Fight To Ban McCann Book Enters Final Day

Fight To Ban McCanns Book Enters Final Day

1:38am UK, Wednesday February 10, 2010

Hannah Thomas-Peter, Sky News Online in Lisbon
The McCanns are set to face the final day of proceedings in their fight to uphold a ban on a book claiming they covered up the death of their daughter Madeleine.

Gerry and Kate McCann


The McCanns have always strenuously denied allegations made against them

The book, called Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, was written by the former lead investigator in the case Goncalo Amaral.

In it, he claims that Madeleine died in the McCann family's holiday apartment and the couple faked her abduction.

Today the court will hear from two witnesses who were not available during proceedings held in January.

Eduardo Dimiso from the publishers of Mr Amaral's book and Luis Froes, from the company that made a documentary based on the book's claims, will give evidence.

Lawyers for the McCanns and Mr Amaral will then make closing arguments.

A ruling on whether the existing temporary ban on the book is to be made permanent is expected by the end of this month.

Kate and Gerry McCann attended three days of hearings on this case in January.

Former Madeleine case detective Goncalo Amaral


Goncalo Amaral

They listened to witnesses called by Mr Amaral who backed up his version of events, including former police officers who questioned the McCanns' behaviour at the time of their daughter's disappearance.

Mr Amaral's lawyers have portrayed this legal action as an attack on the Portuguese constitution and freedom of speech.

The former policeman, who was removed from the Madeleine case after he criticised the British police, has vowed to take the case all the way to the European courts if he loses this fight to get his book published.

Speaking outside court at the end of last month's hearings, Kate McCann said listening to the allegations were difficult but nothing could be as bad as losing her daughter.

Madeleine was nearly four when she disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz in 2007.

Her parents were declared "arguidos" or formal suspects, in October that year, but that was lifted when the case was shelved the following summer.

The McCanns are seeking around £1m in damages for defamation from Mr Amaral in a separate case.

They strenuously deny the allegations made against them.

:: Follow live coverage of the day's proceedings in Lisbon on skynews.com

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Kate-And-Gerry-McCann-Face-Final-Day-Of-Fight-To-Ban-Book-Claiming-They-Covered-Up-Madeleines-Death/Article/201002215545831

Ruling to be delivered 18th February @ 10.30am

Set your Blackberry!!!!!

The outcome I thought was going to be confidential. The only way we would know if the McCanns have lost is if the book goes back on sale.

I cant see it being kept quiet with all the leaks and twitterers out there.

Has a date been set for the actual libel trial yet or does it depend on the outcome next week?

Surely Amaral will speak to Mr Bennett and let him know the decision?

Or he'll speak to Jo and tell her about it?

Well hopefully he'll let someone know.