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All the important events from July 2008
All the key events from July 2008 |
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Gonçalo Amaral retired since midnight, to "savour
freedom of expression"
Tuesday 01 July 2008
Thanks to 'astro' for translation
The controversial coordinator, who was removed from the Maddie case, says he "leaves proud" and that
he is not "hurt". His last action was delivering the service mobile phone
The PJ's coordinator, Gonçalo Amaral, who was removed from the Maddie case over an opinion offence, is,
from today onwards, a free man. At midnight, he went into retirement and, according to what he told 24horas yesterday,
his first day "is going to be beautiful, with plenty to do and the ability to savour the plenitude of his freedom of expression".
Just enigmatic enough, Gonçalo Amaral, aged 49, had his last day at the PJ yesterday,
"a perfectly normal day". He arrived early, finished the operation into the process that lead, over the weekend, to the apprehension
of two and a half tons of hashish and the detention of six traffickers, and dispatched a few more cases. Before lunch, which
lasted from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., the controversial coordinator of criminal investigation delivered his duty pistol, his badge
and his card at the Faro Directory. At the end of the day, around 5.30 p.m., he delivered his service mobile phone.
In the evening, he hosted an "intimate dinner, with two colleagues that came from
Lisbon into the Algarve on purpose".
In the investigation
In a statement to 24horas, Gonçalo Amaral revealed that the future includes
"continuing to work in the area of criminal investigation, maybe as a consultant". "But not as a detective", he guaranteed.
At the same time, the coordinator who is now retired from the PJ is going to carry out a stay at an Algarvian law office,
in order to "maybe exercise [law]" within a year.
Gonçalo Amaral is also going to take advantage of his retirement to "dedicate more
time to his wife and children" and assured that, despite everything, he does not leave the PJ with hurt feelings, because
the institution and its servants deserve him "the utmost respect". "I leave, proud of having served the PJ and of having worked
with very good people, excellent professionals that still remain here".
This, despite him confiding to 24horas, in a reference to the controversial
Maddie case, that "many people remained upset" with him in Portimão.
Maddie book "is ready"
Gonçalo Amaral, who spent 28 years at the Polícia Judiciária, which he entered as
an agent in 1981, having passed through many different departments, revealed to 24horas that the book about the Maddie
case "is ready". It was written during his brief holidays, before he returned to the PJ in May, to leave now into retirement.
But the publication depends on the "judicial secrecy" which was not lifted yet. The book promises fabulous sales figures,
both in Portugal and abroad, mainly in Great Britain.
Gonçalo Amaral speaks of pressures in the Maddie
case
RTP Video (Short 'taster' for 30 Minutos programme, Portuguese language)
2008-07-01
Gonçalo Amaral speaks of pressures in the Maddie case
Former coordinator for the investigation of the Madeleine case said pressures existed
around the process of the case for it never to be solved. Gonçalo Amaral says that the presence of the officer Clarence
Mitchell is proof of that and argued that neither researchers nor directors should be afraid of working.
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UK newspapers continue to report that the case files are expected to be archived. The Portuguese newspapers
emphasise that no decision has yet been made whether to charge the McCanns. Read reports by clicking here
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The Spanish detective agency, hired by the McCanns in September
last year, have, so far, been paid a substantial sum from Madeleine's Fund to find Madeleine and
bring her home. The exact amount remains the subject of speculation.
On their newly revamped website, they state that 'The Directive Staff is composed by different
and complementary profiles to provide maximum professionalism in every action field', yet not one director can boast any skill
or experience in child abduction. Or, indeed, missing people of any age. Two of them do not even possess a Private Detective Licence.
The 7 directors of the company, and their declared specialities,
are:
1. Marita Fernández Lado, is Método 3 founder. She is currently the General Manager, and also
gives conferences and lessons, like "fight against the fraud" at the INESE, or a speech at the I Congress of Civil Responsibility
at the Bar Association in Barcelona. Private Detective Licence Nº: 1.153,
2. Francisco Marco Fernández, is the Services and Quality Director. Doctor in criminal
law by the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, he is also member of the Intercomunitary Association of Private Detectives,
Master specialist in laws for societies, speaker at many university lessons and author of several legal books for the Aranzadi
Editorial. Private Detective Licence Nº: 769.,
3. Francisco Marco Puyuelo, is Método 3 Administration
and Writing Director. Attorney member of the Madrid and Barcelona Bar Associations, he also graduated as a graphologist at
the Modern School in Buenos Aires. He is currently working as the Administration Manager and Legal Consultant. Private
Detective Licence Nº: 539,
4. José Luís Marco Llavina is Director of the financial department. He holds a Bachelor’s
degree in Business Administration, majoring in Finance, from Bentley College (Mass., USA) and a Master's degree in Business
Administration – SAP from La Salle (Barcelona, Spain).,
5. Antonio Tamarit Febrero, Master Specialist in Fraud Investigation and Director of
the agency Método 3 in Madrid. He managed the company Tamesfor until he started
working in Método 3 in 1998. Private Detective Licence Nº:
695
7. Elisenda Villena Barjau, Private Detective specialized in Criminology and Security
Director. She created and directed the detectives agency EVB from 1989 to 2006, year of fusion with Método 3.
