"Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance"

by NickE 18.10.14 20:00

[size=40]Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance[/size]

THREE women are the key players in determining whether Scotland Yard's costly Madeleine McCann investigation will succeed or fail.

By: James Murray in Portimao
Published: Sat, October 18, 2014

"Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance" -524393

Madeleine McCann on the day she went missing [PA ]

The trio hold top positions in the Portuguese judiciary and police and all have privately vowed to do everything in their powers to discover the fate of Madeleine and bring those responsible to justice.

For the first time in years all the vital departments are working in tandem, which is a major relief to Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who heads the Yard's Operation Grange team trying to solve the seven-year riddle.

Ines Sequeira, the chief state prosecutor covering Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished in May 2007, and the one with the most power, has given the case priority status.

The 49-year-old mother of four high flier is a breath of fresh air in the department.

She has instructed her team to let nothing stand in the way of bring a successful conclusion to the investigations.

She is based in a huge office in the grand marble-clad court house in Portimao, a large coastal town some 12 miles from Luz on the Algarve.

It will be she who decides on whether to prosecute or not.

Slim and stylishly dressed Ms Sequeira trained in Lisbon, where she is believed to have met her husband, now a judge.

She was the main prosecutor in the town of Silves, 10 miles from Portimao for years, working on robberies, murders, sex offences and assaults.

A colleague said: "She quickly built up a very good reputation in Silves, particularly with her work on homicides.

"She is very precise and demands high standards.

"She can see mistakes before others realise their significance and weeds them out.

"No one was surprised she won promotion.

"She likes to work away from the spotlight, quietly and methodically in her office."

She works with Ana Paulo Rito, the criminal co-ordinator of the Policia Judiciaria in Portimao, the role once taken by Goncalo Amaral, who is now locked in a libel action with Kate and Gerry McCann over his claims that Madeleine died in apartment 5a of the Ocean Club.

"Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance" 212237

"Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance" 212237

Ines Sequeira, a new prosecutor in the Madeleine McCann case based in Portimao, Portugal [FACEBOOK ]

"Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance" 212239

"Three women who could solve riddle of Maddie’s disappearance" 212239

A legal source said: "Both women are clear thinking, driven, hard-working and utterly determined to do whatever they can to solve the case.

"They have brought fresh minds to the case and have similar character traits with no big egos and a quiet and efficient work ethic.

"They are both ambitious and career minded and they want results without cutting any corners.

"Both are quite new in their positions and they want to prove themselves and bring pride to their departments."

Ana Paula Rito, who is part of the police investigation team in the Madeleine McCann case [SOLARPIX ]

The third woman is Ms Helen Monteiro, who leads the Portuguese detectives' review of the case in Porto in the north of the country.

Work by her team has greatly helped the Yard in their efforts to finally solve Madeleine's disappearance.

Three Algarve men have been given arguido or suspect status and the Yard wants to speak to them further.

Last week there was clear evidence of the new spirit of cooperation with an unprecedented meeting about potentially case breaking DNA material from the flat where Madeleine McCann was taken.

Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

So now they are set to be examined in Britain or Portugal in the coming months.

Francisco Brizida, Portugal's leading expert in forensic science, last week told Yard officers that curtain fabric, potentially harbouring DNA samples, is also available for testing.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/524393/Three-women-solve-riddle-Maddie-s-disappearance?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-uk-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+UK+Feed%29

by plebgate 18.10.14 20:10

It's all getting very interesting again isn't it.

These three women sound like real nut breakers to me, confident and know what's what.

Rocky said truth will out if politics is kept away from it all. (along those lines anyway).

by Woofer 18.10.14 20:29

"Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

So now they are set to be examined in Britain or Portugal in the coming months."

Oh please ........... not in Britain pray2

by tiny 18.10.14 20:35

Hmmmm, Ms Sequeira
A colleague said: "She quickly built up a very good reputation in Silves, particularly with her work on homicides.

interesting

by tiny 18.10.14 20:38

Woofer wrote:"Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

So now they are set to be examined in Britain or Portugal in the coming months."

Oh please ........... not in Britain

Dont worry,this is the express reporting this

by palm tree 18.10.14 20:41

Who would these hairs belong to if they don't match the tapas or anyone else who was in the apartment?

Or, what happens if the hairs are identified as any of the tapas, cleaners or workers of OC? Then it would be interesting.
Imo

by Guest 18.10.14 20:50

Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

These hairs,where as the info of this suddenly come from,is it the Pink one talking?

by MRNOODLES 18.10.14 20:58

WMD wrote:
Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

These hairs,where as the info of this suddenly come from,is it the Pink one talking?

IMO Pinky is spinning it. But in reality it's forensic stuff that they've had all along waiting to be done with more advanced testing techniques.

by Guest 18.10.14 21:07

MRNOODLES wrote:
WMD wrote:
Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

These hairs,where as the info of this suddenly come from,is it the Pink one talking?

