Daily Mail front page, 11 February 2010

McCann: Case to reopen, 11 February 2010

McCann: Case to reopen Correio da Manhã Lisbon: Gerry and Kate McCann were in court yesterday By Magali Pinto 11 February 2010 - 00h30 Thanks to Joana Morais for translation The Maddie case, archived in July 2008 for lack of of evidence, could be reopened. Gonçalo Amaral, former coordinator of the Judiciary Police, who led the investigation into the disappearence of the English girl in Praia da Luz, May 2007, guaranteed that he is pondering constituting himself as an assistant to the process and also that he has evidence that can change the current scenario of the case. 'There are hundreds of steps that were not investigated, in a wrongly archived process', he said yesterday on the sidelines of the closing arguments of the provisional injunction trial of the book 'Maddie - The Truth of the Lie', in the Palace of Justice, in Lisbon. 'It is more than legitimate since they destroyed my reputation. They put me to shame personally and professionally,' he added. On the other hand, Isabel Duarte, Gerry and Kate McCanns' lawyer, called 'liar' to the PJ Inspector Ricardo Paiva, who gave testimony at the last session. 'There are dozens of photographs, car plate numbers and places that could indicate where Madeleine is, and the police simply devalued it. I checked the process and I saw it. We can't find anyone if we don't search for them', she stressed. In yesterdays session, which was attended by the British couple, the main central issue was the alleged violation of judicial secrecy by Gonçalo Amaral, since the McCann's defense says that the book was finalized before the archival of the process. António Cabrita, Gonçalo Amaral's lawyer said that the controversy which surrounds the book only happens because it 'comes dangerously close to what happened' on the night of the disappearance. Gerry McCann, accompanied by a poster with his daughter's picture said that he trusts in the Portuguese judicial system. 'Don't stop looking for our little girl. Don't give up, please' he appealed. DETAILS REPORT António Cabrita, Amaral's lawyer told the court that he had access to a private report of an English Officer who participated at the investigation, who, not only defends the hypothesis [of simulation] of abduction but also death with parental involvement. 'VULTURES' During Isabel Duarte's closing argument, in defense of the McCanns, tempers flared when the lawyer called 'vultures' and 'vampires' to all those who believe in the couples involvement in the disappearence of their daughter, including lawyers and the audience. PROTESTATION Some people gathered yesterday at the court's entrance to support the former PJ coordinator Gonçalo Amaral. 'You cannot call two people, who have abandoned their own children, parents,' they said, with red carnations in their hands.

McCanns ask court to ban 'rubbish' book, 11 February 2010

McCanns ask court to ban 'rubbish' book Daily Star By Jerry Lawton 11th February 2010 DEVASTATED Kate and Gerry McCann are taking a TV station to court over sick claims about their daughter's "death". They are launching proceedings, claiming the Portuguese channel repeated allegations about Madeleine's disappearance in defiance of a legal ruling. TVI is accused of being in "material breach" of a court injunction to stop claims from a controversial book being aired. The channel showed a documentary based on former lead investigator Goncalo Amaral's book. Kate and Gerry, both 41, were back in court in Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday in a bid to ban it. They have begged the judge to end their "living hell" by imposing a lifelong gagging order on claims that they covered up Maddie's death. Amaral claims the then three-year-old died in an accident in her parents' holiday apartment while they dined with pals nearby. He alleges that her doctor parents then hid her body to conceal the tragedy. The couple insist their daughter was abducted and are convinced she is still alive. Mr Amaral has gone to court in a bid to overturn an injunction that is preventing future publication of the book, The Truth Of The Lie. The judge will rule next Thursday whether to uphold a temporary injunction, ahead of a full hearing later in the year. If the McCanns win, they intend to pursue a separate £1m libel case against him later this year. The couple, from Rothley, Leics, flew to Portugal to hear their lawyer's closing arguments yesterday. Their spokesman said they were "determined to stop Amaral repeating his rubbish".

