Why?..

The following points are taken from a post I saved from the old 3As forum before it went down.  I can't give credit to the poster as it was so long ago. Please comment if you can remember.  These questions remain unanswered, and I have many more to add to the list - I'm sure you do too.

~o0o~

When the McCann’s fled Portugal in September 2007, the British Police assisting the Portuguese enquiry left also. Madeleine was still missing, supposedly abducted. So why did the British Police quit the search the day after they were both made official suspects?

Since that day in September 2007, not one legitimate Police force has been actively looking for Madeleine, why?

Why were the Tapas 9 so keen to control the early stages of the investigation by writing out all of their timelines on Madeleine’s sticker book, before the Police had even arrived on the scene?

Why did the McCann’s with their limitless amounts of money coming in from generous donations, hire people who specialised in fraud and bomb disposal and who had no 'missing person' experience?

Why did the McCann’s ignore crucial Police advice by publicising Madeleine’s distinctive mark on her eye, which would almost certainly have guaranteed her immediate death and disposal? 

Why did the McCann’s make Madeleine a Ward of Court after she had vanished? Was it to prevent any details of her medical records and other information from being made public for 75 years?

Why was it necessary to hire such a large team of lawyers when Madeleine first vanished, which also included Pinochet’s infamous extradition lawyer?

Why did Kate McCann refuse to answer all of the questions put to her?

Why did the McCann’s claim to know instantly that Madeleine had been abducted, yet waited 40 minutes before first contacting the Police?

Why did the McCann’s want the investigation shelved? It was within their legal rights to ask for the enquiry to remain open, which they turned down? Why? 

Why did 3 UK Detectives deliver several files of information to the McCann’s home, shortly after they got back to the UK whilst they were still suspects?

Why did the cadaver and blood sniffer dogs Eddie and Keela, only indicate to their apartment and their car? I believe 7 properties and 10 cars were searched in total that day, but only the McCann’s apartment and car tested positive.

Why did the Home Office refuse to hand over to the Portuguese investigators details of the McCann’s bank details, credit cards and medical records? These are one of the first things any Police force obtain at the start of an investigation. So why were they refused assistance?

The British Authorities later informed the Portuguese Police that the McCann’s did not own any credit or debit cards? So how did Gerry manage to pay for his holiday?

Why were the McCann’s and their Tapas friends never seriously interrogated? Instead, during their Rogatory interviews the British Police assisted them with some of their answers, which can be clearly seen in their statements.

Why did Gerry delete all the phone calls from his mobile on the 2nd of May, the day before Madeleine disappeared and also one received from Kate on 3rd May at 23.17 p.m., just over an hour after she had raised the alarm? Neither went to search for Madeleine, so why did Kate need to call him? Where did he go?

Why did Gerry have to fly home to obtain something with Madeleine’s DNA on? Did he actually supply an accurate representation of Madeleine’s DNA to the Police? Why was there no DNA of Madeleine’s found in the apartment the night she vanished?, an apartment which she had lived in for 5 days? Not one strand of hair was found there belonging to the McCann twins either. It’s like the apartment had been scrubbed clean.

Why is the case filed under Homicide, Simulating a Crime & Hiding a Cadaver and not abduction?

How did the scent of cadaver from a dead body get on Madeleine’s Cuddlecat, a child’s red T shirt, Kate’s black/white cheque trousers and her white sleeveless top? Why only these items?

Why did Gerry have to move the position of the sofa in the lounge? The exact same sofa which was identified by the blood dog Keela, as containing minute traces of blood in 3 different positions on the back panel. The exact same sofa that Eddie the cadaver dog also identified the scent of cadaver behind. Is this just a coincidence, or is this evidence of staging?

Why did the British Government intervene and support them on an unprecedented level from day one?

Why did the British Government feel the need to appoint a spokesman Clarence Mitchell, to speak in public for the McCann’s and is still assisting them today? Has the British tax payer been paying for his services all this time?

Why are the British papers only interested in reporting on the abduction line, when there is not one shred of evidence to support this theory? In 2008, one third of the official police files was made available to the general public. Facts that every newspaper could have easily been printed without any fear of litigation. So why have they ignored all of this information?

Why was Kate so annoyed at being asked to attend the Police station in the early days to identify a little girl caught on CCTV, that was believed to be Madeleine?

Why would the McCann’s leave Madeleine in an unlocked apartment knowing she had a tendency to wake up and wander frequently at night?

Why did the British Secret Service immediately put the McCann’s under telephone surveillance and not inform the Portuguese Police?

