Madeleine McCann detectives set to quiz key witnesses again

EXCLUSIVE: Madeleine McCann detectives set to quiz key witnesses again

MADELEINE McCANN detectives are planning to requestion key figures who arrived on the scene shortly after the three-year-old disappeared.

Published: 00:01, Sun, November 30, 2014
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Detectives have key questions for witnesses to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann
The Scotland Yard officers have analysed minutely events which happened just before, during and immediately after Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007 and appear to be seeking new information and clarification from important witnesses.



Among those scheduled for requestioning is Silvia Batista, who ran the service and maintenance departments of the Ocean Club at Praia da Luz on the Algarve where the McCanns were staying.



Shortly after the alarm was raised, Mrs Batista was contacted at her home in nearby Lagos and immediately went back to work.



When she arrived at a reception area she saw Madeleine's father Gerry on his knees on the floor crying out for help and banging his hands on the floor.



A few minutues later she entered the bedroom at apartment 5a and said that the shutters were down, the windows closed and the curtains slightly open.



Kate McCann has said that when she arrived to find Madeleine gone, the shutters were partly open in the bedroom, leading her to believe that Madeleine had been taken through the window. 



What happened to the shutters "jemmied" story?



In her statement Mrs Batista said Gerry told her he had closed the windows as their other two children, Sean and Amelie, then 18 months, were still asleep in separate cots in the bedroom.  (common sense would have told him to move the twins, not alter the crime scene)



Mrs Batista, a former receptionist at the Ocean Club, worked closely with her husband Joao, who was head of maintenance and services.



In the past year both were made redundant because of falling bookings at the Ocean Club, which have been blamed on the recession and publicity surrounding Madeleine's disappearance.



Another facing requestioning is John Hill, manager of the Ocean Club.



When he arrived at the club after receiving a call at 10.28pm from a colleague, some 100 people were already searching for Madeleine.



He also spoke with Kate and Gerry that night in their apartment and helped arrange for photos of the child to be distributed.



Mr Hill and his wife Donna printed pictures after being given a memory stick by Russell O'Brien, a friend of the McCanns whose partner Jane Tanner's picture of Madeleine gathering tennis balls is well known.

saw the weird guy and we nearly bumped into each other. He was embarrassed. He was nervous.
Mario Fernando's witness remarks

Donna Hill (responsible for the nannies)  is likely to be requestioned early in the New Year.



Scotland Yard detectives are also interested in claims that a set of keys to apartment 5a, kept in the maintenance section, went missing in the week that Madeleine vanished, (really?) first revealed by the Sunday Express last February when we reported that a former maintenance worker said the disappearance of the keys had not been reported to the authorities. (ah, evidence from the Sunday Express but not official  evidence)



Detectives also want their Portuguese counterparts to interview Mario Fernando, 47, who came forward last May to say he saw a suspicious man wearing sun glasses (at night? and he is supposed to have found & kidnapped a child, in the dark) in a stairwell looking at apartment 5a 24 hours before Madeleine disappeared. The former Ocean Club laundryman was collecting sheets when he saw the man: "I saw the weird guy and we nearly bumped into each other. (remind me, wasn't there a laundry shute which led to the stairwell?)



"He was embarrassed. He was nervous. He was walking out from the hole under the stairs and must have been much further inside but had taken several steps back after hearing me coming.



"He had a really fat face and had two-tone sunglasses on."



Last week it was revealed that Robert Murat was one of those on the Yard's list of people it wants more information from.

Mr Murat told the Sunday Express he would be happy to cooperate but has not received anything official yet from the authorities.



Portuguese police have to conduct the interviews but Scotland Yard officers can sit in during questioning. Some interviews were due to be held last week but they now look likely to be held in the New Year.



Former Scotland Yard murder detective Peter Bleksley said that this next stage of the investigation was a "logical progression" for the police.



"I would think that they have been concentrating on the timeline (good idea - also look at the period April 29 to May 2nd) in the review period and they have may have come across some  (numerous) inconsistencies which they want to look into," he said. "That would be my thinking on this.



"They will want to know who was where, (well, Gerry, Jez wilkins and Jane Tanner were outside the apartment) who saw what and at what time and try to work through the inconsistencies (good luck to them in sorting that out - first they will need truthful statements) while at the same time seeking new information.