McCanns make fresh plea after court ordeal, 11 February 2010

McCanns make fresh plea after court ordeal Daily Express Kate McCann holds up a picture of her daughter By Daily Express Reporter Thursday February 11, 2010 GERRY McCann yesterday called for a review panel to be set up to analyse all the evidence gathered in the Madeleine investigation. Mr McCann spoke out after another harrowing day in court in which it was claimed he and his wife Kate had been made suspects on the advice of British experts. The couple, from Rothley, Leics, vigorously deny any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance and have never been charged with any offence. The claims were made at a hearing in Lisbon yesterday to decide whether to ban a book by former detective Goncalo Amaral. It is part of the McCanns' £1million libel action against Mr Amaral, who was in charge of the initial investigation when Madeleine vanished from an apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007, shortly before her fourth birthday. After leaving court Mr McCann called for a review of evidence, urged Portuguese police to reopen the investigation and pleaded with the Portuguese public to help find Madeleine. He said: "What we would like is a panel to sit down and review the entire case – the evidence from all the different forces and all the evidence gathered by them. "We would like anyone to do this – the best people available. "It needs everyone to work together." In a thinly veiled criticism of the Portuguese police investigation, Mr McCann added: "All possibilities have to be considered but one theory was pursued much more aggressively than any other possibility." Mrs McCann added: "I think this will truly help the search for Madeleine and that is why we have gone through with it. It hasn’t been easy but if it helps we will go through anything." During the hearing yesterday Mr Amaral's lawyer Antonio Cabrita held up a report by Lee Rainbow, head of the UK National Policing Improvement Agency, who is an expert in building profiles of possible offenders. Reading from the report Mr Cabrita said: "The family is a lead that should be followed." Mr Cabrita told the court the report had formed part of the police investigation into Madeleine's disappearance but had never been made public before. Portuguese police made Kate and Gerry McCann formal suspects, or arguidos, in October 2007. The status was lifted in July 2008. Last night a spokesman for the NPIA said that it was common for them to advise officers to consider the possibility of family involvement in disappearance cases. Mr Amaral's book, Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, alleges that Madeleine died in her family's holiday flat and her parents faked her abduction. A judge granted the McCanns a temporary injunction in September last year, halting further sale or publication of Mr Amaral's book. He launched an appeal against the ban last month which was adjourned until yesterday. The McCanns say their main motive for challenging the former policeman is the fear that people will stop looking for Madeleine if they think she is dead. Any money from the libel action would be used to help find Madeleine. A judgment on Mr Amaral's appeal will be made later this month.

Brit police: Treat the McCanns as suspects, 11 February 2010

Brit police: Treat the McCanns as suspects Daily Mirror [Same report also appears as: McCanns should be treated as suspects, Brit profiler told Portuguese police Daily Mirror] By Martin Fricker 11/02/2010 Court told of 'advice by expert' Portuguese detectives made the McCanns suspects in Maddie's disappearance after taking advice from British police, it was claimed yesterday. Cracker-style profiler Lee Rainbow - who worked on the Ipswich Ripper and Shannon Matthews cases - said officers should consider their possible involvement in the case, a court was told. The National Policing Improvement Agency ( NPIA) expert wrote a report to Algarve police chiefs giving advice. Details of the confidential report emerged during the final day of a libel trial involving former Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral, who led the Maddie investigation. Amaral is trying to overturn a worldwide injunction banning the publication of his book Maddie: The Truth of the Lie. In it he claims Kate and Gerry were involved in Maddie's death and staged her disappearance. His lawyer, Antonio Cabrita, told the court Rainbow wrote: "It was Madeleine's father who was the last one to see her alive. "The family is a lead that should be followed. The contradictions in Gerald McCann's statements might lead us to suspect a homicide." Cabrita added: "This report has never been published before but is part of the investigation. On June 1st 2007 British police had the theory that Madeleine could be dead and the family could be involved. "It was British police who said they must consider not only abduction but homicide as well." The NPIA provided a checklist of what should be done, advising the Portuguese police to include the McCanns in their inquiry and take new forensics at their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz. Last night an NPIA spokesman said: "In disappearance cases it is common for the NPIA to advise investigating officers to consider the possibility of the involvement of family and close friends. The NPIA gave similar generic advice to the Portuguese police in the Madeleine McCann case." Meanwhile, Kate and Gerry launched criminal proceedings against Portuguese TV station TVI yesterday for repeating Amaral's claims that Maddie is dead. A ruling in Amaral's libel case is due to be made on February 18.

