Little girl mysteriously disappears in Mexico (updated)

by Julio Olvera

Nobody saw nor heard anything. The surveillance cameras of the luxurious apartment building did not register anything out of the ordinary either, in the case of a little four-year-old girl that mysteriously disappeared from her home in Mexico.

The case of Paulette Gebara Farah, a little girl that suffers from speech and motor impairment, immediately referred the local media to that of British girl Madeleine McCann, in a resort in Portugal, in 2007.

Both girls, aged four, disappeared in a strange way; no locks were forced, and no doors were broken; nothing to indicate an act of violence, or anything to indicate the presence of an intruder or an abductor.

The little Mexican girl disappeared in the early morning of Monday, the 22nd of March, from her home in a condominium in Huixquilucan county, an exclusive residential area on the border of the State of Mexico with the Federal District.

Paulette’s parents swiftly addressed the media and used the internet to ask the public for help in finding their little daughter, as part of a broad campaign, after having filed a complaint with the authorities.

Nevertheless, a week later, the case suffered a turnaround as a judge authorised the General Attorney’s Office of the State of Mexico (PGJEM) to preventively arrest Mauricio Gebara and his wife, Liseth Farah, as well as two nannies.

This was due to the fact that the child’s parents and the nannies were the last persons that had contact with the child, and because they offered different and contradictory versions in their statements.

Each one of these people “has falsified their statement”, Mexican prosecutor Alberto Bazbaz told the press on the day before.

“At this moment, we can say that derived from the extensive investigations, we are able to determine that at least the four adults that were inside the house, offered different and contradictory versions on different occasions, and therefore there are inconsistencies that drive us to make a deeper analysis of the facts”, he said.

According to versions by the little girl’s parents, on the night of Sunday, the 21st of March, Mauricio Gebara handed Paulette and her seven-year-old sister over to his wife Lisette Farah, at the entrance to the Porto Vita 2 condominium in Interlomas, west of the Mexican capital.

The father and the two girls were returning home, after a weekend trip to Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico.

In her statement, Mrs Farah asserted that, once inside her apartment, she led the two girls to their bedroom to put them to bed; nonetheless, the next morning, one of the nannies, upon arriving at the house, noticed that Paulette was not in her bed.

When faced with this situation, according to the versions, the nanny alerted the little girl’s parents, who started a search over the entire house and the building, where they found no trace of her.

According to the police, there are no images to confirm that the little girl was in the building between the evening of Sunday the 21st and the early morning of the 22nd; the building has surveillance cameras located on all entrances, restricted access to the parking area and 24-hour surveillance.


source: Hora Cero, 31.03.2010



Update: Paulette's body has been found inside her family's home. The child's parents and two nannies remain in preventive custody. Investigations are ongoing.

Further comparisons between the case of Paulette and that of Madeleine can be read on CNN Mexico. Curiously, the article ends by stating that the McCann couple asked for the reopening of the process of their daughter's disappearance - something that apparently has yet to happen.

News Recap: Amaral, McCanns, Halligen and a FOIA request

On Gonçalo Amaral: According to an article on the Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manhã, published on the 17th of March, Gonçalo Amaral was questioned at the directory of Faro regarding a new accusation made by the McCann couple lawyer, Isabel Duarte, who alleged that Gonçalo Amaral had violated the secrecy of justice of the so-called Maddie Case process. In January, during the hearing of the injunction that banned Gonçalo Amaral's book 'Maddie, The Truth of the Lie' from the Portuguese bookshops, Isabel Duarte stated to the media that the breach of the secrecy of justice was made because Gonçalo Amaral had sent his book draft to the publishers «Guerra & Paz» before the process was archived by the Public Ministry. On the 1st of July the Portuguese Public Ministry prosecutor evaluated the PJ final report to decide on the continuation of the investigation or on the archival, on the 21st of July the Portuguese Attorney general in a press note announced the Maddie Case process archival. From that date the process of the investigation to the disappearence of Madeleine McCann was released to the media and to interested persons upon request. Gonçalo Amaral's book 'Maddie, The Truth of the Lie' was publicly presented on Thursday, 24 of July 2008 at the El Corte Ingles, in Lisbon. Since September 15, 2007, with the amendments made to the Criminal Procedure Code, Article 86, paragraph 6, the secrecy of justice stopped being enforced on all the process cases except when and if decided by the Public Ministry or by the Instruction Judge heading the inquest to an investigation.

On the 18th of March, Correio da Manhã newspaper gave notice that the process made by António Leandro David da Silva's lawyer, Marcos Aragão Correia against Gonçalo Amaral was dismissed by the Court of Faro. Leandro accused Gonçalo Amaral of aggression at the PJ of Faro headquarters on the 13th of October 2004, and asked 500 thousand euros for compensation. The complaint, however was only presented in July 2009.

Leandro was Joana Isabel Guerreiro Cipriano [who disappeared on the 12 September 2004] 'stepfather' and companion of Leonor Cipriano, the woman who was accused by the Supreme Court of Justice of qualified homicide, hiding the cadaver and cadaver profanation of the eight year old girl body, along with her brother, João Cipriano. Leonor and João Cipriano were convicted by the Supreme Court [link to the Supreme court decision, process JSTJ000 - fully translated in this blog at «Supreme Court of Justice - 'Joana case' ruling»]; in March 2006 to 16 years and eight months imprisonment for Joana's murder.

On the Cipriano case, the Supreme Court of Justice [link to the Supreme court decision, process 330/04.2JAPTM-B.S1] of 17/12/2009 signed by the judges Souto Moura, Soares Ramos and Carmona da Mota dismissed the new appeal to revise the sentence of Leonor Cipriano presented by her lawyer, Marcos Aragão Correia. The lawyer presented as new evidence for the appeal a confession letter signed by João Cipriano where he allegedly stated that he had «attempted to sell» Joana Cipriano - a confession, as the lawyer bragged on the media, that was given because he 'bluffed' João Cipriano, telling him to «sign the confession adding that if he did not say the truth, an inmate from another prison that was going to be transferred to that establishment would murder him, simulate his suicide, on behalf of the people who wanted to buy Joana». João Cipriano ended up presenting a different version to the Sentence Execution Court, in Lisbon, he “denied to have written, signed and did not remember having dictated", to anyone, the contents of a statement that was presented as being authored by him but admitted to his sister lawyer visit.

