and, in my opinion, the only way to restore some of that would be to book a flight to Portugal and to do their best to persuade their friends to accompany them. What could possibly be more important than participating in something which may help to resolve the disappearance of a very young child, however useless they might think it is?

PJ: the interrogations have reinforced the convictions of the inspectors. (Updated)

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

"Entre pertes de mémoire et changements de témoignages

Depuis leur arrivée sur le sol britannique, Paulo Rebelo à gardé exactement la même attitude vis-à-vis des journalistes qu’il avait au Portugal : dés que le sujet de conversation touche à l’affaire McCann c’est le silence. A la sortie des installations de la police britannique, après les interrogatoires, le silence de l’inspecteur, même pour les journalistes portugais, n’est trahi que par un léger sourire et son air fatigué. Ceux qui connaissent l’inspecteur d’autres dossiers savent que ceci ne peux que signifier une chose : ca à l’air d’avancer comme il le souhaite.

Between loss of memory and changing witness statements.

Since their arrival on British soil, Paulo Rebelo has maintained exactly the same attitude towards journalists, which he had in Portugal: as soon as the subject touches on the McCann case, there is silence. On leaving the British police building, after the interrogations, the inspector's silence, even for the Portuguese journalists, was only betrayed by a slight smile and by his air of exhaustion. Those who know the inspector from other cases, know that this can only signify one thing: that things as progressing as he would wish.

"Et on fini par comprendre le sourire de l’inspecteur. Selon plusieurs officiers britanniques de la police du Leicestershire, la thèse d’un enlèvement, ne tiens pas la route et la cohésion du groupe connu comme les Tapas 9 (incluant Kate et Gerry McCann) commence à s’effriter."

And we come to understand the inspector's smile. According to several British officers of the Leicestershire police, the abduction theory does not last the distance and the cohesion of the group, known as the Tapas 9 (including Kate and Gerry McCann) begins to crumble.

"S’il y avait un pacte de silence il à été rompu et je suis certain que les collègues portugais vont y arriver", affirmait un responsable de la police britannique à Enderby, où un certain "ras-le-bol" commence à se faire remarquer vis-à-vis des pressions de que la police du Leicestershire à été la cible."

"If there was a pact of silence, it has been broken and I am certain that the Portuguese colleagues will get there," stated a spokesperson for the British British police at enderby, where a certain, "enough is enough," has been noticed faced with the pressure, of which the Leicestershire police has been the target.

"Selon la même source, le témoignage de Jane Tanner et Russell O’Brien, mettant directement en cause Kate et Gerry McCann, à permis aux enquêteurs de comprendre pourquoi la maman de Madeleine avait refusé de répondre à un grand nombre de questions. Au mois de septembre, le jour ou elle à été constitué arguida, avant le départ du couple au Royaume-Uni, Kate avait refusé de coopérer avec la Police Judiciaire, refusant notamment d’expliquer pourquoi elle avait changé de vêtements ou pourquoi Madeleine, depuis leur arrivée à l’Océan Club, pleurait souvent quand elle restais avec sa maman, jamais avec Gerry."

According to the same source, the witness statements of Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien, directly implicating Kate and Gerry, have allowed the investigators to understand why Madeleine's mother had refused to respond to a large number of questions. In September, on the day she was constituted arguida, before they left for the UK, Kate had refused to co-operate with the PJ, notably refusing to explain why she had changed her clothes or why Madeleine, since their arrival at the Ocean Club, often cried when she was with her mother, never with Gerry.

Prochainement :

• En Espagne, nous avons rencontré l’équipage d’un bateau qui étais sur la cote la nuit de la disparition.
• Des experts européens en communication, marketing et analyse politique ont décortiqué la campagne McCann.

Coming next:

• In Spain we have met the crew of a boat which was on the coats on the night of the disappearacne.
• European experts in communication, marketing and political analysis have analysed the McCann campaign.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

PJ: the interrogations have reinforced the convictions of the inspectors. (Updated)

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

"Pendant que l’inspecteur-chef Paulo Rebelo, coordinateur du Département d’Investigation Criminelle de la Police Judiciaire se trouve à Enderby, au Portugal la police à commencé à exploiter les nouveaux données que la rencontre d’hier avec la police de Leicestershire à pu révéler. Pendant la réunion, qui a duré toute l'après-midi, les deux forces de police ont pu affiner la forme dans laquelle les interrogatoires vont se dérouler. Paulo Rebelo, responsable de l’enquête, est accompagné au Royaume-Uni par les inspecteurs João Carlos et Ricardo Paiva.

While chief Inspector Paulo Rebelo, co-ordinator of the Criminal Investigation Department of the PJ is in Enderby, in Portugal the police have started to exploit the new data that yesterday's meeting with the Leicestershire police was able to reveal. During the meeting which lasted all afternoon, the two police forces were able to finalise the form the interrogations would take. Paulo Rebelo, who is in charge of the investigation, is accompanied in the UK by the inspectors Joao Carlos and Ricardo Paiva.

