Investigating Team

	Portuguese Justice Minister
	Alberto Costa Portuguese Justice Minister Portugal Justice Minister, Alberto Costa, had to step in publicly to assure all parties that the relationship between the Portuguese and British police forces working on the Madeleine McCann case was still strong and of "beneficial co-operation." Alberto Costa claimed that "it is important that all teams are focused on the investigation work and not on the comments" and was reacting to comments made by Gonçalo Amaral to a daily newspaper where he criticised British police action. Gonçalo Amaral, who has said he thought his statements were being made "off the record", had accused British police of "working exclusively on the information wanted by the McCanns and that suits them better." Mr Amaral's comments were made in relation to a report in the British media about an anonymous email sent to the official website of Prince Charles. The email accused a former employee of the Ocean Club of being responsible for the abduction of Madeleine McCann in a revenge action to destroy the resort's credibility. But the PJ investigator said this information "had no credibility for the Portuguese police" and therefore "it was completely excluded" from the investigation.
	Attorney General
	Fernando José Pinto Monteiro Attorney General (text to follow)
	Criminal instruction judge
	Pedro Daniel dos Anjos Frias Criminal instruction judge This short Portuguese video shows Pedro Frias, the investigating judge, arriving at court in his car. In the video they say that he is 38 years old and previously worked in the circle of Lagos. It was Pedro Daniel dos Anjos Frias, who rejected the prosecutors' request to have the McCanns brought back to Portugal for further questioning. He insisted that the fresh interviews be carried out by British police in the UK. There is also a brief clip of the McCanns entering the church at Praia da Luz with their own key and a short interview with Father Hubbard.
	Prosecutors
	João Melchior Gomes Public Prosecutor It was first announced in Jornal de Noticias, on 17 September 2007 (see below), that João Melchior Gomes, 59 years, had been taken on to 'supervise the process'. It was he, along with Jose de Magalhaes e Menezes, who produced the 58-page report - the concluding volume of the case files - which explained the reasons behind the decision to archive the process. In it they said Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, did not "act with intent" in leaving their children alone in their holiday apartment on the night the child went missing. "They could not predict that in the resort they chose they could place the life of any of their children in danger," the prosecutors wrote. They noted the McCanns were "already serving a heavy sentence" — Madeleine's disappearance — for going out to dinner without their children. Portuguese detectives were unable to provide evidence that would allow the "formulation of any lucid, sensible, serious and honest conclusion" about the circumstances of the child going missing, the report said. It continued: "This includes the most dramatic thing — ascertaining whether she is still alive or dead, which seems the most probable. "The investigators are fully conscious their work is not exempt from imperfections. They worked with an enormous margin of error and achieved very little in terms of conclusive results, especially about the fate of the unfortunate child. "This is not, unfortunately, a detective novel, a crime scenario fit for the investigative efforts of a Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, guided by the illusion that the forces of law and justice can always re-establish order." From Jornal de Noticias 05 August 2008: 'The degree of probability that a homicide took place is "high". It is the joint general prosecutor, João Melchior Gomes, who says it. He singlehandedly signs the archiving dispatch, despite the fact that at the end of the document, the name of prosecutor Magalhães e Menezes can also be read, but without a signature. As arguments, he uses the fact that it has not been proved "in the light of logical criteria" that someone would have been able to remove the child from the apartment without being seen, thus setting the abduction theory apart. But he does recognise that it was not possible "to establish whether she is alive or dead, as it seems more probable". The same prosecutor considered that Kate and Gerry "could not predict that in the resort (…) they could endanger the life of any of their children, and that was not demanded from them either: it is located in a quiet area, where most of the residents are foreign citizens of the same nationality and without any known history of criminality of this kind". As a sort of justification for not accusing Kate and Gerry, he also says that "we should recognise that the parents are already serving a heavy penalty – the disappearance of Madeleine – due to their carelessness in the vigilance and protection of the children". José Cunha de Magalhães e Meneses Local Prosecutor Meneses is the Public Prosecutor of the Portimão Court, who, in September 2007, was assigned the unenviable task of reviewing the ten boxes of evidence (all 4,000 pages) in the Madeleine McCann Case. Meneses was later involved in reviewing the latest evidence with Paulo Rebelo on his return from his interrogations of the Tapas 7. The meeting was expected to be crucial in determining whether the McCanns would remain official police suspects. Luis Armando Bilro Verão Public Prosecutor Portugal's Public Prosecutor, was understood to be overseeing the investigation of the Madeleine McCann Case along with José Cunha de Magalhães e Meneses. On 20 September 2007, it was Verao who announced that no new evidence had emerged against the McCanns, during the 13 days since they were made official suspects, to justify further interrogation at this stage. In his first official statement, he said that the McCanns remained arguidos, or official suspects, and that the investigation against them continued. Surprisingly, he does not appear to have been involved in the writing of the final report to archive the case. António Cluny President of Portugal's public prosecutors Antonio Cluny told the 24horas newspaper: "Without the little girl's body, everything is complicated. "There have been cases in which it was possible to obtain a conviction without there being a victim but there were confessions. One cannot accuse a person of homicide without there being very strong evidence. "In the Maddy case, there is no confession and, according to what has been made public, the evidence gathered up until now keeps all leads open - from abduction to homicide or at least to a simple accident."