"Going back to square one (good move) will have formed a big part of the original review which has now moved into the investigative stage (only now, what on earth have they been doing?).  It is a logical progression."





Clearly, if the MET, as they have stated (according to the press) that Madeleine is dead, then the objective of Operation Grange is not to find Madeleine.  So, what is £10million of taxpayer funds being spent on?

It's time for Murat, Hill and Batista to be interviewed,should we believe that the Tapas Gang and the McCann's is next?

So they are going to question people who arrived after Madeleine disappeared? Great logic guys! Just think how many variations you can spin that one out to, until you get to 'people who have never been to Portugal in their lives' - just a few billion there to get through, but I'm sure it will keep you occupied for the next few centuries. I think you'd be a lot better off questioning a group of 9 people who were in Portugal on the very evening of the disappearance, and were so close to the scene of the incident, it was 'just like being in your back garden' but I know you never will! In my opinion.

Snipped from The Guardian May 4, 2007
(Kate & Gerry claimed abduction)

 "The manager at the Mark Warner resort, John Hill, said there was no definite physical evidence that the girl had been abducted. "It's still questionable as to whether it's an abduction," he said".

Hill went even further
"John Hill - Mr Hill said that despite the report by a family friend that the shutters to
the couple's apartment were broken, there was no sign that anyone had forced
their way in while the McCanns ate at the tapas restaurant 200 yards away.
"It's still questionable as to whether it's abduction,"
Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa, spokesman for the investigation, later confided in
British former Chief Inspector Albert Kirby that neither the windows nor their
shutters had been tampered with.
Mr Kirby told The Mail on Sunday: "
I had a very interesting chat with the officer in charge. The window shutters are
not an issue. Their mechanism makes them almost impossible to open. The
door was left unlocked. They did that every night.”
Photos exist of the forensic scientist from the PJ examining the shutters. It is clear
that the shutters are in perfect condition."

Montclair wrote:Clearly, if the MET, as they have stated (according to the press) that Madeleine is dead, then the objective of Operation Grange is not to find Madeleine.  So, what is £10million of taxpayer funds being spent on?




I suppose that SY is trying to find out who is responsible for her death. IMO, they are, through elimination, getting closer and closer to a certain white couple between 20 and 40 years of age.

Going by the latest development ie the re-interviewing of first few witnesses at the crime scene, it's quite clear SY is progressing closer to the pair of white middle-class and middle-age couple.

aiyoyo wrote:

Montclair wrote:Clearly, if the MET, as they have stated (according to the press) that Madeleine is dead, then the objective of Operation Grange is not to find Madeleine.  So, what is £10million of taxpayer funds being spent on?




I suppose that SY is trying to find out who is responsible for her death. IMO, they are, through elimination, getting closer and closer to a certain white couple between 20 and 40 years of age.

Going by the latest development ie the re-interviewing of first few witnesses at the crime scene, it's quite clear SY is progressing closer to the pair of white middle-class and middle-age couple.

Yes, I agree.
But what bothers me is that police must have 100% watertight proof that reach all the way.
Something that binds the person/persons to the possible crime.
Or do Scotland Yard hope that some or someone will be under pressure at the end of the investigation that someone confesses to the possible crime?

martinbrunt
‏@skymartinbrunt
#Madeleine Final legal arguments in the McCann £1m libel trial over ex-cop's book in Lisbon next week. Verdict expected in February.

aiyoyo wrote:

Montclair wrote:Clearly, if the MET, as they have stated (according to the press) that Madeleine is dead, then the objective of Operation Grange is not to find Madeleine.  So, what is £10million of taxpayer funds being spent on?




I suppose that SY is trying to find out who is responsible for her death. IMO, they are, through elimination, getting closer and closer to a certain white couple between 20 and 40 years of age.

Going by the latest development ie the re-interviewing of first few witnesses at the crime scene, it's quite clear SY is progressing closer to the pair of white middle-class and middle-age couple.

Maybe it is not a coincidence that the trial is next week so now too the questioning will begin then.  Maybe a certain white couple will be questioned while in Portugal?

