Documented Evidence

Processos Volume II Pages 392 - 394
0
Maria Julia Serafim da Silva
5As cleaner
Date/Time: 2007/05/07 16H45
Cleaner
Portuguese

Concerning the issue of the process said:

Maria Julia S. da Silva.

Upon being asked, she states that she is a cleaner and has been working as such for around 13 years with the company 'THE OCEAN CLUB'. Her two daughters, FM and DI work with her in the same department.

Regarding her job, she points out that she is the person who is responsible for cleaning Block 5, more specifically apartments A, B, C, D, H, I, K, L, M and P, and also states that when the child disappeared only apartments A, B, D, G, H and K were occupied. She declares that she is the only employee who cleans these apartments, and has help when new customers arrive or leave. When preparing apartment A, where the Mc Cann family were to be installed, she says that she carried out the preparations with the help of her colleague DNA, on Saturday the 28th. She remembers that when preparing this apartment, she had just been notified that the apartment was to be occupied by 5 (five) people; she was unaware of children in the group. However, at the exact moment when she and her colleague DTNA were preparing the room, personnel from the company MARK WARNER entered the apartment and proceeded to place two children's beds. It was at this moment that they learned that children would be sleeping in the apartment.

When questioned, she declares that the fact a third company placed the children's beds inside the apartment is common. Also, she says that when the reservation of the apartments is in the hands of the MARK WARNER travel agency, it is this company that is responsible for placing the beds. On the other hand, when other travel agencies are involved, placing the children's beds is carried out by 'THE OCEAN CLUB' company itself.

With respect to her activities performed directly in the apartment, she declares that the last time she entered the apartment was on the Wednesday prior to the events, specifically on the 2nd of May, when she cleaned the apartment. When questioned, she declares that as opposed to what is established, on Thursday the 3rd and due to other chores, she did not have time to collect the garbage bags.

She remembers that when she entered Apartment A on the Wednesday, the parents were inside. After being duly authorized, she entered and carried out her work, because they were already on their way out. While she was in the apartment, there were no children there, and she supposed that they were in the creche. While performing her work, she remembers having noticed that the couple was sleeping in the room located opposite the entrance, where she confirmed the presence of a child's bed (crib). The room gives onto an outdoor garden by means of a terrace, as it is on the ground floor,. In the room next to the entrance to the apartment there was a bed placed next to the wall (where she supposed the missing child slept), and also the second child's bed (crib). All these beds were untidy at the time, meaning that they had been used. She also declares that in the room next to the entrance was another bed that had not been used.

On the following Friday, the day after the child disappeared, she states that due to police formalities, she did not clean apartment A.

When questioned, she declares that on the days prior to the events, she did not notice any strange element/object in the apartments she entered to clean that could have caught her attention and that could have been directly related to the disappearance.

Likewise, she declares that she did not notice any element/person behaving in a strange manner.

Finally, she declares that her work schedule begins at 1000 hours and ends at 1800 hours, after which time she returns to Lagos where she lives.

She has nothing further to say. After reading the document and finding it to be satisfactory, she signs it.

Cleaner 5a....

Maria Julia S da Silva
. This document is read, reviewed and found in conformity, and will be duly signed by me, Tony Almedia, an Inspector with this Policia Judiciaria.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Aside from the paedophile angle being introduced by team McCann as far back as the night of 3rd/4th May 2007, I ask - 'what is the source of this information about Luz and environs being awash with paedophiles, so frequently bandied about?'

When investigating the case of a missing child, of course the PJ looked into sex offenders that may have been in the area when Madeleine McCann disappeared - routine policing. At this point I venture to suggest, most of the sex offenders/paedophiles investigated were reported by members of the public. Naming of Robert Murat being one such example.

I'm guessing it could be a source close to ....

From SOCA

To: John Hughes, Leicestershire Police

Operation Task

Germany

Information has been received as the enquiry from UK Crimestoppers. It gives detailed information about a suspect in the Madeleine McCann case.