	National director of the Policia Judiciaria
	Almeida Rodrigues National director of the Policia Judiciaria An operational one to front the PJ SOL Ana Paula Azevedo 07 May 2008 (Thanks to 'SS' from the3arguidos forum for translation) Almeida Rodrigues is the first non-magistrate chosen to lead the Judicial Police. The successor of Alípio Ribeiro is currently the national deputy sub-director of PJ’s Coimbra Directorate. It is not the first time he assumes a leadership role, as he was one of the three national deputy directors to Santos Cabral, the head of the PJ immediately before Alípio Ribeiro. José Maria de Almeida Rodrigues, 49 years old, has a university degree in law and has made his career as an investigator. Through his hands passed some very public murder cases. When, in 2001, he was heading Aveiro's PJ, he was the one in charge of the investigation of Tó Jó, the young man who murdered his parents inspired by satanic rituals. With the resignation of Santos Cabral, Almeida Rodrigues worked as number 2 of Coimbra's PJ. In those functions, he dealt with another multiple murder case – the GNR corporal Antonio Costa. This case – which was known as "the serial killer of Santa Comba Dão" ended in the conviction of the corporal for the murder of two young women. More recently, he was involved in the arrest of "El Solitario", the Spaniard accused of violent robberies to more than 30 banks which caused the death of 3 people. The nomination of Almeida Rodrigues to head the PJ was announced through a communiqué of the Ministry of Justice where it is referred that the minister "accepted the resignation request handed today by the national director of the PJ, Alípio Ribeiro". Almeida Rodrigues, with Luis Neves current head of the Direcção Central de Combate ao Banditismo (DCCB) (Central Directorate of Combat to Banditism) was one of the names that, in the last hours, were considered by the government to replace Alípio Ribeiro, as had been stated to Lusa by a police source. Magistrates: never again? His name is highly regarded within the PJ, being the first time that an 'operational' is nominated to the top Job, up to now it has always been headed by magistrates. There is great expectation in the PJ as to who will be his deputies. The nomination of magistrates is dependent on the approval of the Judiciary and Public Ministry Superior Councils. There is some speculation that these Councils may not accept that a judge or magistrate work under the orders of a career police officer. If that would be the case, it could be the end of the magistrates in the top echelons of the PJ. Only in 2001 a change in the law allowed for the possibility of a non-magistrate heading the PJ. With Almeida Rodrigues, it is the first time such a possibility is actually taken.
	Chief of the Policia Judiciaria criminal investigation department
	Paulo Rebelo Chief of the PJ criminal investigation department Paulo Rebelo, an assistant national director of the Policia Judiciária (PJ), was appointed as the head of the Madeleine McCann investigation on 08/10/07, following the removal of Goncalo Amaral. Officially his new role is the chief of the PJ criminal investigation department based in Portiamo, which covers Praia da Luz. Rebelo made his career at the Central Directory for the Investigation of Drug Trafficking before being appointed one of four associate directors last year. He was head of the criminal investigation department in Lisbon which uncovered the notorious 'Casa Pia' paedophile ring in 2002. Other high profile cases include the 'Mea-Culpa' investigation into the death of 13 people in an arson attack. He headed the 'Freeport case' in which a PJ officer was convicted of leaking details of a corruption investigation on the eve of the last parliamentary elections. Rebelo is said to be highly regarded. Colleagues say he is nice and a good communicator. He is close to the PJ’s national director, Alipio Ribeiro, who removed the previous head of the inquiry, Gonçalo Amaral, on 03/10/07. Mr Rebelo will have to find a new deputy as Tavares Almeida has applied for unpaid leave and says he wants to leave the investigation. (Information from TimesOnline 10/10/07)
	President of ASFIC, the national union of the criminal investigators
	Carlos Anjos Carlos Anjos, the president of ASFIC, the national union of the criminal investigators, has previously joined Gonçalo Amaral in making critical comments about the McCann's. Interviewed by Diário de Notícias, he accused Gerry McCann of "negligence" when he claimed that Madeleine’s abductor was hiding in their holiday apartment. "If he was suspicious that there was a man in the apartment, and then he calmly went to dinner, then words cannot describe how negligent he is as a father", adding "Since their daughter disappeared, Gerry and Kate have followed a strategy of almost daily announcements of new facts." In response, Clarence Mitchell, the McCann's spokesman, said Gerry McCanns' fears came to him only after Madeleine’s abduction and Mr Anjos had "totally misunderstood" what he said. He told the UK's Daily Telegraph: "This was in the original witness statement. There is nothing that has come out recently that should be of surprise to the officers." It was Carlos Anjos who said that detectives had advised Kate and Gerry McCann against their media campaign. They had also warned the couple against drawing attention to Madeleine's distinctive right eye, saying that it could have put her life in greater danger.
	Portuguese investigators arrive in UK 28 November 2007
	Portuguese investigators arrive in UK 28 November 2007: (from left) Luis Viriato, Francisco Corte-Real, Ricardo Paiva and Fernando Viegas. The four-strong Portuguese team met five experts from the FSS at Leicestershire Police headquarters on 29 November 2007 to review and interpret the DNA results. The team was led by Francisco Corte-Real, the vice-president of the National Pathology Institute. With him were Det Insp Ricardo Paiva and police scientists Fernando Viegas and Louis Viriato.