IMO Pinky is spinning it. But in reality it's forensic stuff that they've had all along waiting to be done with more advanced testing techniques.

So in truth there probably aren't any unmatched hairs from the apartment more like the hire car.IMO

by lufc50337 18.10.14 21:12

IMO the curtain fabric being tested is hopeful

by Guest 18.10.14 21:14

sally66 wrote:IMO the curtain fabric being tested is hopeful

Did it say which curtain,the one from the bedroom or the one behind the settee?

by MRNOODLES 18.10.14 21:19

WMD wrote:
MRNOODLES wrote:
WMD wrote:
Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

These hairs,where as the info of this suddenly come from,is it the Pink one talking?

IMO Pinky is spinning it. But in reality it's forensic stuff that they've had all along waiting to be done with more advanced testing techniques.
So in truth there probably aren't any unmatched hairs from the apartment more like the hire car.IMO

Of course I have no idea for certain. But re-testing the hire car stuff is a very good bet imo.

by **PeterMac** 18.10.14 21:56

Three women who could . . .

McCann
Tanner
Payne ?

Probably

by canada12 18.10.14 22:03

Hairs found inside the apartment have not been matched to any of the people who were known to have entered the property before or after Madeleine vanished aged nearly four in May 2007.

Cleverly put.
They could, of course, be Madeleine's hairs.
And if they match the hairs found in the car....

by Guest 18.10.14 22:05

palm tree wrote:Who would these hairs belong to if they don't match the tapas or anyone else who was in the apartment?

Or, what happens if the hairs are identified as any of the tapas, cleaners or workers of OC? Then it would be interesting.
Imo

Hairs have an irritating habit of attaching themselves to anything they can cling to. Just as well or I would have been in the divorce court years ago! If OG are hanging their expectations on something so flimsy then they may as well throw in the towel.

by lufc50337 18.10.14 23:49

WMD wrote:
sally66 wrote:IMO the curtain fabric being tested is hopeful
Did it say which curtain,the one from the bedroom or the one behind the settee?

Doesn't say, IMO the curtain from behind the sofa would be the most interesting

by Silverspeed 19.10.14 1:04

PeterMac wrote:Three women who could . . .

McCann
Tanner
Payne ?

Probably

Two dogs who probably did imo . . .
The notoriously unreliable Eddie and Keela

by Okeydokey 19.10.14 1:29

Personally I only trust Amaral.

Ever since his effective dismissal the case has been completely politicised. One way or another I think the prosecutor will have been told "we don't want to reopen the wounds with the British- just check if there is anything that has been overlooked that points to someone other than the McCanns."

by Carrry On Doctor 19.10.14 5:24

The investigation will be well ahead of what is being reported in the press. If any of the story does come from the police, then it will be what they want us to think and also to buy them more time e.g. DNA tests over the next few months.

Overall though, I am greatly encouraged by the change in personnel. They don't sound like they will be party to a whitewash.

Interesting times.

by Bishop Brennan 19.10.14 6:41

This could be read in a variety of ways. On the plus side, if these are smart women then they won't put up with any of AR's nonsense or attempted intimidation. On the other hand if they are keen to continue their rise within the police, then accommodating an 'official' line might be a smart move for them. This article may simply mark the start of the UK's (futile) attempts to influence the new team - attempts that these new players will hopefully treat with contempt.

by Guest 19.10.14 10:08

Bishop Brennan wrote:This could be read in a variety of ways. On the plus side, if these are smart women then they won't put up with any of AR's nonsense or attempted intimidation. On the other hand if they are keen to continue their rise within the police, then accommodating an 'official' line might be a smart move for them. This article may simply mark the start of the UK's (futile) attempts to influence the new team - attempts that these new players will hopefully treat with contempt.

Agree completely. Of course, the other moot point is that we don't know what the Portuguese 'official line' is. Are they 'for' justice for Madeleine, their countryman Amaral and their country's reputation or 'against'? We mustn't forget the effect this has had on tourism both in Luz, and the perception of lawlessness in the Algarve as a whole. Economically, the government stands to gain from being the conveyors of the truth.

Ahd if they can prove categorically the nuances of the truth, I don't see how the UK could not stand up and embrace it. To deny justice and and instigate a political rift between the UK and the Portuguese would be impossible under those circumstances.

If the Portuguese are brave, have the courage of their convictions and, most importantly can locate the final missing link of evidence they could bring a true end to this.

Something has prompted the apparent desperation of Redwood's team to bring those samples back to England. Forensic testing was more advanced in Europe and Portugal even seven years ago. There is absolutely no reason to bring the samples to UK labs, particularly after the apparent carelessness last time. Redwood can have no justification for insisting the new tests are performed here.

If Redwood is allowed to do so, we will have our indication of the direction of the Portuguese 'official line'.