Correio da Manha 02/12/2014 03:49
British investigating the disappearance of Maddie return to the Algarve next week  
Maddie Case: British are 253 questions British police asked PJ to ask the prime suspects were killed Maddie. By Rui Gomes Pando All eleven people considered of interest in the British investigation of the case Madeleine McCann will be heard as witnesses. The interrogations will happen next week, but the CM found that, any of the interrogated may be made ​​defendant in the middle of inquiry. British police suggested a list of 253 questions to be asked by PJ at eleven people, including Robert Murat, the first investigation of the accused developed by the Portuguese authorities. Among the questions suggested by the Scotland Yard are direct questions about the authorship of the death of the British child who disappeared in Praia da Luz in Lagos, May 3, 2007, and where the body was hidden. The most incriminating questions will only be made ​​to people who believe that the British had intervention in the disappearance of Maddie. The interrogations, as the CM reported, were scheduled for the last week of November. However, a legal limbo on the establishment of accused suspects forced the cancellation of inquiries, requested through the fifth letter of request of the British authorities. Seven people were going to be heard as defendants and four as witnesses. The problem is that the defendants are not required to answer all questions and may have to give him a lawyer. The question was posed to the new prosecutor of the Public Ministry of Portimão, Inês Sequeira, who decided that all will be heard as witnesses. If incriminating aspects are found, the questioning as a witness is suspended and any of the people can be made ​​immediately defendant, having knowledge of new rights. The proceedings will be held at the premises of the Judicial Police in Faro. 

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I am certain this will be one of the Mets, greatest achievements in Modern Day UK.

NickE wrote:Correio da Manha 02/12/2014 03:49
British investigating the disappearance of Maddie return to the Algarve next week  
........ the new prosecutor of the Public Ministry of Portimão, Inês Sequeira, (who) decided that all will be heard as witnesses. If incriminating aspects are found, the questioning as a witness is suspended and any of the people can be made ​​immediately defendant, having knowledge of new rights. The proceedings will be held at the premises of the Judicial Police in Faro. 

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Sounds sensible.  

Same as in the UK - if you're being interviewed by the police as a witness and then the line of questioning leads to a point where you may incriminate yourself, then the interview is suspended and you're re-interviewed under caution, with all the rights that that entails (solicitor present, right to remain silent etc.)


Personally I still have very little faith in SY and think the whole thing is one enormous cover-up.

NickE wrote:It's time for Murat, Hill and Batista to be interviewed,should we believe that the Tapas Gang and the McCann's is next?

It seems those three names you listed will be re-interviewed.....interesting times ahead me thinks.
Not new suspects/POI or any random itinerary oddball but people who'd already given their statements that needs to be questioned again.  
That must say something about SY's direction I think ie they cant be looking for burglators suspected of loitering around pre-abduction (phone forensic and what not) but these are people actually on the scene post-abduction.


The net is closing in...on those two.....?  We can hope......

It's got to be aiyoyo, in the last few days all,articles have referred to a dead/killed Madeleine, ergo the dogs and all alerts made by Eddie and Keela were right.

Tell me again whose belongings and apartment did they alert to?

No going back now, the net is closing in on the McScams.

NickE wrote:Correio da Manha 02/12/2014 03:49
British investigating the disappearance of Maddie return to the Algarve next week  
Maddie Case: British are 253 questions British police asked PJ to ask the prime suspects were killed Maddie. By Rui Gomes Pando All eleven people considered of interest in the British investigation of the case Madeleine McCann will be heard as witnesses. The interrogations will happen next week, but the CM found that, any of the interrogated may be made ​​defendant in the middle of inquiry. British police suggested a list of 253 questions to be asked by PJ at eleven people, including Robert Murat, the first investigation of the accused developed by the Portuguese authorities. Among the questions suggested by the Scotland Yard are direct questions about the authorship of the death of the British child who disappeared in Praia da Luz in Lagos, May 3, 2007, and where the body was hidden. The most incriminating questions will only be made ​​to people who believe that the British had intervention in the disappearance of Maddie. The interrogations, as the CM reported, were scheduled for the last week of November. However, a legal limbo on the establishment of accused suspects forced the cancellation of inquiries, requested through the fifth letter of request of the British authorities. Seven people were going to be heard as defendants and four as witnesses. The problem is that the defendants are not required to answer all questions and may have to give him a lawyer. The question was posed to the new prosecutor of the Public Ministry of Portimão, Inês Sequeira, who decided that all will be heard as witnesses. If incriminating aspects are found, the questioning as a witness is suspended and any of the people can be made ​​immediately defendant, having knowledge of new rights. The proceedings will be held at the premises of the Judicial Police in Faro. 