Marcos Aragão Correia stated that on his visit to João Cipriano on 18th May 2009, who is detained at the Carregueira prison, in Belas (Sintra) he saw [as a psychic] "lots of blood running down his face as if he was guilty of an heinous crime" - the same lawyer also said that he is not completely sure that Joana is dead because in another «vision» he saw her "walking accompanied by a couple". The lawyer also presented the 8 page declaration written by Leonor Cipriano on 15 January 2009 [translated here] which gave [another] different version of the events of that night, accusing her brother of murdering Joana, a declaration that at the same time admitted that Leonor was willing to «sell» her daughter Joana to an alleged foreign couple. The lawyer also presented witnesses statements made by elements of the Cipriano family, excerpts of the book written by criminologist Barra da Costa, a private letter and a PJ's old report to which the lawyer admitted receiving in an unclear manner. Marcos Aragão Correia additionally fundamented the appeal using a persistent attack on Gonçalo Amaral, the PJ coordinator of the Joana Case - in the appeal the lawyer stated that «We can not therefore be admired by the calamitous results of a criminal investigation handed to a dangerous and violent alcoholic, even more catastrophic when we are before serious crimes committed against children, to whom, only too late appeared the good sense of removing him from the investigations when the same alcoholic repeated the same gross mistakes without fundamentation and without any evidence against the mother of another missing child in the Algarve (Madeleine Beth McCann)» [in the process document 330/04.2JAPTM-B.S1 and from Marcos Aragão Correia own site 'The little girls that came from the stars'].

The Public Ministry understood that the revision should be denied, adding that "Having seen the text of the appeal, there is a clear attempt to tarnish the image of the Judiciary Police, especially of one former element of that Police who was involved in the investigation of the case which led to the conviction" and "this animosity can not serve to justify the application for review of the decision, much less affirmations like «Apparently, II [Gonçalo Amaral] took a course in criminal investigation in Guinea-Bissau or in an analogous country, or was driven by motives for us as yet unknown so that the truth was not to be discovered». The Public Ministry also added «But beyond this, and still under the same scope, the Public Ministry has to raise the question about the legitimacy of joining to the appeal a private letter, referred to as a letter sent by the wife of one PJ element to his hierarchy superior, as well as a service report from the PJ picket, documents that the distinguished lawyer stated to have reached his hands in an illicit manner, which nevertheless did not inhibit the the lawyer of joining them to the process."

On the confession forced by Marcos Aragão Correia «bluff» the Public Ministry stated: "And, in that which refers to the co-defendant CC [João Cipriano], it is understood that the activity of the distinguished lawyer goes beyond all legal and ethical rules to which he owes obedience" and "The description given by the distinguished lawyer himself of how he obtained the 'declaration' signed by the arguido [João Cipriano], who is represented by another lawyer, is almost frightening, and an absolutely forbidden method of obtaining evidence". Regarding the new declaration made by Leonor Cipriano the Public Ministry stated: "It is pathetic the justification that she gave - of only now revealing the facts for being afraid of being arrested for trying to sell her daughter" and "what follows here is a desperate attempt by the defendant/appellant to escape liability for the acts performed by her and for which she is serving a sentence".

On Barra da Costa texts, taken from his book "Maddie, Joana and the Criminal Investigation" and presented as well as basis for the appeal by Marcos Aragão Correia, the Public Ministry wrote: "Finally, as to the alleged scientific view of the criminologist Dr. BBB, the applicant limits to transcribing long excerpts from a book that was written by the above mentioned in which he "established that the criminal investigation" that was carried in this case and in another highly mediatic case [Maddie's] "was poorly made". The PM continued, "no matter how scientific it is the opinion of that author, all that the same states is totally irrelevant to the case at issue here, it is nothing more than personal opinions of a person who was not even involved in the process and who only criticizes the actions of everyone, including the one of the Supreme Court of Justice."

The Public Ministry then summarizes the grounds for denying the appeal: «Appeal for revision, which, from the above, should be denied by:

- Not being admissible, given the failure to report «new» facts, already known by the defendants at the time of conviction;

- Even admitting the possibility of the review with those facts, it is certain that the «declarations» appended to the process are not valid;

- Even accepting that validity, they do not contain credible evidence;

- And, even if they were understood as that they would not be enough to raise a sufficient doubt to review the final decision, since they are unaccompanied by other elements of evidence;»

The Supreme Court of Justice collective of judges gave a similar fundamentation for the denial of the appeal to revise Leonor Cipriano's sentence.

On Marcos Aragão Correia: this was the lawyer who was recruited by the McCann's Spanish private detectives Metodo 3 to collaborate with them in the objective of «promoting the intersection of the Joana and Maddie cases» in order to make Gonçalo Amaral, the former coordinator of the PJ of Portimão, the main target. In the process that accused Gonçalo Amaral of failing to denounce acts of torture during the interrogation of Leonor Cipriano, Marcos Aragão Correia even tried to make a deal with the defence lawyer of 4 of the 5 PJ officers accused of torturing Leonor Cipriano, the «dodgy» deal, according to one of the 4 PJ officers was: "All of you incriminate Gonçalo Amaral and I’ll arrange so that Leonor Cipriano says that you have nothing to do with this" - a deal that was obviously rejected. When Gonçalo Amaral received the suspended sentence for failing to denounce acts of torture, which according to the court ruling were acts performed by unknown persons; the lawyer Marcos Aragão Correia gloated in the media "Target was hit, Gonçalo Amaral was convicted". This was also the lawyer who interrupted Gonçalo Amaral's 50st birthday party, in October 2009 - Gonçalo Amaral, his family and friends were on the street in front of a restaurant in Portimão, making a toast when the lawyer approached them inside a car making obscene gestures, perhaps trying to provoke a violent reaction from those attending the birthday party.

The lawyer is also a member in «Justice 4 ALL Madeleine McCann Family» forum, aka Rosiepop's forum, and uses the original nick name of "Leonor lawyer" - the forum and the blog of the same name are well-known for defaming and creating scurrilous lies about anyone and everyone who has a contrary view and opinion to the McCann couple alleged thesis of Madeleine's abduction. Some members of that forum wrote and self-edited a book in 2008 titled 'The Madeleine Investigation: Incompetence or Corruption?' where some of  the documents and photographs were allegedly provided by the lawyer Marcos Aragão Correia. The book basically is an attempt to defame the Judiciary Police, targeting Gonçalo Amaral in particular.

It is still incomprehensible how the OA - the Portuguese lawyers order does nothing to prevent the systematic abusive and unjustified persecution of a citizen by the self-called psychic lawyer Marcos Aragão Correia, who in the words of the Public Ministry (in the decision to Leonor's appeal ) states that the actions of the lawyer "go beyond all legal and ethical rules", in other words the lawyer breached his obligation to the deontological code of the Portuguese Lawyers.

Other News

On Kevin Halligen: CourtNews.uk reported on the 26 of March, that Halligen is unable to afford a barrister. «A private detective accused of conning the McCann family of £300,000 to find their missing daughter Maddie could not afford to be represented in court today (fri). Security consultant Kevin Halligen, 48, is fighting extradition to the United States over claims he cheated Dutch company Trafigura out of £1.3million by offering to secure the release of their employees from an Ivory Coast jail.» One wonders what has happened to Mark Summers, the Matrix Chambers lawyer who was supposedly to represent Kevin Halligen and contest the extradition order requested by the US Government, after an indictment on charges of wire fraud and money laundering was given by a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia, last year in November.