Why would SOCA (the Serious Organised Crime Agency) get involved with a missing child?

Why did the British Police withhold a statement for at least 6 months from the Portuguese Investigators involving David Payne and Gerry McCann, over lewd allegations of paedophile behaviour as witnessed by another Doctor friend of theirs on a previous holiday?

Why was Gerry in possession of sensitive Police manuals only used by Special Police Services and Government Agencies? Who gave them to him and why?

Why did the McCann’s want Leicestershire Police heading up the investigation and not Scotland Yard? They wanted the help from the Government, but not the top Police Force, why?

~o0o~

Memories of a 4-year old...

I've tried hard to write something positive regarding this case.  The only thing I can come up with is that Madeleine appeared to be loved and cared for in the majority of the photographs we've seen of her. However, I just cant get past the itinerary that the McCann children followed on that fateful 'family holiday'.

It made me think of my own family holidays and in particular the Isle of Man, the 70s when I was the same age as Madeleine.  This was a family family holiday, my parents were most definitely there to enjoy themselves - they had worked hard and earned that break.

I was never left with anyone.  I was never left alone.  My parents holiday was my holiday too.

I remember the clippetty clop and horse smell as we travelled in the horse-drawn tram along the prom, the sunlight shimmering on the pebbles as we rowed our boat in the crystal clear sea.  Every day we collected shells and trawled the beach.  I remember laughing at my acrophobic Mother as she struggled to get past the first flight of steps up to the Laxey Wheel and screaming at my Father as I took my first horrifying donkey ride.  Eager anticipation as I looked out the window of the electric railway, as we travelled all the way to the tea-room at the top of Snaefell... and the customers shouting in unison SHUT THE DOOR as I opened it to see Manannan's cloak of mist and several sheep trying to get inside.  I remember dragging my parents again and again to the rock shop, to see the masters at work creating... sticks of rock, then insisting on visiting the bakers next door for the biggest scones ever with the plumpest yummiest raisins.  The whole place was magical and colourful... full of fairies, enchanted bridges, beautiful gardens, painted walls and gnomes peering out everywhere I looked.  To this day I still say good morning Fairies whenever I pass under a archway of trees.

And every night as I was tucked into bed, I didn't say I had the best day ever.  I said can we do it all again tomorrow.  Four year olds don't appreciate what they've had... they just want more, more, more.

To a much lesser extent, the holiday did have its disastrous moments. Thanks to stupid 4-year old me...

I was sitting at my parent's feet, making sandcastles when I saw the sunlight glint against the broken bottle.  I got up to look - I knew it was very dangerous and definitely shouldn't have been there. But I wondered just what it would feel like to stand on it...  I circled twice before plucking up the courage to put my foot down.  Luckily my Father was there to scoop me up in his arms and as he ran towards the policeman in white directing traffic, I could hear my hysterical Mother in the background. Blood everywhere... I've still got the scar.  I remember marvelling at the policeman's white gloves but I can't remember being told off, maybe I blocked that part out... as a child does.  I do remember raised voices about the dirty animal who left the bottle there in the first place...

No creche, no high tea with strangers, no time alone.  A proper family holiday.  Despite being under the watchful eye of my parents, I still got into trouble.  Four year old children have no real sense of danger, no boundaries and an absolute dogged determination.  Is there any question to why people wonder what a child could get up to being left to their own devices.  And how anyone could call it responsible parenting? I'm thankful to my parents for such great memories, I wonder what the McCann children think of theirs.

Pat Brown's Search for Madeleine McCann

Two women put pen to paper.  Same subject, same audience.

The women in question are criminal profiler Pat Brown and maternally bankrupt Kate McCann.  They are both writing about a missing child, Madeleline McCann.

Whilst Ms Brown's book promises 50% of sales will be donated to her own Madeleine search fund, the royalties from Mrs McCann's book will go to their own private search for Madeleine.  It will be added to the golden pot of the McCanns private limited company, Madeleine's fund as soon as the advance payment for the book has cleared.

Despite being something which is advertised as a totally transparent fund to search for a missing child, the Madeleine Fund : Leaving No Stone Unturned is really a mystery and the actual 'search' has always been a gaping black void to the outsider.  With the amount of well wishing donations received, it is only fair that regular updates should be provided.  There have been none.  We only hear of a name... Edgar. Bizarre sightings and McCann court actions are the only news we hear. The McCanns never physically searched Praia de Luz like any normal parent would and they've never searched since.