The suspect is named as a German national with the surname of M******. He has an alias of H*************. He is described as a white male 55-60 year old, 5'8" tall, muscular build, with short grey wavy hair.

He is apparently actively involved in people trafficking and paedophilia and may be known to the German authorities. He may have an associate by the name of F********.
....................

Policia Judiciaria

Interpol Office

Subject: Madeleine McCann

With reference to the above subject we are sending you a police report including Metro map that was sent to us by out unit for domestic violence and sexual aggression from the Irish police, Cork division. This report refers to a registered Irish sexual offender. Allegedly he saw the child when he was in Portugal, more information is sent in the police report in annex. These elements are to be sent to the Portuguese police force.

From Dublin
...................

Service Information

Date: 2007-08-01

To: Inspector Figueiroa, Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation

From: Inspector Teixeira

Subject: Information about missing girl

I bring to your attention that on this date at about 22.45 a phone call was received from number 21-417-94-00 made by a female who identified herself as A*** A****, a journalist with the SIC television station who said that she had received a phone call made by a female individual, who did not provide any elements of identification, saying that she has seen the missing English girl, Madeleine McCann, accompanied by J**** M*****, a doctor from Povua do Varzim, a known paedophile.

At about 23.15 the Porto DIC communicated to this police force that they had received a phone call from Jornal de Noticias, telling of a communication with the same contents, received by the newspaper.
....................

Information Report Leicestershire Police

Date 04-03-2008

Information Markers

Sexual Offences, paedophiles

Information

Intelligence suggests that a paedophile ring in Belgium made an order for a young girl 3 days before Madeleine McCann was taken. Somebody connected to this group saw Maddie took a photograph of her and sent it to Belgium.

The purchaser agreed that the girl was suitable and Maddie was taken.
...................

INFORMATION

Concerning the information in Folios 293 - 300, I can inform you that in spite having carefully explored and analysed with minute detail, nothing useful was found of interest to the investigation. In spite of the individuals mentioned having criminal pasts linked to illegal practices of a sexual nature, no relation was detected with the disappearance of the British child, Madeleine McCann.

Portimao, 2nd November 2007

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Verbal Report by Martin Grime Relating to the Searches Carried out with the Dogs in the Ocean Club Apartments
　
Transcription/Translation
　
Apartment 5 A

Ok what was done was we deployed the victim recovery dog into the apartment and by experience and the training of the dog what I first noticed is that as soon as I came in that the dog was very excited and as a handler I can pick up his body language etc and it would appear to me that as soon as he has come into the house he's picked up a scent that he recognises and he has then gone through the apartment trying to source where that scent source has come from and as he has worked through the house the only two places where he picks up enough scent to give me the bark alert are in this bedroom, in this corner where he was barking.

What we have to be able to understand in a situation such as this is in a hot climate with the apartment being closed down, the scent will build up in a particular area. If there isn't a scent source in here, i.e. a physical article where the scent is emitting from, any scent residue will collect in a particular place due to the air movement of the flat, the apartment and what I would say in this case is that there is enough scent in that area there for him to give me a bark indication but the source may not be in that cupboard, the source may well be in this room somewhere else but the air is actually pushing into that corner. But strong indication and I would say its positive for things that he is trained to find, which will be part of a separate debrief.

Moving onto the other rooms once he's found what he thinks he's looking for in this room, and we go into the bathroom and come into this bedroom he loses his interest because he's actually found the source that he was looking for, until we come over here and I think you've got it on video that when he first came in he was quite interested in the sofa but he didn't have access to the back of the sofa and when he's gone behind the sofa what I saw was that approximately in the centre of the wall where the window is, just along the tile area between the tiles and the wall, he's been scenting there a lot stronger than he has anywhere else and the when he's gone out there the second time he has decided yes that's what I'm looking for and that's when he has given me the bark indication.