On the McCann Case: One of the High Profile FOIA Requests made early this year concerns an appeal, under the MPS Publication Scheme, for the release of the Metropolitan Police Service correspondence with other forces regarding Madeleine McCann, as well as transcripts of interviews, made by an UK TV news channel, in it we can read: «In particular, the «TV news channel» would like to acquire any material, correspondence that were conducted with the Portuguese police during 2007. The «TV news channel» would also like to acquire any correspondence that either Leicestershire police or the Met police had with the Home Office in relation to Madeline's disappearance. The «TV news channel» would also like to acquire transcripts of any interviews that were held with the McCanns or other witnesses. And any information that you now consider no longer an ongoing investigation.»

The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Shannon Matthews search police 'will help look for Madeleine McCann'

Karen Matthews, Shannon's mother

The police squad that found missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews is to help in the search for Madeleine McCann, according to reports.

The move follows a meeting between Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry and Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The Child Exploitation Centre and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) has now approached West Yorkshire Police's major inquiry team which found Shannon, of Dewsbury Moor, in March 2008.

The Home Office is understood to be considering whether a fresh investigation into Madeleine's disappearance on holiday in Portugal in 2007 is necessary.

The search for Shannon was led by Det Supt Andy Brennan.

After a 24-day search she was found alive, hidden under the base of a divan bed at the house of her mother's uncle Michael Donovan, in Batley.

Donovan, 41, and Shannon's mother Karen Matthews, 33, were jailed for eight years for kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.


in: Dewsbury Reporter, 19.03.2010

Trafigura & Carter Ruck Versus Freedom of Speech

The video below presents the censored by a super-injunction BBC Newsnight report 'Dirty Tricks and Toxic Waste in the Ivory Coast'. Trafigura and Carter-Ruck have mounted a desperate campaign to stop the media from reporting on the illegal dumping, which is said to have caused vomiting, choking and skin eruptions in some 100,000 people and killed at least 12 Ivorians.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu concluded in a report on 3 September 2009 that:

"On the basis of the above considerations and taking into account the immediate impact on public health and the proximity of some of the dumping sites to areas where affected populations reside, the Special Rapporteur considers that there seems to be strong prima facie evidence that the reported deaths and adverse health consequences are related to the dumping of the waste from the Probo Koala."

On behalf of Trafigura, Carter Ruck solicitors have used a 'super-injunction' to prevent the publication of a Trafigura report (the Minton report) into this and to prevent both the reporting of the injunction and the reporting of a parliamentary question. As well as the injunction against the Guardian, the firm issued a libel writ against BBC2’s Newsnight, which also reported on the dumping, and threatened journalists from Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia and The Times.

In December 2009 Trafigura and their lawyers Carter Ruck were able via a super injunction to remove the BBC Newsnight documentary (broadcast on 13 May 2009) from the BBC online page and to force apologies from the BBC: «The BBC withdraws the allegation that deaths, miscarriages or serious or long-term injuries were caused by the waste and apologises to Trafigura for having claimed otherwise»

Today Wikileaks published BBC’s 39-page defence against the Trafigura libel suit.

This document was submitted to the UK's High Court by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in September 2009, as a Defence against a libel claim brought against them by the oil company Trafigura. A May 2009 BBC Newsnight feature suggested that 16 deaths and many other injuries were caused by the dumping in the Ivory Coast of a large quantity of toxic waste originating with Trafigura. A September 2009 UN report into the matter stated that 108,000 people were driven to seek medical attention. This Defence, which has never been previously published online, outlines in detail the evidence which the BBC believed justified its coverage. In December 2009 the BBC settled out of court amid reports that fighting the case could have cost as much as 3 million pounds. The BBC removed its original Newsnight footage and associated articles from its on-line archives. The detailed claims contained in this document were never aired publicly, and never had a chance to be tested in court. Commenting on the BBC's climbdown, John Kampfner, CEO of Index on Censorship said: "Sadly, the BBC has once again buckled in the face of authority or wealthy corporate interests. It has cut a secret deal. This is a black day for British journalism and once more strengthens our resolve to reform our unjust libel laws." Jonathan Heawood, Director of English PEN, said: "Forced to choose between a responsible broadcaster and an oil company which shipped hundreds of tons of toxic waste to a developing country, English libel law has once again allowed the wrong side to claim victory. The law is an ass and needs urgent reform." Now that this document is in the public domain, the global public will be able to make their own judgement about the strength of the BBC's case. in Wikileaks

Trafigura meanwhile has paid out $200 million to the government of the Ivory Coast, and in London settled for £30 million a joint action made by the 31,000 Ivorians who claimed Trafigura was responsible for their illnesses.

Timeline

August 2006, Trafigura dumps toxic waste in and around Abidjan, Ivory Coast. According to a UN report, over 100,000 Ivorians seek medical help for breathing problems, vomiting and skin eruptions, 15 die. Trafigura maintain that the material discharged was harmless.

7 September, Trafigura commissions its scientists to investigate the possible effects of the dumping, this is known as the Minton report.

14 September, the Minton Report is sent to Trafigura. According to The Times the report said that Trafigura's oil waste was potentially highly toxic and "capable of causing severe human health effects", including death.

13 February 2007, Trafigura pay the government of Ivory Coast an out-of-court settlement of $200 million, but accept no liability.

March 2008, the Ivorian Court of Appeal say there is insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges against the company.

3 September 2009, UN special rapporteur for toxic waste Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu finishes his report on the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast.

11 September 2009, Carter Ruck solicitors obtain a 'super-injunction' in the High Court on behalf of their client Trafigura to prevent The Guardian from publishing the Minton report.

16 September, The Guardian and BBC publish internal emails between Trafigura employees, "This is as cheap as anyone can imagine and should make serious dollars … Each cargo should make 7m!!"

Mid-September, Trafigura issue libel threats against The Guardian and BBC via Carter Ruck.

23 September, Trafigura agree to compensate 31,000 claimants around £1,000 each. The payout offer amounts to a total of around £30m. The original claim was for £100m, which would have given the claimants around £3,000 each.

Trafigura refuse to accept liability as part of the settlement. The waste, the company said: "could at worst have caused a range of short-term, low-level flu-like symptoms and anxiety".

1pm, 12 October, The Guardian contact Carter Ruck solicitors with a copy of Paul Farrelly MP's parliamentary question, telling them they intended to publish the question.

Mr Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legislation to protect (a) whistleblowers and (b) press freedom following the injunctions obtained in the High Court by (i) Barclays and Freshfields solicitors on 19 March 2009 on the publication of internal Barclays reports documenting alleged tax avoidance schemes and (ii) Trafigura and Carter-Ruck solicitors on 11 September 2009 on the publication of the Minton report on the alleged dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast, commissioned by Trafigura.