Brit police: Treat the McCanns as suspects, 11 February 2010

Brit cops defend Maddie advice, 11 February 2010

Brit cops defend Maddie advice The Sun By STAFF REPORTER Published: Today (11 February 2010) BRITISH cops who advised Portuguese detectives to make Maddie McCann's parents suspects today said it was common practice. The National Policing Improvement Agency defended the recommendation, saying it was "generic" advice. A spokesman said: "In disappearance cases it is common for the NPIA to advise investigating officers to consider the possibility of the involvement of family and close friends. "This is good practice for investigating such cases. "The NPIA gave similar generic advice to the Portuguese police in the Madeleine McCann case." It emerged in a Lisbon court on Wednesday that the NPIA recommended police investigate Gerry and Kate McCann. The revelation was made by lawyers for former Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral, who is fighting to overturn a ban on his book about the case. The NPIA works with authorities and the Home Office to help improve the way policing works. Madeleine's parents will have to wait until next week to find out if Mr Amaral has succeeded in overturning the book ban after the court hearing ended without a decision yesterday. The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were in Lisbon to continue their battle to stop the former senior detective repeating claims that Madeleine is dead. Mr Amaral was the first head of the police investigation into the girl's disappearance from Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, shortly before her fourth birthday. In July 2008 he published a book, Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, which alleges that Madeleine died in her family's holiday flat and that her parents faked her abduction. The McCanns won an injunction banning the book's publication, which Mr Amaral is fighting. The couple are also seeking £1million in compensation for defamation in separate civil proceedings against him. The former detective has vowed to fight all the way to the European Court of Human Rights if he loses his case.