National director of the Policia Judiciaria

Alípio Ribeiro

Alípio Ribeiro was the previous head of the Policia Judiciaria in Portugal.

On 21/10/07 he was interviewed by El Pais:

Asked about the leaks from the Portugese police:

"There has been, without doubt, but less than it would appear. The imagination of journalists has also worked hard. What is certain is that the police must have serenity to separate history, fantasy, as police. We can not get carried away with emotion, we must keep open all scenarios and walk step by step."

He confirms that the paedophile abduction theory came from the McCanns.

Asked about the McCanns' publicity campaign:

"First, we have never had insufficient means in this case, although it is true that excessive international concern has multiplied alleged sightings of the girl and red herrings to a level that would have been too high for any police of the world. Secondly, we still do not know the truth, so I could not make moral judgments on that campaign. I have no results yet, I do not know what happened that night."

Asked about the British press coverage:

"And it must be understood that the British press works that way. They said unjust things, but we could not react to this day, get to play ping pong, the Judicial Police against the British press. That game does not interest us."

Chief of the Policia Judiciaria criminal investigation department

Photo: LUÍS FORRA/Lusa

Gonçalo Amaral

Chief of the Policia Judiciaria criminal investigation department (03 May 2007 - 02 October 2007)

Gonçalo Amaral, the police coordinator leading the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, was removed from his position on 02 October 2007. The decision was made after British newspapers printed several controversial statements, which were given 'off the record', on the Madeleine case.

Amaral, who had headed the investigation since the early days and who was also the head of the Portimão Office of the Polícia Judiciária (PJ), was relieved of his duties by a direct order from Alípio Ribeiro, the national chief of the PJ.