Carter Ruck responded the same day. Alan Rusbridger's recollection of events as follows is thus:

"their letter unequivocally asserted that the Guardian would be in contempt of Court and sought an immediate undertaking that we would not publish.

The letter also stated that Carter-Ruck did not even accept that the publication by Parliament of Mr Farrelly's question placed the existence of the injunction in the public domain!

We took leading counsel's advice on this letter. She advised us not to publish, but to return to court to seek a variation in the order."

13 October, The Guardian bring a formal challenge to the 'super-injunction' before Mr Justice Sir Michael Tugendhat; Index on Censorship also write to the Judge, but because it is a 'super-injunction' do not know the content of the injunction, the party who served it, or its function.

7.30pm, 16 October, Carter Ruck write to The Guardian advising that it is "released forthwith" from any reporting restrictions relating to the 'super-injunction' placed on the Minton report. The Guardian publishes the Minton report.

18 October, the Speaker of the House of Commons confirms the adjournment debate will proceed.

19 October, a meeting between Carter Ruck and parliamentarians.

sources : Libel reform campaign, Index on Censorship, English Pen and Richard Wilson's blog Don’t Get Fooled Again

Related:

BBC: Trafigura Statement

How the Trafigura story unfolded - in the Guardian

A year of gagging - on Index on Censorship

Richard Wilson: Calling all bloggers – Help beat the gag on the BBC

Ian Dale: BBC Caves in to Carter Ruck Threats Over Trafigura Film

Wikileaks: BBC Newsnight's "Dirty tricks and toxic waste in Ivory Coast", 15min video, 13 May 2009

Wikileaks: BBC deletes important story on toxic waste dumping in the Ivory Coast after legal threats, 12 Dec 2009

Wikileaks: Updated secret gag on UK Times preventing publication of Minton report into toxic waste dumping, 16 Oct 2009

Wikileaks: Minton report secret injunction gagging The Guardian on Trafigura, 11 Sep 2009

Wikileaks: Minton report - Trafigura toxic dumping along the Ivory Coast broke EU regulations, 14 Sep 2006  - not working updated link to the Minton Report PDF

BBC Censored Newsnight page - archived in PDF

Leicestershire Police under Investigation

Police under investigation over Fiona Pilkington case

IPCC looking at how officers handled case of mother who killed herself and disabled daughter after years of abuse by youths

by James Sturcke

Ten Leicestershire police officers are under investigation over the way they handled the case of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francecca Hardwick, who were found dead in a burned out car after suffering years of abuse from yobs, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said today.

An inquest last September found that police errors and inaction were partly responsible for driving the vulnerable single mother to kill herself and her severely disabled daughter.

Returning a verdict of suicide on Pilkington, 38, and unlawful killing for her 18-year-old daughter, whose bodies were found in a blazing car on a layby in October 2007, the jury decided that the police action "contributed" to the deaths, notably the failure of officers to connect dozens of separate calls for assistance.

The IPCC said it had served advisory notices on 10 officers informing them that their conduct was under investigation.

"This complex inquiry is going back over police contact with Fiona Pilkington, her daughter and neighbours over a period of several years. We are assessing information from family members, neighbours, the authorities involved, records of police contact, and the accounts of relevant police officers themselves," the IPCC said in a statement.

The inquest jury heard Pilkington contacted police on no fewer than 33 occasions in seven years in which youths throwing stones and shouting abuse had kept her a virtual prisoner in her home in Barwell, near Hinckley in Leicestershire.

Asked how police were responsible, the jury said: "Calls were not linked or prioritised."

The IPPC subsequently launched an investigation into the way the "distressing" case was handled, in particular, how seriously the police responded to Pilkington's calls for help.

The commission added that substantial work was still left to do: "We are progressing this rigorous investigation as swiftly as possible and will make our findings public in due course."

The inquest verdict also held the local council partly accountable for failing over a period of years to take action against the young gangs, and criticised the county social services department for not referring Pilkington for professional help after she said she felt suicidal.

The coroner, Olivia Davison, said: "I am concerned about the evidence I have received in this inquest about the process for gathering and recording information from victims of antisocial abuse."

Separately, the jury blamed poor sharing of information between the police and councils for contributing to the deaths, but also noted Pilkington had neither "sought nor accepted" help on occasions.

Pilkington's blue Austin Maestro was found in flames on a layby by the side of the A47 near the family's home on the night of 23 October, 2007. Inside the car, which had been set ablaze with petrol, were the severely burned bodies of Pilkington and Francecca. The inquest was told that Pilkington probably took the family's pet rabbit in the car as well to soothe Francecca, who had a mental age of about four.

The six-day hearing heard a mass of evidence, at times deeply harrowing, of the way in which gangs of teenagers and children, some as young as 10, had kept Pilkington, Francecca and Pilkington's son, Anthony, who has milder learning difficulties, "under siege".

Reacting to the news of the investigation, the shadow home secretary, Chris Grayling, said: "There's no doubt that the tragic deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francecca have massively undermined public confidence in the ability of police to deal with antisocial behaviour.

"That's why it's really important that all the lessons are fully learned by those who were directly involved."

in Guardian 

The same police who had time to delivers flowers to the home of Gerry and Kate McCann on September 10, 2007 in Rothley, England a day after the arguidos left Portugal. - photos from Life Magazine

The same Police who was working on a matter of International cooperation with the Portuguese Judiciary Police on the investigation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and whose site still links to the former arguidos site.

Press Release from the IPCC

Update on IPCC investigation into death of Fiona Pilkington - 16 March 2010

The following is an update from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC):

The IPCC's independent investigation into the deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter is ongoing. We have gathered a variety of material and liaised with the police force, local social services and Hinckley Borough Council, who have co-operated fully. We have now served advisory notices on a total of 10 Leicestershire police officers and this situation is being kept under review. Such notices are not judgemental in any way, but are required under police misconduct regulations, and served on officers to advise that their conduct is under investigation.

This complex inquiry is going back over police contact with Fiona Pilkington, her daughter and neighbours over a period of several years. We are assessing information from family members, neighbours, the authorities involved, records of police contact, and the accounts of relevant police officers themselves. The extensive nature of the investigation means there is still substantial further work to do, and enquiries to be made by the IPCC. We are progressing this rigorous investigation as swiftly as possible and will make our findings public in due course.

Media contact:

Mark Pearson, IPCC Regional Communications Officer (Central Region) Tel: 0207-166-3239

Kate McCann: I pray for the people who have kidnapped Madeleine

by Tracey Kandohla

Kate McCann has admitted that she will try to find it in her heart to forgive whoever kidnapped her daughter Madeleine.

In a moving interview Kate, 42, a devout Catholic, says: 'It is hard to say but I would like to hope I could forgive. It would be a bit difficult. I just want to know why they have taken her.

'I always pray for the family. Most of the prayers are centred on Madeleine. But I pray for the people who have taken her and the people who know what has happened to her.'