Eagle-eyed readers will notice that despite the final director being posted at No. 7, there are actually
only 6 directors listed. One hopes that Método 3's accounts show greater attention to detail.
So, what services can Método 3 supply to their clients?
The following are listed: Insurances, Financial, Legal, Franchises, Frauds, Mutual (Fraud) and Fakes
(Brand Fraud).
They declare: 'Our motto and objective is to invest all our efforts and dreams on the creation and development
of a European detectives association to fight against fraud'.
The company may well be well meaning in their attempts to locate Madeleine but,
it has to be said, if the McCanns had handpicked a detective agency that offered absolutely no obvious experience or
skills in locating their missing daughter they could not have chosen better.
There is not one mention of Madeleine McCann anywhere on their site.
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By Daisy Sampson
03 July 2008
PORTUGAL'S ATTORNEY General has said no decision has been taken on the investigation
into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Fernando Pinto Monteiro said the case continued to be assessed, despite Portuguese media reports on Tuesday
that police will close it due to lack of evidence.
Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, are both arguidos, or people of interest to the investigation,
along with Briton Robert Murat.
Mr Monteiro said the final report from the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) had been received by prosecutors, and
it "will be the object of careful analysis and consideration".
He added: "Public prosecutors will proceed to the overall analysis to determine whether or not other action
is necessary or whether the conditions are sufficient to rule that the investigation be closed and a final ruling made."
The statement noted that the case remained covered by judicial secrecy until mid-August.
The Correio da Manha newspaper said on Tuesday that sources within Portugal's judicial police said they
"do not have sufficient evidence to allow formal charges to be brought against the McCanns in the disappearance of their daughter".
The Jornal de Noticias said the police did not have enough evidence to charge either the McCanns or Mr
Murat with any wrongdoing. "The police have not found the guilty," the paper added.
A spokesman for the PJ told The
Resident: "We are aware of the situation. However, we do not know the origin of the information and claims in the Portuguese
media. We are now looking into the claims."
Private searches
McCann family
spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, told the BBC the family was awaiting confirmation of the latest media reports and if true, the
Portuguese authorities "must lift their arguido status as a priority".
"If they are true, it's to be welcomed that
Kate and Gerry are not to face any charges," he said. "It's quite right. They are innocent of any involvement in Madeleine's
disappearance. They have suffered enough."
Mr Mitchell said the family wanted to know whether police planned to stop searching for Madeleine and
if so, their information should be made public so the McCanns could continue their private investigation.
"What happens to all those leads, all those contacts? There are thousands of pieces of information in those files,"
he said.
The McCanns are due to go to the High Court on Monday to ask a judge to order some police files on the disappearance
of their daughter to be released.
Robert Murat's lawyer, Francisco Pagarete, said he had heard nothing from the Portuguese
authorities about the case being closed.
Asked whether he would welcome such a development, Mr Pagarete said: "Yes, we will, but it depends on the way it's going
to be dropped. If it’s going to be dropped because there’s not enough evidence connecting my client to this case
or if it’s going to be dropped because Robert hasn’t got any involvement in this case. Only the second way will
make us happy."
The Resident contacted Robert Murat, who said: "If this is true it would be fantastic but nobody has
told me anything," he said. "This has been said so many times to me we will just have to wait and see what happens."
Meanwhile,
Gonçalo Amaral, the inspector formerly responsible for coordinating the Madeleine McCann investigation, retired on Monday.
He told Portuguese news agency Lusa: "The only way I can acquire freedom of expression is to leave the police."
By Jerry Lawton
3rd July 2008
THE McCanns have hired more private detectives.
They will analyse secret police files the couple are determined to get their hands on.