What we should understand with this dog is that he only barks when he finds something, he won't bark at any other times. He won't bark at other dogs, he won't bark at strangers, he won't bark when somebody knocks on the door or anything like that. The only times I've ever known him bark since I've got him as a small puppy a) for his dinner and that's just excitement and that's one of the training methods we use to teach to bark when we want him to and when he actually finds something, he won't bark at other dogs, he won't bark at strangers, he won't bark when somebody knocks on the door or something like that, so again I would say that's a positive indication.

The second dog that we've seen work today is the crime scene dog Keela. She will only indicate to me when she has found human blood, only human blood and it is only blood and there must be something there physically for her to be able to alert to me that's she has actually found something. At this point over here where the victim recovery dog has indicated, as you saw on the video, the crime scene dog had actually given me what we call a passive indication where she freezes in this spot here which would indicate to me that there is some human blood there. She will find blood that's historically very old and she will find anybody's blood, any human blood, which is important to make sure that everybody knows.

The fact that there is other scientific methods being used may stop you recovering any DNA but if you try we'll see what happens. But she is very, very good and when she indicates there is always blood there.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This abduction hypothesis was investigated exhaustively, all information leading to this and other possibilities having been examined fully. No ransom request was made, nor were there any sufficiently consistent indications to substantiate this supposed abduction.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Date: 2007/05/08

Luisa Ana de Noronha de Azevedo Coutinho

Occupation: Receptionist

Place of work: Ocean Club

She has been a receptionist at the Garden for 1 year, but has worked there previously.

The OC Garden reception has less functions than the main reception and deals with subjects relating to activities (Pool, Tennis) etc and excursions.

She points out that the family in question came via Mark Warner and this company takes care of all relations with clients and there is practically no contact between the clients and reception.

She adds that this family (McCann), like all MW clients had half-board, that is breakfast and dinner. For dinner the guests could choose between two restaurants, the Tapas and the Millenium, the first being à la carte and the second a buffet service, clients make their choice not only because of the food but because of the proximity of the restaurant to their accommodation. She says that the guests told her that the Tapas was of better quality but that it was difficult to reserve there as a MW guest as the MW daily quota was of only 20.

In this concrete case the reasonable option was the Tapas as the distance was only 40 metres from the accommodation as opposed to 200 m from the Millenium.

She remembers that on Sunday 29th April one of the elements of the group arrived with the child Madeleine McCann, she does not know his name and can only say that he was male and tall and thin and that he approached her to request a booking for the whole group, for the whole week and always at 20.30.

When questioned, she confirms that the man was not the father of the girl but one of the members of the group whom was often seen in his company.

The man justified his request by saying that the group had many small children whom they would leave alone when they went to dine. She said that at intervals some two parents would go to the apartments to see if everything was OK.

The deponent made some comments about the request, saying that the Tapas received many requests and that MW only had a quota of 20 per day, but upon the insistence of the guest she managed to make the bookings requested.

She confirms that it was possible to see the apartment from the restaurant, including the window of the sitting room.

She does not know in which bedroom the children were sleeping but upon being informed that it was on the opposite side of the apartment she confirmed that it would be completely out of sight from anyone at the restaurant.

That the most viable solution would be to leave the children with a baby sitter, which is the procedure normally adopted by clients.

Regarding the question as to the availability of the baby sitting service between 19.30 and 23.30, she confirms that the service exists and that it is free of charge.

When questioned, she says that she does not understand, as the service is free, why the parents of Madeleine McCann did not use it.

When asked she says that the contact with this family was normal, like with other clients and describes them as "nice".

With regard to the date of the disappearance she says that she worked from 09.00 to 19.00 and only returned at 08.00 on 4th May.

It was on this day at 08.30 when she arrived that she was informed about the disappearance by colleagues.

She only knows what third parties have told her and from what she has seen in the press.

She never saw anything strange. During this interview she provided a book with the reservations for the Tapas restaurant.