Kate and her husband Gerry, 41, were among 450 people taking part in a fun run in London's Hyde Park yesterday to raise funds for the charity Missing People.

During the 10km run the couple wore tops bearing a picture of their daughter smiling and the words 'Don't give up on me'.

In the interview broadcast on Radio 2's Good Morning Sunday this weekend, Kate, from Rothley, Leicestershire, tells how she takes sanctuary alone in the village's Sacred Heart church.

She says: 'I've got the key to the church. It's kindly been given to me. It's a bit of a sanctuary - a refuge - and I can go and speak out, when no one else is there, and get it all off my chest really.'

She believes God is looking after and protecting six-year-old Maddie, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007 just days before her fourth birthday.

She adds: 'There are times I have got angry with God but my faith has sustained me and it has got stronger.'

She said having a child snatched was 'the worst thing that could ever happen to a parent. The pain is just incredible and I cannot help but worry about her.

'The wounds are less raw now and the pain doesn't go away but I am a lot stronger than I was a year ago.'

She says enduring her third Mother's Day without her eldest child is painful and 'a constant reminder that one of my babies isn't with me'.

But she vows to 'get through it like any other day'. She adds: 'I am still Madeleine's mum and always will be.

'I just want to bring her back into the warmth and love of our family.'

Kate was expected to attend a church service in the village to mark Mothering Sunday. She is due to be given a bunch of daffodils there by her five-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

She adds: 'The twins are really positive and keep us going. I have a lot of hope that Madeleine is still alive but the difficult task is trying to find her.'

She describes Maddie as 'an amazing little character' who has 'loads of energy, is really funny and quite knowing. I want everyone to meet her'.

Asked if she had a message for mothers who are facing similar heartache, she says: 'Dig deep and just keep hoping. Surround yourself with positive people and don't give up.'

in Daily Mail, 14.03.2010

Ainda sobre 'Sinais de Fogo'

Justiceiro com equívocos

por Fernando Sobral

Sousa Tavares transformou o seu programa num território de equívocos. Quando se esmaga quem não tem poder não se está a fazer justiça. Está a transformar-se um espaço opinativo numa caça às bruxas sem sentido.

Num dos melhores momentos de humor da série ‘Os Simpsons’, Bart e Lisa discutem acaloradamente e Homer tenta separá-los. Um deles diz: “Pai, estávamos a discutir para ver qual gostava mais de ti”. Homer fica desvanecido e diz: “Que bonito”. Aí Bart esclarece: “Ela diz que sou eu e eu digo que é ela”. Em Portugal, neste momento, não deve existir muita discussão sobre quem gosta mais de ‘Sinais de Fogo’ de Miguel Sousa Tavares. Porque poucos devem enaltecer as virtualidades do programa, que alegadamente foi buscar inspiração à elegância estilística de Jorge de Sena. Algo que o locutor não cumpre, com o seu estilo estridente típico da artilharia de costa. Esse é o primeiro dos equívocos do programa.

Miguel Sousa Tavares pode querer fazer de Zorro, o Justiceiro, mas aí tem sucedido o segundo equívoco: foi mal preparado para a entrevista com o primeiro-ministro e, depois, descarregou a fúria dos deuses num ex-inspector da PJ, que não podia falar por imperativos legais e porque o locutor não o deixava. O terceiro equívoco sucede depois: deve haver programas justiceiros (da FOX à televisão brasileira existem aos quilos), mas eles costumam ser contra os poderosos e não contra os que não têm poder. Miguel Sousa Tavares pensa que o justicialismo deve ser ao contrário. Talvez por isso tenha visto que a cadeira onde estava Sócrates era mais favorável para o entrevistador e tenha mudado de lugar.

É um conceito válido, mas a partir de agora quem tiver a mínima noção de que vai ser achincalhado como Gonçalo Amaral não irá ao programa. Donde só sobrarão entrevistados que possam ser louvados pelo locutor. Daí decorre o quarto equívoco: para que é que a SIC precisa de um programa justiceiro se lá só irão os que desejam ser apaparicados? Talvez Judite de Sousa não estivesse à espera de um confronto tão fácil à segunda-feira. Se apostar em histórias de emoção no seu ‘Vidas Contadas’, acantonará ‘Sinais de Fogo’ num ‘western’ onde o justiceiro tem balas de pólvora seca. A partir de agora ver-se-á para que lado cai o coração dos espectadores.


in: Correio da Manhã, 12.03.2010

Sandra Felgueiras interviews the McCann couple in Lisbon

The McCann couple's detective asserts that if Maddie was dead, her body would have been found by now

The private detective that was hired by the McCann couple asserts that if Madeleine was dead, her body would have been found by now. Retired from the English police, David Edgar has the discovery of one missing child on his curriculum.

He accompanied Kate and Gerry on the trip that they made to Portugal this week, whose primary purpose it was for them to gain access to the leads that arrived at the PJ since the case was shelved, one and a half year ago.



source: RTP, 10.03.2010

Related: McCann Couple returns to Portugal

The McCanns Strategy to re-open the Process - Allegedly

video via SIC, Sic Journalist Sara Antunes Oliveira

«The Ulster detective leading the search for Madeleine McCann today reveals his most chilling theories yet, exclusively to Sunday Life. Hardened ex-RUC cop Dave Edgar told us he is convinced that little Maddie is imprisoned in a hellish lair – just like kidnapped sex slave Jaycee Lee Dugard.

He insisted the “back from the dead” reappearance of Jaycee – and the cases of Austrian cellar girls Elisabeth Fritzl and Natascha Kampusch – confirmed his suspicion.

And despite fresh leads taking his probe to Australia and Barcelona, the east Belfast man insists the golden-haired youngster is being held just 10 miles from where she was snatched in Praia da Luz two years ago.

But he warned that the sprawling wilderness where he believes Maddie is languishing is almost impossible to search completely.» in Independent

Related: Any Resemblance Is Pure Coincidence & The many victims of the McCann Media Campaign

McCann couple says information that was handed over to English journalists harms the search for their daughter

by Lusa Agency

Today, the McCann couple considered that information concerning Madeleine’s whereabouts, that was published by British newspapers last week, seriously harm the search for the little girl that went missing in the Algarve, in 2007.

Gerry and Kate, who were in Lisbon today for a meeting with the Portuguese lawyers, have requested for the data concerning Madeleine to be carefully analysed and that access to that information is confidential and sensitive, so the witnesses can also be protected.

“There is lots of information and much of it has not been carefully analysed. If there was some potential and important information, we could give people a path”, said Kate, accusing the Attorney General’s Office of having handed documents over to British newspapers.

Kate, the mother, stressed that the publication of the data “is a serious damage to the search” for her daughter, even because it can provoke “lack of trust in the witnesses”.

“Names and details have been published in the media and that has rendered the witnesses vulnerable”, she said, while Gerry McCann went further: “The process was once very closed and nothing was known due to the judicial secrecy. Now, information is being released.”