GP Kate and heart consultant Gerry's new Brit-based investigators will work alongside Metodo 3 –
the Spanish-based agency employed to find their daughter Madeleine nine months ago.
Portuguese police have kept details of their 14-month probe secret.
But the McCanns' lawyers will demand case files are handed over if the police close the investigation.
The lawyers claim the couple have a right to the files so they can conduct their own search for their daughter.
The files include all witness statements and evidence collected since three-year-old Madeleine's disappearance
from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3 last year.
Detectives have passed them to prosecutors but, according to police leaks in Portugal, they do not have
enough evidence to charge anyone.
They plan to archive the case as unsolved and keep details of their investigation secret in case new evidence
arises and it is re-opened.
But the McCanns, both 40, from Rothley, Leics, insist they should be shown the files so they can carry
on searching for Madeleine.
The couple's spokesman Clarence Mitchell last night told the Daily Star: "We are widening and deepening
the investigative resources. Kate and Gerry will be doing everything within their power to get their hands on the police files
they believe could help in the search for their daughter."
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McCanns listed to appear in court on Monday HMCS
Court 20
Before MRS JUSTICE HOGG
Monday, 7 July, 2008
At 10:30 AM
IN OPEN COURT
FD07P01121
McCann
Applications/Summonses in Court as in Chambers
FD06P01276
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Related press report:
'The case is listed to be heard in open court on July 7 in the Family Division of the High Court in London,
and is expected to be contested by Leicestershire Police, according to legal sources.' Telegraph
Madeleine McCann: I am convinced she is dead, says former
Portuguese police chief Telegraph
By Nick Allen
Last Updated: 6:18PM BST 04/07/2008
The former Portuguese police chief who led the investigation into the disappearance
of Madeleine McCann has said he is "convinced" she is dead.
Goncalo Amaral said: "I am convinced of it, yes,"
Mr Amaral, 48, was removed from the case last October after publicly criticising British police.
He said today: "I am not saying that the English police were under the command of the McCanns, but they
were influenced, as we were.
"In a way, we were all influenced by the campaign that they organised, according to which the girl was
alive and had to be found."
Mr Amaral retired earlier this week, saying he wanted to have "freedom of expression" over the case.
He described the decision to remove him from the investigation as "unjust and dangerous" and is expected
to publish a book as soon as judicial secrecy restrictions are lifted, probably in mid-August.
Portuguese police have already closed their investigation.
The final case report has been passed to the Portuguese authorities who are due to review the completed
file and decide if further action is required.
Madeleine went missing in May 2007, days before her fourth birthday, from a holiday flat in the Portuguese
resort of Praia da Luz as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant.
The McCann family and the British media have strongly criticised the Portuguese judicial police's handling
of the investigation and Amaral's lack of communication.
Amaral subsequently claimed that British police had "been investigating leads created and cultivated"
by Madeleine's parents and had "forgotten that the couple are suspects in the death of their daughter."
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By Rod Chaytor
05/07/2008
Kate and Gerry McCann are taking British police to court to try to get clues
in the hunt for missing Madeleine.
The hearing in the High Court in London on Monday looked likely to be adjourned earlier
this week when Portuguese police seemed to be about to open their files.
But McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell yesterday confirmed it will go ahead.
Their lawyer will argue they have the right to see material held by Leicestershire Police,
who have been running the British end of the enquiry for the Portuguese.
The police are expected to argue that their leads and evidence form the basis for a possible
criminal case and should be kept confidential.
Kate and Gerry are on holiday and will not be in court.
A family friend said: "We are hopeful of a decision. Leicestershire Police have been privy
to vital information which could be of great help to the private investigators looking for Madeleine."
Portuguese prosecutors are deciding whether to investigate further or close the file.
Kate and Gerry McCann, both 40, from Rothley, Leics, fear that would leave them permanently
branded as official suspects over Madeleine's disappearance, in Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Jul 5 2008
KATE and Gerry McCann will ask the courts on Monday to grant them access
to details of the police search for their missing daughter Madeleine.
Lawyers will argue they have a right to see files held by Leicestershire Police, who have
been working with Portuguese authorities.
It's thought the police will argue that the evidence they have forms the basis of a possible
criminal case and should be kept confidential.
A family friend said: "Kate and Gerry will still be pressing in Portugal for disclosure of the files
there but information held in the UK could give the hunt for Madeleine a massive step forward."
Madeleine vanished while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.
Investigator believes Maddie died
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