No more was said, reads, ratifies and signs.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Witness statement of Tiago Rochas Barreiros 2007.05.08

Work Location: Ocean Club

That he comes to the process as a witness. He has worked at the Ocean Club (OC) resort for about two months exercising his function as Tapas Supervisor (restaurant, bar and pool) in the Ocean Club Garden.

That prior to this, he worked at the Hotel Suites Alba Resort and Spa in Albandeira beach, Carvoeiro, in the restaurant area for about one year.

As a supervisor, his functions include all the operational workings of the space known as the Tapas. His normal hours are defined by need although he does have a set work schedule.

That his work location is comprised of the restaurant, pool and bar of the Ocean Club Garden, dominated by the Tapas.

That he became aware of the situation that occurred at the OC with respect to the disappearance of a child when he arrived at the Tapas around 22H00/22H30. He was immediately informed at arriving by work colleagues.

That after finding out what happened he immediately proceeded to join some searches next to the pool and the apartment zone around the resort. He stayed in the OC until around 01H30 when he left with his girlfriend.

That he knows the family of the missing child as they were clients of the Tapas restaurant which they began frequenting the 2nd day of their arrival to the OC.

From the very beginning, a request was made to the restaurant workers to reserve a table for 20H30 until the end of the week. The request was made for a specific table given the number in the group - nine people. This group would dine daily and always arrive around 20H30. They would leave the restaurant around 00H30.

That the table they occupied is next to the Tapas bar since that table was the biggest.

This group (who would dine at the time previously mentioned) was always made up of nine adults, constituted by eight couples [I think this is an error in the document, it says "oito casais" or eight couples and should probably read four couples (quarto casais) or eight people (oito pessoas)] and an older woman. He believed that this older woman was the grandmother of the missing child. He never saw any children accompanying the nine people.

When the table was reserved, nothing was mentioned about checking on the children and the only concern was in accommodating the entire group.

That the table this group occupied was always reserved for 20H30, and where the family of the missing child, in regards to dinner, has their routine defined.

That effectively he did know the missing child's family due to the circumstances previously mentioned, but had not entered their [prior] residence. He goes daily to the family's apartment in order to bring them lunch.

That every day around 13H00, he heads to no. 4-G (where the family of the missing child is staying) and to no. 4-1 (where 10 people are lodged) to deliver lunch. He repeats this routine at 20H00 to take them dinner.

That the payment for alcohol, not included in the vacation package, was paid by credit card. This payment was made by random members of the group of nine.

According to what he remembers, the missing child's family frequented the Tapas pool where they would take their children. They would stay in the children's play area in the period between 16H45 and 17H30, at the time when babysitters would take care of the children. The babysitters are employees of Mark Warner.

That he never noticed any walkie talkies or other sound devices on top of the table occupied by the group. He only noticed that occasionally one of the nine present would get up from the table and leave for a few minutes. He did not know where they went.

The nine individuals, including the family of the missing child, were included in the half pension regime. They had the right to dinner (a menu that included starter, main course, desert and drinks as listed). All aperitifs, and after dinner drinks were paid separately using the credit card.

That generally, it was always the same people that dined in the Tapas and who were registered for dinner. A list of all the people who dined at the Tapas from the arrival of the missing child's family to 2007.05.04 has been handed over to the investigation.

That on 2007.05.03 he began work around 09H30 and finished around 17H30, when he left the resort and returned again at 22H30, as already described previously.

That on the 3rd of May, 2007, he did not notice any abnormal situation or anything out of the ordinary, nor has any comment been made to him to this effect.

That for days prior to the disappearance of the child he did not detect any suspicious situation or details that he could now offer the investigation.

And nothing more was said.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Depending on where she was seated in a vehicle with possibly large windows (Transfer coach?) it may have been possible to get a Sunburn on one arm.

If no Suncream was on her at the time, as she was travelling from the Airport to the O.C. for example? 

That trip would take about 45 - 60 minutes.