"Ignored" evidence may lead to re-opening of Madeleine case, 11 February 2010

"Ignored" evidence may lead to re-opening of Madeleine case Algarve Resident Special Report by CHRIS GRAEME at Lisbon Civil Court Updated: 11-Feb-2010 Lawyers acting on behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann and Gonçalo Amaral admitted in Lisbon on Wednesday (February 10) that evidence ignored by police investigators could pave the way for the Madeleine Case to be reopened. The lawyers were speaking outside the Lisbon Civil Court, Tribunal Civel de Lisboa, on the last day of an injunction case which the McCanns hope will permanently ban publication of Madeleine – the Secret of the Lie, the book which purports that the three-year-old toddler died in a tragic accident in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, and that the parents tried to conceal the body. Isabel Duarte, representing the McCanns, who were in Lisbon at the hearing, said that there was "evidence that could compromise the Polícia Judiciária investigation" in Portimão and pave the way for "the reopening of the Madeleine Case". The firebrand lawyer, who caused a sensation in the highly-charged court room in her passionate summing up deliberations by using emotive words against the book, the author, its publishers and a television channel, such as vultures, crows and vampires attracted to the "smell of fresh meat" said that she had attempted to show that the PJ had "undervalued successive sightings of a child" which the British police had given credence too. "What I saw was various relevant pieces of information, photographs, some of them shocking, similar to the girl, places and car number plates," she said, which the McCanns had not been called in to identify, but which could show that a girl like Madeleine could have been in Spain or Italy. When pressed further, Isabel Duarte said that Inspector Ricardo Paiva, the Chief Investigator in the case after Gonçalo Amaral's removal for allegedly criticising British police, "had been reported as having received sightings of Madeleine" but then later, in court, changed his story. "What I heard, and this is taped (in court), is that Inspector Paiva said he believed the girl was dead and so, straight off, that means no one is going to investigate a girl that's alive, don't you think?” she said. Isabel Duarte said that French, Spanish and British investigators had confirmed that the leads "were promising" but that the Portuguese investigators "didn't take them seriously and follow them up". In a statement outside the court house, Gerry McCann said that the couple would be delighted if the case were reopened. "We have no problem with that but what we need is real investigation not dismissal," he said as both issued a fresh plea for the Portuguese to come forward with any information about Madeleine. Difficult Kate McCann said that listening to the allegations had been difficult but that nothing could be as bad as losing her daughter. In the fourth day of what has proved a sensational and media-driven case, two last witnesses were called in defence of Gonçalo Amaral, Eduardo Damaso, Editor-in-Chief of daily Portuguese tabloid Correio da Manhã, and Luís Frões, the General Managing Director of Valentim Carvalho Films, the company that produced the TVI documentary based on the thesis put forward by Gonçalo Amaral in his book. Both told the court about the distribution arrangements for 75,000 copies of the DVD of the film, which first was aired on TVI and subsequently ended up being illegally posted on the internet. The court heard how 10,000 copies of the DVD were produced and given away in a special edition of Correio da Manhã for a limited period of time before many copies were recalled for destruction but that many could have been sold at newspaper outlets and kiosks well beyond that period in breach of an injunction. It also emerged in the court that the McCanns are launching fresh criminal proceedings at the Oeiras Criminal Court against TVI over the allegations broadcast about Madeleine's death. Isabel Duarte told the court that by airing the documentary and producing its DVD copies, both the TV station, TVI, the film company Valentim Carvalho Films and the newspaper were in "material breach" of the court injunction issued to prevent repeating allegations made in the book as well as Gonçalo Amaral's famous statement in the film that during the course of the documentary he would "prove that Madeleine McCann was not kidnapped but died in the apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007". Defending Gonçalo Amaral, António Cabrita, asked what was so special about the book, when several other journalists and writers had written about the Madeleine Case. "Maybe there is a problem with the book because it is too close to the truth," he said. The Guerra e Paz publisher's lawyer also criticised the McCanns for using the media when it suited their ends but then trying to gag the media when their interest and investigations didn't suit their line of argument. "The company has published another book called the McCann's Guilt but that has not been banned," he said. "Citizens should be concerned that a court may forbid Gonçalo Amaral to talk about the case. After all he has the authority to speak about it because he was the Chief Investigator," he said. Live in freedom "I refute the idea that any Portuguese citizen is forbidden to talk about this case and I hope that you (the judge) will give me back the pride of being Portuguese and to live in freedom," said António Cabrita. Isabel Duarte said that freedom of expression didn't mean that any doorman or taxi driver in Portugal should be able to act as judge and jury on the McCanns on the strength of unfounded and unproven allegations. The McCanns' team added that the couple had been put through a "Kafkaesque" process where on the one hand the parents were attacked for showing "lack of initiative" and then attacked for being proactive in "going to the media" to help them find their daughter. Isabel Duarte and her team then suggested that Gonçalo Amaral had published his book out of revenge for being removed from the case and "to make profits." She labelled him, the publisher and the TV station as "vampires" by trying to cash in on the parents' suffering and called them "vultures drawn by the smell of fresh meat." The judge, Maria Gabriela Cunha Rodrigues, is to make a ruling on the book at 10.30am on Thursday, February 18.

Portuguese police 'ignored hundreds of sightings' in search for Madeleine McCann, 12 February 2010