“It is imperative that authorities assume the responsibility over sensitive or confidential information. We, the parents, and everyone need assurances that this situation will not be permitted in the future”, he stated, appealing to sensibility and confidentiality in the publication of information.

Gerry even stated that “one step back” was made in the search for Madeleine and he reiterated the desire for cooperation, considering it is “important to look objectively” at the leads.

“As parents, we can be very close to the investigation and demand things that were not done yet, to be done”, he stressed, adding: “There is a strong reason for us to have to work with the authorities and in an intense way. The process is closed, but it is not concluded”.

The parents of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared from an apartment at a resort in Praia da Luz, further appealed to journalists “not to spread information” and to avoid “commercial interests”.

On the 3rd of March, the British newspapers published a video surveillance image from New Zealand, with a little girl that resembled Madeleine, which was part of a set of leads that the Portuguese Polícia Judiciária (PJ) did not investigate.

Several newspapers, including The Sun and the Daily Mail, mention that the Portuguese authorities possess an archive of over two thousand pages with information that was collected since the investigation was archived, in July of 2008.

Among the alleged leads, there are testimonies of sightings in Portugal, France and Spain which, according to the newspapers, were not considered as reliable by the investigative authorities.

Madeleine McCann went missing on the 3rd of May, 2007, only a few days before she would be four years old, from an apartment in Praia da Luz, in the vicinity of Lagos, in the Algarve, where she was spending holidays with her family.

Since then, the parents keep a campaign to try to find their daughter, whose investigation in Portugal was closed due to a lack of evidence.


in: ionline, 09.03.2010

McCann Couple returns to Portugal

The McCann couple has today given various interviews in Lisbon. It appears the couple has returned to Portugal to collect the several files of the information sent to the PJ in Portimão, they have also met with their Portuguese lawyers to request that the information is made confidential. And, no they have not yet requested the Portuguese Public Ministry to re-open the process, instead they have accused the Public Ministry of releasing some of the documentation to the English media.

The following is an excerpt of the interview made by the Portuguese journalist Sandra Felgueiras, the full interview will be broadcast tomorrow in RTP.



Never mind the «gold dust»...

100th anniversary of International Women's Day

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of former Soviet bloc). In some celebrations, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day mixed together. In others, however, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner.

2010 International Women's Day

On occasion of 2010 International Women's Day the International Committee of the Red Cross is drawing attention to the hardship displaced women endure. The displacement of populations is one of the gravest consequences of today's armed conflicts. It affects women in a host of ways.

Women displaced by armed conflict – often living alone with their children – are frequently exposed to sexual violence, discrimination and intimidation. Many face poverty and social exclusion as well. International humanitarian law therefore includes specific provisions protecting women, for example when they are pregnant or as mothers of young children.

in wikipedia

see events at International Women's Day site and more information at the UN's «Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all» appeal

Happy International Women's Day!

Gonçalo Amaral Interview in Fafe

At the time of the presentation of his new book «The English Gag» at Fafe's Library, video via Correio TV

Reporter: Sir, you have been out from the PJ almost for two years now; after a very complicated process, and from where many answers are still missing to which you have tried to answer in the book that was censored. This «English gag» is it not somehow a gag to the freedom of speech in Portugal?

Gonçalo Amaral: There is no doubt about that, actually it was on that notion that the book was written. It was in terms of defence, and of denouncing this limitation of the freedom of expression of a citizen, my case, and as well the right of the reader, of the Portuguese citizen, of any person in this country in formulating opinions, their own opinion in face of what they read. Therefore, it is not allowed… It is forbidden, it is limiting the freedom of the Portuguese people, of the people who are interested in reading the book ‘Maddie, The Truth of the Lie’, and of them being able to formulate their opinion. Which is the right of freedom to opinion, which in this country seems - seems, no - is in fact, being temporarily limited, as established by the injunction, and could be so from here now into the future.

Reporter: At this moment where freedom of expression and the lack of it is being so much discussed, where political pressures are being discussed as a daily basis; in the moment where we can recall the historical relation between Portugal and England, our eternal ally, was there really so much weight applied by England in this process, capable of gagging the Portuguese politicians to the point of forcing a PJ Inspector to withdraw himself from the Judiciary Police, to the point of forcing into silence the whole process?

Gonçalo Amaral: I have no doubts regarding that; in reality, the facts speak for themselves. A public servant, like me, a coordinator of the Judiciary Police, it is something that some politicians are able to discard, to avoid a diplomatic drama, a diplomatic incident, and everything was done surrounding that. Like now, there is a direct attack to the Judiciary Police, again, on this process, an attack targeting a Judiciary Police employee, and the Judiciary Police does not do anything in his defence nor does the Justice Ministry. I did not say that there [on the book presentation] but I'll say it here, it is shameful. How is it possible to leave those who work for the public interest, those who work for the discovery of the truth and for the making of Justice, abandoned to these attacks?

Reporter: I know that you are under secrecy of justice, but for you the truth…

Gonçalo Amaral: Not of secrecy of justice, I am a target of a temporary injunction, which limits my freedom of expression.

Reporter:…But for you the truth is revealed and transcribed in that book, that today cannot be sold?

Gonçalo Amaral: I can’t answer to that question, because I am a target of an injunction which forbids me to speak about… to give you an answer. It’s under the scope of the injunction.

Reporter: How is it, looking at the situation that happened and for the eventual future situations that might be somewhat similar, how do you see the role of Portugal in this affair, that is, do we get fragilized, do we become dependent of foreign opinions, of foreign police opinions which may place in question an institution like the Judiciary Police, which is seen with the utmost seriousness?

Gonçalo Amaral: The Judiciary Police continues to be seen with seriousness, the opinions, or the forces contrary to the discovery of the material truth had in this case, and will have in others, or maybe they already had in other cases, a strong influence when placing in question the Justice system itself. What is happening is a result of the frailties, as a friend of mine said, an appeal court judge, it is the frailty inherent to democracy. It is that that is in question; we don’t live alone, the country is not isolated, it is in the European Union, it has its allies and its international agreements, and its international diplomacy and something has being left behind, which in this case was Justice.

Reporter: Do you feel discarded?

Gonçalo Amaral: Discarded, no. It was my choice to leave the Judiciary Police in order to regain the plenitude of my freedom of expression, something which is now again placed in question. It was my choice, my decision, and I’m certain that if I had stayed in the PJ I would have ascended to superior positions, other than being a mere coordinator of sections… Allow me to remember here at this moment a colleague, who has passed away last night, Dr. Guilhermino da Encarnação, a person that climbed the Judiciary Police hierarchy by his own merit, and with those two cases, the so-called Joana Case and the Maddie Case. Who, at that time, saw a disease appear, a disease that lead to his death, after all of this time. He was an exceptional man, a person with whom I had the honour, the pleasure and the privilege to work with, with whom I have learned immensely, and that with these cases saw his health disappear. It is sad; people sometimes are not discarded but often are…There are things that happen to one’s health which are unstoppable.