Before trying to unravel the whys and wherefores, you need to start with some semblance of truth, or even consistency, to form a basis to work on.

This has been the problem from square one, even for the PJ - there ain't none! Truth is dead!

Take for example..

Gerry McCann's witness statement - 10th May 2007

>> Relating to the events in Portugal, as already stated in his previous statements, he arrived at Faro airport on 28 April 2007 at 12h30 having travelled immediately to OCEAN CLUB in an airport mini-bus.

>> After completing the check-in at the main reception, where they were taken by the mini-bus

David Payne's rogatory interview - 11th April 2008

>> Err you know we were met by, err you know Gerry had organised err the taxi side of it err over in err Portugal, you know it had been my responsibility to sort out the Mark Warner and everything and Gerry had err had you know err paid for the flight and he'd sorted the taxis out over there.

>> Err you know the being concerned about the child seats in the taxi

>> "Yes, yeah err the, you know we, we got the, the taxi which Gerry had sorted out err you know I say we got all the baggage in err you know from the seat, the car seating we were just trying to work out what the best options and where to put the children into the taxi.

>> "Err we all arrived you know at Praia Da Luz initially in the taxi err apart from that I can't really recall.'
..................

Err ....

It's like trying to make a silk purse out of a pig's ear - only possible in the mind of the sowster.

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Plenty of choice available Crusader.
I think we can rule out the BMW though.

crusader wrote:To mention sunburn on her right arm, it must have been noticeable.

The thing is, when did she get sunburned, and why does it matter?

The McCanns and all that surround the mystique appear to be confident that the remains of Madeleine McCann will never be found.  Whatever happened, that week - 28th April to 3rd May 2007, they must have made damned sure of their actions to show such confidence for nigh on 14 years.

In my view the mention of the sunburn was window dressing, rather like the infamous coloboma that slowly but surely lost it's gravity until it became but a dot on the eyeball.

The description of Madeleine was provided for the PJ's investigation, for identification of the missing person.  Stands to reason Kate McCann would add that little personal touch for effect.

I doubt the sunburn existed.

As for the 'tennis ball' image (I'm careful not to say photograph), it's been through so many processes it's like a lump of prime filet steak put through the food processor and coming out the other end as spam!

Add to that, the compelling evidence suggests that a living Madeleine was not seen after Sunday 29th/Monday30th May 2007.  A number of incidentals have been promoted by the McCanns to indicate their daughter was alive during the week, until around 22:00H on 3rd May 2007.  There is however no evidence to prove, or even indicate that Madeleine was alive on 3rd May and proceeding days.

The reference to the sunburn (is there such a thing as a little sunburn?) could well be another attempt to place a living Madeleine at the Ocean Club during the entire week.  Hardly likely to get sun burn in Portugal at the end of April in a few hours, under cloudy skies, wearing a long sleeve top, whereas perhaps a little sunburn on the arm might be possible sitting around the poolside 5 days into the holiday


Faro airport transit bus.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Talking of suspects and witnesses (false or otherwise), which I was, 'lurkerman seems to be coming back into focus. Of course I refer to the man seen by two or three witnesses lurking around apartment 5a prior to Madeleine McCann's 'abduction', the spotty ugly one.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ?



I ask you, seriously, would a potential paedophile, burglar, thief and/or child abductor stand around the streets for hours in broad daylight, watching the target apartment?

It's not very likely is it.

I'm not doubting the witnesses, only the way their testimonies have been skewed.

Cartas Rogatorias Vol III
Page 26


Leicestershire Police Force

From: DC443 J.N. HUGHES
To: SIO, Operation Task
Department: Main Criminal Unit
Date: 16th May 2008

Ref: Background Information– Kate McCann


Dear Sirs,

In response to your letter of request, I can provide the following information regarding the above-mentioned subject.


Kate McCann was born on March 5, 1968 in Merseyside.
Her maiden name is Healy, which she still uses in her clinical practice.
She is the bearer of British passport number **************.