Portuguese police 'ignored hundreds of sightings' in search for Madeleine McCann Daily Mail By Vanessa Allen Last updated at 5:22 AM on 12th February 2010 Portuguese police faced growing pressure to reopen the Madeleine McCann investigation yesterday, amid claims they ignored potential sightings of the missing girl. Detectives have refused to investigate hundreds of clues about the disappearance, including photographs of children said to bear a 'shocking' resemblance to the blonde youngster. They include a cluster of sightings in Italy and Spain which could hold the key to solving the mystery and ending the years of heartache suffered by her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann. But instead they have gone unchecked, marked as 'irrelevant' after the case was shelved, and left to gather dust in a police archive. The McCanns' private detectives, who are continuing the search for the missing child, did not even know the dossier existed until a Portuguese policeman let slip a reference to it during a legal hearing. Inspector Ricardo Paiva said police had received hundreds of tip-offs from witnesses convinced they had seen Madeleine and knew where she was being held. They sent in photographs of children and of locations which they believed were being used by her abductor, believing that police would investigate their claims. But arrogant detectives were so convinced by their own theory that Madeleine died on the night she disappeared, and that her parents faked her abduction, that they made no attempt to check the sightings. The McCanns' lawyer, Isabel Duarte, has seen the dossier. She said every single statement had the same phrase scrawled across it: 'This is not relevant to the investigation.' She said: 'I was shocked at how much was in there, and that absolutely nothing had been done to follow any of it up. 'Every piece of information was treated the same way - Ricardo Paiva writes on it "This is not relevant to the investigation". 'He is the witness who declared in court that he believed Madeleine is dead. You cannot find a person when you are not looking for them.' Unaware: Gerry and Kate McCann, pictured being mobbed by the media this week, were not told about many of the potential clues to their daughter's whereabouts -------------------------- Mr Paiva gave evidence at a legal hearing over a controversial book, written by his former boss, Goncalo Amaral. He admitted that Mr Amaral's insistence that Madeleine died on May 3, 2007, meant the police investigation had failed to consider other options. Mrs Duarte said they had not investigated any tip-offs since the case was officially shelved, in July 2008, when the McCanns were cleared as official suspects in the investigation. She said information had continued to pour in from potential witnesses and even from other police forces in Europe, but was ignored, even when the clues including photographs of girls who looked like Madeleine. The lawyer said: 'Some of them are very, very similar to Madeleine. But Kate and Gerry had never been shown them. 'There was information from Leicestershire Police, French police, Spanish police, and again nothing was done about it. 'Kate and Gerry did not even know this file existed until this week. I am going to give a copy of the file to them so that their private investigation team can follow up the information in it. 'But I am angry because it is the Portuguese investigative police who should be doing this job. ‘They have the power and the capability to do it. It is they who should be doing it, not Kate and Gerry.' Mr and Mrs McCann, both 41, will discover next week if they have won their court bid to keep an injunction which bans Mr Amaral from repeating his vile claims that their daughter died in a 'tragic accident' and that they faked her abduction to cover up the death. Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said they had been shocked to discover the full extent of the Portuguese police's failure to investigate Madeleine's disappearance. He said it had confirmed their worst fears about the investigation, saying: 'They were shocked when they went through the file and saw what was in it, and even worse what little had been done to follow any of it up. 'Kate and Gerry have consistently known that potential fresh information was not being properly followed up, if at all. 'The tragedy of this case, which once again has been highlighted by this, is what little was done to find Madeleine. ‘Kate and Gerry will have to do it themselves as they have been doing. They are the only ones looking for her.' Mr Paiva said he could not discuss the case. He said: 'I cannot comment, in accordance with Portuguese law.'

'Liar' cop ignored hundreds of Maddie sightings, 12 February 2010

'Liar' cop ignored hundreds of Maddie sightings The Sun By ANTONELLA LAZZERI, in Lisbon Published: Today (12 February 2010) COPS in Portugal ignored hundreds of "sightings" of Madeleine McCann - because they believed she was dead, it was claimed yesterday. Inspector Ricardo Paiva also neglected to show her parents "shockingly similar" photos the public had sent in believing they were Maddie - or act on tip-offs. Instead he put every bit in a dossier after writing on it: "Not relevant to the investigation". Maddie's parents, Kate and Gerry, only learnt the file existed this week. Maddie, now six, vanished from a holiday resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. Paiva, the McCanns' family liaison officer, started collating the dossier in July 2008 after cops called off the hunt. It contains information from police forces across Europe including sightings, photos of houses where people reported seeing Maddie and tips-offs. Isabel Duarte, the McCanns' solicitor, asked to see the dossier after Paiva mentioned it at a court hearing. Kate and Gerry, both 41, from Rothley, Leics, were shown it this week while in Lisbon for a different case brought by former police chief Goncalo Amaral. The 50-year-old, who headed the initial hunt, is fighting for a ban on a book he wrote about Maddie to be lifted. In it, he claims Maddie is dead and her parents faked her abduction. Mrs Duarte branded Paiva a "liar" in court when he claimed he would reopen the Maddie case if new information came forward. She said yesterday: "Every piece was treated the same way - Ricardo Paiva writes on it, 'this is not relevant to the investigation'. "He believed, and to this day still believes, that Madeleine is dead. "I said to him, 'How can you find a person when you are not looking for them?'" She said some pictures of girls in the file were "shockingly similar to Madeleine". The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said they were shocked at what was in the file, and that little had been done to investigate it. He said: "Their private investigators will follow up everything they can." Inspector Paiva declined to comment.