Reporter: A last question, in the said book of which you are forbidden to speak about, which was censored, your convictions are obvious, are evident, are clear. If you had remained in the case, if you hadn’t been removed from it, and after retiring from the PJ; if you had stayed would you have felt comfortable to arrive at something which you had already the absolute certainty of being like that, knowing that from the other side there were so many doubts being placed? [the question is difficult to translate since the reporter is clearly trying to make a question using subterfuges because of the injunction]

Gonçalo Amaral: Look, in an investigation… I cannot speak about the case, I’m forbidden. A criminal investigation has a beginning, a middle and an end. That book, and that I can tell you, was the narrative of the 6 months of the criminal investigation, when I was coordinating it. What could have happened since then, we don’t know. I left the investigation, the investigation continued, remained open for more six months and its result was a premature archival. If the investigation had continued, and there are many diligences to be made, hundreds to be carried out - the process was not concluded with all the diligences - it could have even happened that which was said at a medium term, at that time, would not be established or it could have been confirmed. Therefore a criminal investigation always has to reach its end, so no ambiguities remain, speculations don’t thrive like it is happening at this moment, and also in order to not give material to certain conspiracy theories to flourish. I believe that that is the biggest problem of the investigations that do not reach an ending.

Gonçalo Amaral: Apresentação da 'Mordaça Inglesa' em Fafe - Entrevista

por Correio TV

McCanns Press Statement: Too little, Too late

The McCann couple who started a media campaign selling T-shirts with their daughters face via the online shop at the Find Madeleine Fund site, created on 15 May 2007

The release by Portuguese police [The Police doesn't release files only a Prosecutor does] to British newspapers of previously unseen files on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was "incomprehensible" and "upsetting", her family said.

The 2,000-page dossier detailed dozens of possible sightings of Madeleine after she disappeared from her family's holiday flat in Praia da Luz, southern Portugal, in May 2007, just before her fourth birthday.

A statement released by Kate and Gerry McCann said: "Disclosing such information publicly greatly jeopardises the search for Madeleine and puts witnesses and innocent members of the general public at risk (as well as causing them great anxiety). Release and publication of information in this manner also potentially compromises future investigations. It is difficult to see how anyone benefits from this week's actions."

One of the possible sightings was investigated by police in New Zealand after a girl resembling Madeleine was caught on CCTV in Dunedin, but it emerged Portuguese detectives failed to ask for a follow-up investigation.

Other leads in the newly released dossier include a report of a small blonde girl being dragged along the road to Faro airport in the Algarve - an hour's drive from Praia da Luz - on the night Madeleine vanished.

Another details how a young girl who looked like the missing child was seen being held at gunpoint on a French motorway by a half-naked man in August 2008.

The statement released by the McCanns, both 41 and from Rothley, Leicestershire, thanked their supporters.

It stated: "We are incredibly grateful to all those who continue to support us in our search for Madeleine.

"During weeks such as these, it is invaluable to know that we are not facing this difficult journey alone."

via Press Association

Statement March 5th 2010

Events this week have yet again been incomprehensible and particularly upsetting.

On Tuesday, the Public Prosecutor in Portugal released a large number of documents (relating to the investigation to find our daughter Madeleine) to the British Media, following their request for access. Disclosing such information publicly greatly jeopardises the search for Madeleine and puts witnesses and innocent members of the general public at risk (as well as causing them great anxiety). Release and publication of information in this manner also potentially compromises future investigations. It is difficult to see how anyone benefits from this week's actions.

It is imperative that the Authorities take responsibility for sensitive and confidential information. We, together with the general public, need assurances that this will not be allowed to happen again. Equally, we need absolute assurances that all credible information and leads will be investigated.

We also urge each individual working for the media to consider their own personal responsibility - to put commercial interests aside occasionally and to bear in mind the potential consequences of their actions, especially when people's lives and well-being are at risk.

Our own investigators have acted professionally and with complete integrity. We are eager to encourage anybody who has any information which may relate to Madeleine's abduction to contact our investigation team directly by phone or via the P.O box address given on the website. Information may be given anonymously via each route.

We are incredibly grateful to all those who continue to support us in our search for Madeleine. During weeks such as these, it is invaluable to know that we are not facing this difficult journey alone

related:The many victims of the McCann Media Campaign

Miguel Sousa Tavares: “Que se lixem”

"Os cidadãos anónimos que se lixem. Faço jornalismo há mais de 30 anos e não é anónimo. Era só o que faltava, que os cidadãos viessem agora controlar a forma como os jornalistas fazem jornalismo." É assim que Miguel Sousa Tavares reage às três queixas de cidadãos comuns que entraram no regulador dos media, sobre a entrevista a Gonçalo Amaral, a 1 de Março, no programa ‘Sinais de Fogo’ (SIC).

O ex-inspector da PJ garantiu ao CM: "Nenhuma das queixas é minha, mas sei que naquela noite o site da SIC encheu-se de comentários sobre a forma como ele conduziu a entrevista". E acrescenta: "Miguel Sousa Sousa Tavares esteve ao seu nível. Ele é um fazedor de opiniões e deu as suas. É pena que tenha chamado alguém para uma entrevista. Mas eu de jornalismo não percebo nada."

Comparando o estilo como foi orientada a sua entrevista com a do primeiro-ministro, Gonçalo Amaral é peremptório: "Toda a gente sabe que eles [José Sócrates e Sousa Tavares] são amigos. Portanto é normal. Ele não pode atacar um amigo. Mas ele não me atacou, o que fez foi dar a sua opinião."

Além das queixas que entraram no regulador, são muitas as críticas na blogosfera que apontam o modo discriminatório do entrevistador.

Sousa Tavares disse ao CM: "Podemos ser acusados por delitos de abuso de liberdade de imprensa, só faltava que a maneira de fazer jornalismo fosse alvo de queixas de cidadãos anónimos. Eu também me queixo: são cobardes".

in Correio da Manhã

Para fazer uma queixa na ERC - Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social, utilize o formulário de participações on-line disponível no site.

«Preencha o formulário com o seu nome, morada, e-mail e idade, bem como a sumária descrição dos factos relativos à participação (máximo de 200 palavras). Os campos do formulário assinalados com [*] são de preenchimento obrigatório e os restantes facultativos. Deve elaborar a sua participação com o máximo de clareza e objectividade.

Só serão admitidas participações por via electrónica se preenchidas neste formulário, o qual também pode ser impresso e enviado por fax (210 107 019) ou pelo correio para a morada da ERC (Av. 24 de Julho n.º 58 1200-869 LISBOA).»