She lives with her husband and children at Orchard House, 5 The Crescent, Rothley, Leicestershire, LE7 7RW. The house is subject to a mortgage for the amount of GBP 323.493 with the Northern Rock bank.

There is no report or statement of bank credit cards listed in the research carried out. However I was alerted to the fact that if an individual maintains an account open with the same bank or credit card accounts for a long period of time, these details do not appear in this kind of search.

She works for the local NHS as a GP in Latham House, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. She is currently on maternity leave.

Her phone number is ******* and she has a T mobile phone number ********.
There is no record of either of her surnames on the National Police Computer.

The search reference is NE84/0053/4.

A check of the location of the crime and information system is negative.

Inquiries made of local social services are negative.

Searches made of the local section of child abuse investigation shows a registration number 19309 in CATS (system of action location). A consultation with the DC Soand from the department in question confirms that this is just a file reference, but as a complement to Operation Task system for the purpose of reference, if any investigation should be necessary by the department. No work has been done on the basis of this file.

An examination of all other police files using a search system does not reveal any information about her.

Submitted for your information
------------------

Cartas Rogatorias Vol III
Page 27

Leicestershire Police Force

From: DC443 J.N. HUGHES
To: SIO, Operation Task
Department: Main Crime Unit
Date: 16th May 2008
Refª

Subject: Background Information- Gerald McCANN


Dear Sirs

In response to your letter of request, I can provide the following information regarding the above-mentioned subject

Gerald McCann was born on June 5, 1968 in Scotland.

He is the bearer of British passport No **********.

He lives with his wife and children at Orchard House, 5 The Crescent, Rothley, Leicestershire, LE7 7RW.

The house is subject to a mortgage for the amount of GBP 323.493 with the Northern Rock Bank.

There is no report or statement of bank credit cards listed in the research carried out. However I was alerted to the fact that if an individuals maintains an open account with the same bank or a credit card for a long period of time, these details do not appear in this type of research.

He works for the NHS as a cardiologist at Glenfield hospital.

His previous address was 14 Queniborough Hall Drive, Queniborough, Leicestershire, LE7 3DZ.

His phone number is ******** and he has a mobile phone Vodafone No **********.

He is the owner of two vehicles registered in the PNC, a light blue Volkswagen Passat - R119 and a green BVV VW Touran, FM54 CXR.

No record was found in the National Police Computer. Search reference NE91/0031.

A search of the crime location and information system only indicates that Mr McCann was the victim of a theft of golf clubs from inside his car in the drive way to his home on 01/04/2006. Criminal Reference NQ/010145/06-9

A search of the local section of the child abuse shows a registration number 19309 in the CATS system. A consultation with the DC Soand from the department in question confirms that this is just a file reference, but as a complement to Operation Task system for the purpose of reference, if any investigation should be necessary by the department. No work has been done on the basis of this file.

An examination of all other police files using a search system does not reveal any information about him.

Submitted for your information.

13-Processos Volume XIII  Page 3921 to 3923
13_VOLUME_XIIIa_Page_3921
3_VOLUME_XIIIa_Page_3922
3_VOLUME_XIIIa_Page_3923

Financial summary

Gerry McCann
No record of a current bank account is held. No credit cards or loans recorded. His mortgage is with Northern Rock. No arrears or defaults recorded.

Kate McCann
No record of a current bank account is held. No credit cards or loans recorded. Her mortgage is with Northern Rock. No arrears or defaults recorded.

David Payne
Has a Barclays bank current account together with 7 credit cards and 2 loans and a mortgage with Cheltenham and Gloucester. He has no defaults or missed payments.

Fiona Payne
Has a Barclays bank current account together with 7 credit cards as a well as a loan. Her mortgage is shown as settled and she has occasional missed payments recorded on her credit card facilities.

Russell O'Brien
No records of a current bank account are held. He has 4 credit cards and no loan. His mortgage is with Halifax bank. He has no defaults or missed payments.