Madeleine McCann and the "ignored clues", 12 February 2010

Madeleine McCann and the "ignored clues" Daily Mirror By JON CLEMENTS Feb 12, 10 11:27AM Interesting interpretations of some new information which has come out of the McCann's libel action in Lisbon. Apparently the Policia Judiciara did not follow up dozens of sightings of Madeleine from around the world. This is, according to some, further evidence of the PJ's bungling. But is it ? In any high profile missing persons inquiry publicity will inevitably generate lots of red herrings (some of my colleagues have spent days chasing them only to be left disappointed). Police have limited resources - they can't simply despatch detectives on the say so of an individual whose credibility they can't judge. In fact when one British police force did that it had disastrous consequences for the investigation and may have allowed the abductor/killer to go free. Surrey police treated the disappearance of Milly Dowler in March 2002 as a missing persons inquiry and sent pairs of officers all over the UK looking for her. It was a massive mistake and hampered the inquiry's ability to examine the evidence at hand in Walton on Thames - to "clear the ground from under their feet". As a result they did not discover that sex predator and violent criminal Levi Bellfield - who went on to become a serial killer - had been living 100 yards away from where Milly was last seen. Madeleine disappeared in Praia da Luz and that is one of the few absolute facts in this tragic story. Perhaps some of the leads were worth following up, but until the full facts of each one are known it is a bit premature to give them a kicking over this.

Kate and Gerry McCann will not go to Portugal next week, 12 February 2010

Kate and Gerry McCann will not go to Portugal next week Keir Simmons ITV Twitter By Keir Simmons, ITV 12 February 2010 Kate and Gerry McCann will not go to Portugal next week for judgement in case of detective who accused them, I'm told.

Will nightmare never end for Maddie's mum and dad?, 14 February 2010

Will nightmare never end for Maddie's mum and dad? The Sunday Post Lorraine Kelly 14 February 2010 FRESH PAIN is piled on the McCanns with the news that police in Portugal ignored "hundreds" of potential sightings of their missing daughter Madeleine because they believed she was dead. The information, including photographs sent to the police by members of the public showing little girls they thought could have been Maddie, were never shown to her parents. Instead, these tip-offs were put into a dossier marked "not relevant to the investigation" and filed away. This entire case has been an utter disaster from the minute Kate and Gerry discovered their little girl had gone missing in Praia de Luz in May 2007. The disapproval by the police of the fact the McCanns had left their three children alone in the apartment while they had dinner with friends seemed to colour their judgement. The McCanns were dubbed bad parents and vilified. No-one knows better than they do how stupid it was to leave the children alone. It was a horrible mistake and one the McCanns have to live with every single day. I would never have done it with my own child, but that doesn't mean this poor family deserved to have their daughter snatched or to be treated as murder suspects. All they wanted was for the authorities in Portugal to pull out all the stops to find their child. Dismay Instead, to their utter dismay, they've been torn apart by those they trusted to find little Madeleine. So much so, they're going through the ordeal of a court case in Lisbon to try to stop any more scurrilous and money-spinning books being written. If the police hadn't closed their minds to any other possibility other than this little girl was dead, she may very well have been found safe and well by now. We will never know. Can you imagine what that's like for her tortured mum and dad? They've endured almost three years of living in a nightmare with no sign of ever waking up.