Questioned by journalists, Ribeiro said: "I ordered the end of Gonçalo Amaral’s service in Portimão and it seems to me that the reason why I gave that order is obvious."

Gonçalo Amaral had said that by following the couple's tips, the British investigators were continuously "forgetting the fact that they are prime suspects of their daughter’s death," adding that the kidnapping scenario now being explored was nothing more than "another fact worked by the McCanns."

Official Policia Judiciaria spokesperson

Olegario de Sousa

Official Policia Judiciaria spokesperson

Chief Inspector, Olegário de Sousa became the most public face of the PJ, during Kate and Gerry's time in Portugal, through his role as official PJ spokesperson.

He was reported, by Martin Brunt from Sky News, to have quit the investigation in disgust, on 15/09/07, at the way Kate and Gerry McCann had been treated.

However, he told Gazeta Digital on 17 September that he denied those accusations: "Mr Martin Brunt's story about my alleged resignation is completely false"

"The last time I talked with Mr. Martin Brunt was on September 11, the day when Mr. Martin Brunt had another utterly false story, about a 100% DNA match being found, by Police, on the McCanns' hired car. On that day, before he put that false story on the air, we talked, around 7.00 pm, and he didn't asked me any question about DNA, that subject wasn't even mentioned."

McCann evidence sent to judge, 11 September 2007

McCann evidence sent to judge Breaking News.ie

11/09/2007 - 21:10:47

The evidence against missing Madeleine McCann’s parents was today passed to a Portuguese judge – who could in theory bring charges against them within days.

Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses, a public prosecutor based in Portimao in the Algarve, ruled that police files should go before a criminal instructional judge.

This could mean that the prosecutor is recommending charging Kate and Gerry McCann over their daughter’s disappearance, although a Portuguese lawyer said this would be unusual.

"It wouldn't be normal unless he had already prepared the case," Artur Rego said.

It is more likely that Mr Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses wants to carry out fresh searches, conduct more interviews, or impose stricter bail conditions.

The judge has 10 days to decide whether to agree to the prosecutor's request.

In another development, the Portuguese attorney general, Fernando Jose Pinto Monterio, announced tonight that he was appointing a second public prosecutor to the case, Portugal's Lusa news agency reported.

Luis Bilro Verao, from the Evora district in central Portugal, will work with Mr Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses.

Mr and Mrs McCann were declared "arguidos", or formal suspects, in the case during police questioning in Portimao on Friday.

At present they are only subject to the minimum TIR – "term of identity and residence" – restrictions.

These are automatically applied to an arguido under Portuguese law, and require them to give police their address and notify officers if they are away from home for more than five days.

This is why the McCanns were able to return to Rothley, Leicestershire, with their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, on Sunday.

If the prosecutor wanted to bring charges, he would have to produce a formal report for the judge laying out the accusation, the evidence and the motive, Mr Rego said.

The judge would then decide within 10 days whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed.

Mr McCann's sister, Philomena McCann, said the handing of the files to the judge changed nothing as far as her family was concerned.

"That was expected – it doesn't change a thing," she said.

"We will have to wait and see if they are bringing charges or not."

Ms McCann, based in Ullapool, north-west Scotland, added: "If they bring charges against Kate and Gerry that will give them a chance to clear their name.

"It will give us a chance to end all this speculation."

The file on the case runs to over 1,000 pages, police spokesman Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said.

Intense attention focused today on what exactly Portuguese police found in the hire car rented by Madeleine parents 25 days after she went missing.

Detectives denied reports that forensic tests on a sample taken from the vehicle, a silver Renault Scenic, had revealed a "100% match" with the missing girl's DNA.

Mr Sousa said: "That's not true. Even specialists have said there is no 100% in anything."

But senior sources linked to the investigation told Portuguese journalists they discovered "bodily fluids" – not blood – with an 88% match to Madeleine's genetic profile in the car's boot.

Kate and Gerry McCann, both 39, spent their second full day back in Britain at home with the twins.