I feel strongly that the Portugese police should hand over the investigation of the missing Madeleine to Scotland Yard. And that the police should focus their investigation upon the parents Gerry and Kate McCann, interviewing them separately and subjecting them to questions more in keeping with suspects as opposed to witnesses.
This whole thing is getting out of hand. Ambulance chasing lawyers, the International Family Law Group, smell money and intend setting up a fighting fund whereby people who feel emotional about Madeleine's disappearance can donate money to help the search for her. And, what percentage of this fund will find its way into the lawyers pockets? In what way can these lawyers help in the finding of Madeleine? I have heard of political parties setting up a fighting fund, and pressure groups, but this is hardly that kind of situation is it?
16 comments:
Thats a bit strong John. Its not beyond the realm of possibility as a child that has been missing this long is probably dead but accusing the parents?!!!
If your wrong better put a retraction on your blog. And an apology.
It is getting out of hand. Its almost Soham-esque.
Was a bit strong but who knows, I personally think the whole story has been in the press too long, and is a totally media driven exercise. The story today of the appparent suspects were probably created by the journalist to make a bit of copy. It seems now that the vultures have moved in, be that the Journalists or Lawyers, and that they are fighting over the remains of something that is quickly disapearing.
I hope they do find her and the lawyers don't their money.
zinzin: I had a feeling from the word go that the explanation given was suspect. It tends to be the last person to see the victim alive is the killer. Professional people behaving unprofessionally for the sake of a meal in a Tapas bar? I don't buy it. I don't think the body language and attitude speak innocence. If I am proved wrong then I will be the first to apologise and issue a correction.
blogvandal: I suspect that the McCann's did not approach this firm to set up a fund, but that the firm was ambulance chasing. If they did approach the firm, I would be even more suspicious of them.
"Professional people behaving unprofessionally for the sake of a meal in a Tapas bar?"
John - I've seen people throw away careers and lives for less than that. Whilst I'm sure that it's clear to all that the inadequacies of their childcare arrangements (to put it tactfully) left their daughter a sitting duck, I think you've gone a bit far here.
Although the initial accounts about regular checks, a quick meal etc., rang all sorts of alarm bells, to suggest interviewing the parents as suspects seems way off the mark.
As for Portugal conceding jurisdiction to the UK, that's a non-starter. We can offer all sorts of assistance, but none of it would be anything more than that. Can you imagine the furore if we called in the FBI to take over an organised crime enquiry here in the UK, just because they've had more experience?
The video of Kate McCann shows here eyes going to the left, swallowing and and tongue coming out. I would suggest that these are classic signs of someone lying.
Ah - the old eye movement gig....
http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies_eyes.php
Is she left or right handed ? Was she looking up, down or level when she looked left ?
Is she choking on bile at the thought of what may have happened, or emotionally and physically exhausted?
Non-verbal comms are a useful tool, but are nowhere near as reliable as some would have you believe. If they were taken as fact, then the prisons would be full to bursting with people who felt a bit uncomfortable on interview.
Personally, I sweat like the proverbial under cross-examination, even when I know what question's coming ! Does that make me a liar, or just jumpy ?
It just makes you nervous. Those are not just the reasons. She claims to be the last person to have seen Madeleine before she disappeared. Its all too pat. She claimed that whoever it was forced the shutters to get in and left through the door. Generally speaking, a paedophile is an opportunist not a burglar. It could be a kidnapping. I would like to know when was the last time anybody else other than Gerry and Kate McCann saw Madeleine before her disappearance.
John, why, perzactly, do you think the investigation should be handed over to the Met?
I'd think it a bit odd if there were calls for an investigation of the disappearance of an American child under similar circumstances in Portugal were handed over to the FBI or the Los Angeles Police Department or whoever. Are you saying the Porgutuges police aren't up to the job, or what?
I feel that the Portugese authorities could ask for assistance and, in effect, let the Yard lead the inquiry. They have more experience, and would be dealing with English on English, and not so bothered about diplomatic relations and media and lawyers and celebrities stealing the show. The inquiry seems to be going all over the shop. I may be barking up the wrong tree, but I would guess one of them knows more about it and the other is covering up.
Like yourself John, I find aspects of this whole affair unsettling. With too many unanswered questions still hanging over this sad event.
As a parent my heart goes out to the McCanns, but I too have seen the "dark" side of supposedly professional people.
For the moment I just hope for the safe return of Madeleine.
Obviously it would make sense for the Portuguese to ask for the assistance of British police in dealing with the parents, for all sorts of reasons. One of those reasons is that there are obviously questions that the parents need to be asked, as there are in any such case, and it's probably sensible for a British police officer to be asking them than for a Portuguese one so to do, if only because that means everyone's dealing in their first language.
But putting a foreign police force in charge of the inquiry does rather imply you've decided there's no point in looking for the little girl -- because I can't see how putting a bunch of foreigners in charge of a kidnapping is going to achieve much -- and that you're now running a murder inquiry and you know who the culprit is, so you're not going to waste energy on the possibility that the criminal could be a local. Seems a bit of drastic step to take too early on in the case.
And, come to think of it, even if it is the parents, proving it is still going to involve a local investigation; you're going to want to follow up the parents' accounts of their movements that night, which is going to involve local knowledge and local witnesses.
Furthermore, you're eventually likely to need to bring a prosecution in a Portuguese court, so it'll help if the investigators are familiar with Portuguese legal procedure and rules of evidence.
Sorry, John, but I'm just trying to think of the same situation reversed -- an American family holidaying in Stratford-upon-Avon report the disappearance of their child and the Warwickshire Police immediately ask the New York Police Department and the FBI to come over and run the investigation for them. It just seems such an odd way to conduct the inquiry, whoever the culprit turns out to be.
I don't think if it happened over here to an American girl, there would be so much hype. Politics and the media would get excited. Still, I feel that our police are more used to this kind of situation.
"I feel strongly that the Portugese police should hand over the investigation of the missing Madeleine to Scotland Yard"
Never!
Portugal as the oldest borders of Europe,900 ears of independence, you can imagine, if you know European history, what kind nationalistic and resilient tribe the Portuguese are.
The Portuguese are a nice and kind people, but very proud. Do you know the centuries old alliance between Portugal and England? That is not the only thing that we have in common, its also our insular mentality.
For a Portuguese, if questioned by a English, the Polícia Judiciária is the best in Europe. Right now the street opinion about England and the English ways is not the best one.
jacinto: This isn't about national pride, but about concentrating police effort on the real suspects, Gerry and Kate McCann, and not on Robert Murat, who I believe is a red herring. I don't accept the McCanns version of events.
I must say that my first thoughts when I heard about this tragic case were sounds a bit dodgey with the parents. There they were eating and popping over to check on their children at regular intervals.
Two+two don't add up here!
the parents are guilty. May be one of them killed her by accident: may be Madeleine was spoiling their fun?????
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