All my own opinion based on what I have seen so far.

by ChippyM 19.10.14 11:05

palm tree wrote:Who would these hairs belong to if they don't match the tapas or anyone else who was in the apartment?

Or, what happens if the hairs are identified as any of the tapas, cleaners or workers of OC? Then it would be interesting.
Imo

I think stating the hairs are from 'a stranger' is the speculation of the media. In the Mirror , the portuguese forensics guy said this;

"Mr Brizida added: “I have the certainty they went away very happy. The tone of the meeting was about the possibility of the tests on samples collected in 2007 being re-done.
“The British police wanted clarification on the examinations the institute had carried out during the early stages of the inquiry in the areas of genetics and biology.
“We talked about non-identified material that was collected in Madeleine’s apartment.
“I can’t say for sure new DNA tests that didn’t yield a conclusive result in 2007 could now yield an objective result.''
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-dna-hope-met-4445202

by ChippyM 19.10.14 11:12

It does sound like another explanation for the hairs is that they were not able to be identified at the time in 2007 but could be now and could belong to one of the McCann group... The headlines tell us it is 'stranger DNA' though!

by jeanmonroe 19.10.14 11:34

ChippyM wrote:It does sound like another explanation for the hairs is that they were not able to be identified at the time in 2007 but could be now and could belong to one of the McCann group... The headlines tell us it is 'stranger DNA' though!

EXACTLY!

The Police 'know' through DNA 'testing' WHO was in the McCann apartment!

Themselves and their 'friends'!

So let's 'start' THERE, then!

WHY is it IMPOSSIBLE that the McCann's AND their 'friends' were not 'involved', to a greater or lesser degree, in Madeleine's 'disappearance'?

Because THEY all SAID they 'WEREN'T'?

"IT WEREN'T US GUV, 'ONEST"

Good basis on which to base a £10+million (rising DAILY by £6,778) 'investigation' on? thinking

.............NOT!

I wonder WHAT DCI Mahogany and OG ''spent' the £6,778 they 'received', yesterday, ON?

by ChippyM 19.10.14 11:41

Yes, straight from the horses mouth, "DNA tests that didn't yeild a conclusive result in 2007".

So not necessarily stranger DNA but some material that didn't give a very good result.

by Guest 19.10.14 11:44

Once again hair samples have been mentioned along with curtains,did this come from the Portuguese or is it Mitchell talking because no one is letting them know just what is being retested,I've also seen something related to a bedspread.

by ChippyM 19.10.14 12:04

WMD wrote:Once again hair samples have been mentioned along with curtains,did this come from the Portuguese or is it Mitchell talking because no one is letting them know just what is being retested,I've also seen something related to a bedspread.

I can't find where Francisco Brizida originally told 'yard officers that curtain fabric was available for testing'. The Mirror says he told them this a week earlier.....where did the Mirror get it from, was it in the Portuguese press? If it did directly come from Brizida, then that bit is not spin from Clarrie.

by Joss 19.10.14 12:28

Are we to really believe there is going to be some major breakthrough in this case after 7+ years? As long as they keep evading who the real perps in this case probably are i think we'll just hear crickets...
But just in case i have my crow pie at the ready, :iconbiggrin:

by Guest 19.10.14 12:33

Detectives hope advances in new technology will help them nail her abductor, as they re-test 30 strands of hair and other samples locked away for seven years in Portugal.

Francisco Brizida, president of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, where the DNA is being held, said: “Technology now allows us to go further than years ago in areas like genetic markers.

Mr Brizida added: “I have the certainty they went away very happy. The tone of the meeting was about the possibility of the tests on samples collected in 2007 being re-done.

“I can’t say for sure new DNA tests that didn’t yield a conclusive result in 2007 could now yield an objective result.

Now, the expert categorically states these are retests of results that were previously inconclusive. He states they are now able to be more accurate around the area of genetic markers.

Remind me again, whch tests proved only 80% that samples were Madeleine's due to the number of markers from different people?

by Guest 19.10.14 13:24

Dee Coy wrote:Detectives hope advances in new technology will help them nail her abductor, as they re-test 30 strands of hair and other samples locked away for seven years in Portugal.

Francisco Brizida, president of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, where the DNA is being held, said: “Technology now allows us to go further than years ago in areas like genetic markers.

Mr Brizida added: “I have the certainty they went away very happy. The tone of the meeting was about the possibility of the tests on samples collected in 2007 being re-done.

“I can’t say for sure new DNA tests that didn’t yield a conclusive result in 2007 could now yield an objective result.

Now, the expert categorically states these are retests of results that were previously inconclusive. He states they are now able to be more accurate around the area of genetic markers.

Remind me again, whch tests proved only 80% that samples were Madeleine's due to the number of markers from different people?

I wonder who is the more pleased that there is now an advance in technologies in testing,Amaral or McCanns.