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Eleven people? 

How about the tapas 9 plus Jez Wilkins and Robert Murat?

1. Gerry McCann - Former arguido. Madeleine's father, allegedly the last person to see her alive at around 9pm on Thursday 3rd May.
2. Kate McCann - Former arguido. Madeleine's mother, allegedly last saw her alive at her bed-time of around 7.15pm on Thursday. Kate allegedly discovered Madeleine missing from her bed at around 10pm.
3. David Payne - allegedly saw Madeleine alive at around 6.30pm on Thursday when he went round to the McCann's apartment apartment and Kate had just had a shower and was wearing only a towel.
4. Matt Oldfield - allegedly looked into the McCann children's bedroom at around 9.30pm and allegedly saw the twins breathing.
5. Russell O'Brien - allegedly chatted to  Kate and another holiday maker (with a video recorder) about paedophiles on Thursday morning on the grassy play area near the tennis court, as Kate watched Gerry play tennis. Kate had just finished her tennis lesson, allegedly.
6. Jane Tanner - allegedly saw Madeleine's abductor taking her away at 9.15pm.
7. Rachael Oldfield - in the apartment next door to the McCanns.
8. Fiona Payne - mother of Ella, who was an old  friend of Madeleine's and they became 'great pals' on the holiday, not having seen each other for several months.
9. Dianne Webster, Fiona Payne's mother. Was at the dinner table, as were all the Tapas 9, at the time of the alleged abduction. Was left sitting at the table alone after Kate raised the alarm.
10. Jez Wilkins - TV documentary maker who was on holiday that week with his wife journalist Bridget O'Donnell and their two children. Allegedly pumped into Gerry McCann outside apartment 5A on Thursday evening at around 9. 05pm, just after Gerry had done his 9pm check on Madeleine and allegedly found her sleeping peacefully. Jez had been pushing his pram around the resort to try to get his baby to sleep.
11. Robert Murat - Former arguido. Several members of the Tapas group and several other holiday-makers claimed they saw him near apartment 5A at important times on Thursday evening. He denies having been there and says he was at home with his mother, Jennifer.

margaret wrote:It's got to be aiyoyo, in the last few days all,articles have referred to a dead/killed Madeleine, ergo the dogs and all alerts made by Eddie and Keela were right.

 
Dead/killed as in Murdered? 
Ya, I think they're focusing on that.  Certainly one of the possibilities.  Even BHH recklessly used the word. 

We know they were never looking for an alive Maddie going by their snail pace of work - no sense of hurry nor sense of urgency, so an alive child can be ruled out.

They'd Murder Squad on the team from the Go.
They busted M3 Office.
They interviewed some local society outcasts.
They deployed dogs and did a massive dig.
They are about to reinterview key witnesses.

All not signs of looking for a alive child or a stranger abductor.

They did not chase up any sightings.  In fact there was no sighting post OG.
There were no reports of foreigner/s in foreign country being investigated or followed up.
There were no reports of real imminent arrest of a burglator or stranger abductor.

It is possible that "Madeleine may still be alive or sadly dead" was a good starting utterance after all, as that was made to appear objective.

Her parents are the only ones insisting she may be alive unless they see the body.
Realistic ?  No, of course NOT.  
They have more hope of seeing the inside of Court then seeing Madeleine home.

Ines sequira deciding they will all be heard as witnesses......so the papers constantly stating they were interviewing people as suspects was all spin or speculation as usual.

  Maybe SY really are genuinely 'drawing things back to zero'.

I think it might also be worth remembering those video interviews the PJ took - the evidence for the future - still exist don't they?

aquila wrote:I think it might also be worth remembering those video interviews the PJ took - the evidence for the future - still exist don't they?

Those will be good for re-view the body language of the interviewees if nothing else, since the transcripts would have been done and on file.