Murat's lawyer: “Nobody lies without a reason”

The lawyer tells how the PJ’s attitude changed

by Idálio Revez

The first time that Robert Murat was questioned at the PJ in Portimão, his lawyer Francisco Pagarete tells, the questions were of the kind: “You did it! Tell us what you did with the child!”. At that time, the investigators were looking for a thread that would lead them to a possible abductor. One and a half months later, the situation changes: “How did you help the parents get rid of the child’s body?”. In August, already accompanied by his lawyer, the police environment changes radically: “We know you have nothing to do with this, we apologise for making you come back here once more”.

About Maddie’s disappearance, the lawyer says: “I don’t know what happened to the child – I just say one thing: if nobody did anything wrong, why did they point a finger at Murat?”. And concerning the question that disquiets Murat – “Why did the McCanns’ three friends lie, saying that they had seen him there [Ocean Club] on that night” -, he adds his own opinion: “Nobody lies without a reason”. Concerning what was said and written about this subject, he considers that the media left his client “lying on the floor” and that his life was never the same again. “Children threw stones at the house, saying: “A bad man lives here”.” During the summer of 2007, people would roam towards Casa Liliana, in Praia da Luz, where Murat lived. “Psychologically, he was shattered”, he stresses, recalling that little by little, he tries to emerge from the depression that he fell into, but it is very hard. “Before I am his lawyer, I am his friend”, he states, recalling that they went to kindergarten together. “There is a difference between freedom of expression and rummaging through people’s private life.” “The right to give news ends where another person’s right to an intimate life starts”.

Concerning the British media, his position is very critical: “The press was biased. The news was broken in the following way: “This man is guilty, we have already caught him and it was even us who turned him over to the police””, he says, alluding to the journalist [Lori Campbell] who said she had noted “strange” signs in Murat during his contact with the media. But there is a difference in the way that these cases are handled in Portugal and in England. The lawsuits that were filed against the British press were swiftly settled with a “deal” concerning the amount of the compensation. In our country, “there is no evolution” concerning the five lawsuits that have been filed almost one year ago.

“The sensationalist newspapers are sensationalist by nature. The others just did their job”, he says.


in: Público, 05.03.2010

Robert Murat continues to receive death threats and has lost the sense of life

His life has been “shattered”. He wanted to help, he alleges, but ended up as an arguido. Now he tries to find a direction. But that night in 2007 continues to persecute him.

by Idálio Revez

Robert Murat, three years after Maddie’s disappearance, in Praia da Luz, still has his life “shattered” because he was “at the wrong place, at the wrong time”.

The first suspect of being involved in the child’s disappearance was this English man, aged 36, for whom being made arguido earned him a condemnation from public opinion that he never freed himself from. In an interview to Público, the first one that he gives to a member of the media since the English child’s disappearance, leaves a question in the air that robs him of his sleep until this day: “Three of the McCanns’ friends were at the PJ, saying that they had seen me there, that night [May 3, 2007]. What I ask is why did they lie?”.

“I have a daughter, too”, says Robert Murat, remembering Sofia, aged seven, who lives in England with her mother. “My family was a victim, too – the journalists invaded the area where they live, and the British police had to take my daughter to a safe place.” His ex-wife, he says, “even received an offer of 220 thousand euros to give an interview saying that I was a paedophile”. She did not give in. Robert Murat, in defence of his honour and his reputation, had 13 members of the British media sued. He received a significant compensation, but he does not reveal the amount.

Despite the pressures and the money offers for his to speak – he was offered over 300 thousand euros to allow himself being filmed and to speak about the Maddie case -, he shut up. Now, after the book ‘The Truth of The Lie’, by Gonçalo Amaral, the coordinator of this case investigation, saw its sale being forbidden under orders from the Lisbon Civil Court, and after the British newspapers returned to the issue by publishing images that the Portuguese police allegedly neglected, he decides to speak to Público.

Since he saw himself involved in this process, Robert Murat has been searching for a direction to give to his life. “I have been through horrible situations. Just recently, I have received a letter with a death threat, written in English, sent from France.” When this case broke out, he was about to start a real estate business on the internet, “but everything was deactivated”.

Meanwhile, he married an Anglo-Portuguese woman, went to the USA, on a honeymoon, late last year, but did not go unnoticed: “Here, I feel the discomfort of seeing people pointing at me, but over there I was recognised, as well.”

Which is not strange. The appeals to find Madeleine McCann continue and the parents are still convinced that their daughter is alive. Therefore, they have criticised the investigation that was carried out by the Portuguese authorities, because they dropped the abduction theory. From Morocco to the United States, passing through Spain and Holland, hundreds of pieces of information passed on to the PJ, reporting children that allegedly resembled Maddie. News about several appearances of Maddie went around the world and a reward of 2.5 million euros was offered to anyone who could supply information.

From witness to arguido

Robert Murat accuses the media of having “fabricated” news, pursuing audiences. “They didn’t care about the truth.” “I have people I know at the BBC who told me: “Shut up, because they are going to turn this all around””. His lawyer, Francisco Pagarete, gave him the same advice. “That is the main reason why I haven’t talked until now, but it was very hard.”

His life and that of his relatives – a brother and a sister, who live in England -, “has been rummaged and filled with lies”. In the summer three years ago, Praia da Luz became a battlefield between the world’s main television networks, fighting for ratings. “There was great pressure from the English media, forcing the Portuguese police to present a face”, says Robert Murat, lamenting his luck: “I wanted to help, I ended up being pointed out as a suspect”.

This Englishman, who went to school in Portugal, says: “I have always enjoyed helping people, it’s who I am”. In England, where he lived for 15 years and worked as a car salesman, he also cooperated with the British authorities. “I worked as a translator, for the police and at the court.”

When the child disappeared in Praia da Luz, on the 3rd of May, 2007, he had returned to Portugal two days earlier, to launch the Romigen business. He took part in the searches and, together with his mother, was one of the persons who mobilised the local community to find the little girl.

11 days later, he entered the Polícia Judiciária building in Portimão as a witness, and left as an arguido. Concerning the questioning session that he was subject to, he recalls: “It reminded me of a KGB movie, I felt they were trying to set me up”. Nevertheless, he recognises that the PJ “suffered a lot of pressure to find a guilty person”. He, an English citizen who first played the role of a translator for the GNR, then for the PJ itself, “at their request”, was the one who best fit the news that were being published: “I was the scapegoat”, he emphasizes. The English media, he evokes, “were already saying that there would be developments before I was made an arguido”. A British journalist said that Robert Murat had a “strange” behaviour and denounced him to the Judiciária.

He and his mother, a nurse, aged 73, were two of the persons who were at the front line of the solidarity campaign that developed around the McCann couple. At the GNR’s side, or independently, many people took part in the successive searches, in the surroundings of Lagos, looking for Maddie. But that effort was not recognised, he accuses. “There is one thing which, in a way, displeases me – to those people who were involved in the searches, nobody said thank you”. Who does he think should have said thank you? “That has nothing to do with me, but I think someone should have said thank you.”


in: Público, 05.03.2010