Tanner incapable de décrire le prétendu kidnappeur

Les interrogatoires n’ont pas permit d’élucider certaines contradictions mais, en contrepartie, ont servi même à renforcer les convictions des enquêteurs et même à mettre en cause la véracité des précédentes déclarations de plusieurs témoins et arguidos. Ils sont devenues plus précis sur certains détails mais "ils ont oublié les plus importants", affirme un officier de la police britannique à Enderby.

Tanner incapable of describing the alleged abductor.

The interrogations have not allowed the clarifying of contradictions, but by way of compensation, have served to reinforce the convictions of the investigators and even to call into question the veracity of previous statements of several witnesses and arguidos. They have become more precise on certain details, but, "they have forgotten the most important," stated a British police officer at Enderby.

"Cible privilégié des interrogatoires, Jane Tanner et son compagnon Russell O’Brien. La première avait affirmé à la police et en public avoir vu un homme emportant un enfant dans ses bras mais ces déclarations n’ont pas cessé de changer au cours des temps. Deux témoins extérieurs au groupe, qui se trouvaient au même endroit, ont nié à la police avoir vu le personnage décrit par Tanner. Un personnage décrit différemment par Tanner à plusieurs reprises."

Favoured target for the interrogations, Jane Tanner and her partner Russell O'Brien. The former had stated to the police and in public that she saw a man carrying a child in his arms, but her statements have continued to change over time. Two witnesses outside the group, who were in the same area, have denied to the police that they saw the person described by Tanner. A person described differently by Tanner on several occasions.

"Cette fois ci, Tanner à été incapable de dire aux enquêteurs quand, comment et où elle avait vu le prétendu kidnappeur, contrariant tout ce qu’elle avait dit précédemment, notamment au programme Panorama transmis sur la télévision britannique. "

This time, Tanner was incapable of telling the investigators when, how and where she had seen the alleged kidnapper, contradicting everything that she had previously said, notably on the Panorama programme transmitted on British television.

"L’interrogatoire de Jane Tanner, avance notre source, à été le plus minutieux de tous, ou les officiers britanniques sont intervenus à plusieurs reprises croisant ses questions avec celle des enquêteurs portugais : "elle est arrivé souriante pour repartir au bord de la crise de nerfs".

Jane Tanner's interrogation, as put forward by our source, was the most thorough of all, where the British officers intervened on several occasions crossing their questions with those of the Portuguese investigators: "she arrived smiling and left on the edge of a nervous breakdown."

"Les interrogatoires ont permis de démontrer que le Dr. O’Brien s’est absenté du Tapas Bar et de la table du diner plus longtemps que ce qu’il avait déclaré à la police, justifiant son emploi du temps disant que sa fille était malade : "le Dr O’Brien affirme qu’il a du changer les draps du lit à cause des vomissements de l’enfant mais cette version est contredite par le personnel de l’Océan Club"

The interrogations showed that Dr O'Brien was absent from the Tapas Bar and from the dinner table for longer than he had stated to the police, justifying how he had used his time saying that his daughter was sick: "Doctor O'Brien stated that he had had to change the bed sheets because of the child's vomiting, but that version is contradicted by the Ocean Club's staff."

"L’interrogatoire du couple à toutefois confirmé que les enfants restaient seules pendant que les parents allaient diner ou sortir, sans aucune sorte de sécurité."

However, the interrogation of the couple, confirmed that the children were alone while the parents went to dinner or went out, without any kind of security.

"Détail intéressant que la police à pu déterminer pendant les interrogatoires, l’homme du portrait-robot révélé à la presse par Clarence Mitchell – le monstre sanguinaire comme un tabloïde britannique l'à décrit – à été pour la première fois indiqué aux témoins d’après un article publié par le Correio da Manhã décrivant, dans les premières semaines de l’enquête, la scène d’un homme rodant le balcon d’un appartement ailleurs qu’à l’Océan Club. L’article du Correio da Manhã spécifiait notamment que la police avait vérifié et écarté cette piste. Selon nôtre source, ce sont les détectives entourant les McCann qui ont ressuscité ce suspect, "l’adaptant au portrait décrit en dernier lieu par Jane Tanner".

(à suivre)

An interesting detail, which the police were able to determine during the interrogations, the man in the sketch revealed by Clarence Mitchell - the bloodthirsty monster as a British tabloid described him - was shown to witnesses for the first time, after an article published by Correio da Manha describing, in the first weeks of the investigation, the scene of a man loitering on the balcony of an apartment at a place away from the Ocean Club. The Correio da Manha article specifically noted that the police had verified and ruled out that lead. According to our source, it is the detectives surrounding the McCanns who have revived this suspect, "adapting him to the portrait described the last time by Jane Tanner."

(To be continued)

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/