On the other hand and true to her word, Pat Brown has flown out on a two week visit to Portugal.  She will travel to Praia de Luz and spend the time using her professional expertise as a criminal profiler to analyse the case in situ.

Pat Brown is doing what we would dearly love to do, and something that Mr and Mrs McCann have asked... search for Madeleine.  She really does not deserve the abuse she has been subjected to by supporters of the McCanns.  I wish her every success on her trip and hope she really does turn up that missing piece of the infamous jigsaw.  If she doesn't discover anything, well at least she tried...

Two women put pen to paper.

Same subject.

Same audience.

Different aim.

*****

Pat Brown on what she hopes to accomplish in Portugal.

Follow Pat on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

*****

The McCann Writ...

I've just been going over parts of the McCann writ against Goncalo Amaral during a quiet moment, and you have to wonder if it's really just another version of the truth.  If their behaviour and appearance are anything to go by, their claims are beyond bizarre.

In the 36 page writ, the McCanns describe Sr Amaral as a 'self-obsessed, manipulative money-grabber with no morals.'  Isn't that libellous in itself?..  Just aswell he's countersuing them... in the fairness of things.

They also say accusations left them "totally destroyed" and caused them "irreparable" damage.  The McCanns give a harrowing insight into the day-to-day life in their household as they struggle to cope without Madeleine!

The writ outlines how the couple both suffer from "permanent anxiety, insomnia, lack of appetite, irritability and an indefinable fear". It also says Kate McCann is "steeped in a deep and serious depression".

Amsterdam 2011

What they are demanding...

£430,000 damages for Madeleine which will be used to continue the search for her.

£215,000 for each parent for the emotional distress the book has caused them.  They say they suffer 'permanent anxiety, insomnia, lack of appetite, irritability and an indefinable fear'.  The writ also says Kate McCann is 'steeped in a deep and serious depression'.

£86,000 for each of their twins Sean and Amelie, who could hear any allegations when they are at school.

I wonder how they came to such figures?  To equate that they, as neglectful parents are worth the same amount as their innocent child comes as no surprise though.

Goncalo Amaral's book and documentary, The Truth of the Lie, were based on the official investigation files (as verified in court by three separate judges)... any legal certificates or documentation required from the file will require the reopening of the same.  Let's hope this is positive news and the case can be reopened.

Marinho Pinto to Testify...

The chairman of the lawyer´s association Marinho Pinto will testify for the couple McCann against Gonçalo Amaral, in the civil process that Madeleine´s parents moved against the former coordinator of the directorate of PJ in Portimao, Correio da Manhã has learned.

Marinho Pinto offered himself to testify in person, against the former coordinator at the trial that was scheduled to start next week but was postponed by the judge who granted the request of the McCanns to be heard several English witnesses through video conference.

Marinho Pinto was the author of the Expresso article which highlighted the trial of Leonor Cipriano and revealed the so called photographs of abuse.  In an unprecedented move, Pinto constituted himself as assistente in the process, which allowed him not to testify or reveal his source of the photos.

In 2010, Marcos Correia publicly supported Pinto in his run for post of Chairman of the Lawyers Order.  And also in 2010, Pinto supported Isabel Duarte.  What familiar faces can we look forward to attending the Amaral v Correia/ACED trial in February, I wonder.

Pinto's daughter, Barbara worked for McCann lawyer Rogerio Alves. Alves, if you recall opposed the reopening of the enquiry after Wikileaks revealed a telegram between British and US ambassadors, discussing that the British police had presented the evidence that had led to the McCanns being made arguidos.

Getting confused by all these names and lawyers?  Well they're all there, and more... in that big can of worms.

Onto the 'several witnesses'... we can speculate all we want but I doubt it will be anyone mentioned in the police files or from Scotland Yard - not whilst their investigative review is active.

Could they be...

Family

Friends

Work colleagues

The McCanns' family and friends are well accustomed to making video appearances.  The McCann children are also mentioned on the writ - maybe the twins will be next to appear for that extra added oooooomph. Respect for the childrens' privacy in a closed court?  Va va voom...

Perhaps we'll have witnesses similar to those from the Leveson enquiry. Witnesses who stated under oath that their articles came from Portuguese contacts within the police.  Or maybe CEOP have discovered just why Jim Gamble made the unprecedented move of having operatives on the ground in Praia de Luz within 2 days.  CEOP was set up in 2006 to help find and convict paedophiles... When the Government took over in 2010, Jim Gamble resigned taking this little nugget of mystery with him.

The McCanns postponed the case... one has to wonder just why they are stalling at this late date.  And just how strong was their case without these additional witnesses.