Jane Tanner
No records of a current bank account are held. She has 2 credit cards and no loan. Her mortgage is with Halifax bank. She has no defaults or missed payments.

Dianne Webster
No records of a current account are held. No records of a current mortgage are held. She has 3 credit cards and a mail order account. No defaults of arrears shown.

Matthew Oldfield
Has a HSBC bank account and 1 credit card. No loans recorded. He has 3 separate mortgages all with different banks but all active and no defaults or missed payments recorded. The most recent mortgage was commenced on 26-07-2007.

Rachel Manpilly
Has 2 current bank accounts, one with HSBC the second being with Barclays. She has 2 active mortgages and 1 credit card. No defaults or arrears shown. The most recent mortgage was commenced on 26-07-2007.

All persons were checked by Economic Crime Unit under the supervision of DS John Wardle. There were no concerns and no notifications or concerns by any other financial institute.

Records of current bank accounts are not automatically held. They are recorded when and if required for credit checking purposes only.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

To: The Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation, Dr Amaral

Date 27 September 2007

Information

The undersigned, accompanied by Inspectors Ramos, Ricardo, Brigantim, and Dordonnat, in compliance with superior orders, and following information related to the possible arrival in Portugal of individuals of British nationality belonging to a private company linked to various activities, mainly the gathering of information, a company called Control Risks Group, who supposedly have the objective of cleaning spaces/objects related to the McCann family, the following inquiries were carried out in order to check the truthfulness of the facts referred to in continuation:


1. With help from the Winkworth Estate Agency in Lagos, it was established that the residence occupied by the McCann couple in Rua da Flores, lot 27 - Vivenda Vista do Mar, P da L was effectively occupied by them on 02-07-2007, whilst the contract shows that the hire period began on 1st July, according to the copy of the contract we were given.

- The McCanns' departure took place on 09-09-2007 and the keys to the house were returned the following day (10-09-2007) to the Winkworth office in Lagos by an English woman named Susan who was the wife of the Anglican vicar who celebrated mass in the P da L church.

- With the help of P**** C***** from the Winkworth agency it was established that after the McCanns left the villa the agency was contacted by a female individual called M***** C++++ from ITV, who claimed she wanted to rent the villa for a few days with the aim of making some films, her request was denied.

- In contact with the owner of the villa, Mr A***** M***** of Dutch nationality he said that at the moment the villa was being occupied by some friends of his, of Dutch nationality, surname S************, the husband named R********, the wife J*****, R being the director of the Museo de Arte Antiga.

- The owner of the villa said that he had been in the villa after the departure of the McCanns and that it seemed to him that there were new plants at the bottom of the garden, without being able to indicate exactly which plants, a fact that he commented on with the gardener F**** Do S*****.

- When the gardener was contacted that in spite of the fact that he does the maintenance of the garden, he had not detected anything abnormal in it, namely the existence of new plants, saying that he had some difficulty in maintaining a dialogue with the owner, because of the language barrier.

- From the cleaner who worked in the residence occupied by the McCanns, it was found out that on the previous Monday 10-09-2007, she carried out her normal cleaning routine without noticing anything abnormal, just remarking that two or three boxes with dossiers were in the garage and which were later collected by a friend of the McCanns, Susan.

- She says that whenever she went to the house occupied by the McCanns she always found them to be accompanied by friends or family.

- On the 11-09-2007, the Dutch owners of the residence were also present at the property.

- When they (PJ) contacted Susan, they found out that she was Susan Harboard (sic) and it was confirmed that she had returned the key to the estate agency after the McCann's departure.

- During the period that the key was in her possession, it was not requested by anyone, nor does she remember seeing anything abnormal at the residence.


2. As regards the Renault Grand Scenic, number plate 59-DA-27, it was hired by Gerry from Rent a car AA. Castanheira, with offices in Lagos, on 27-05-2007 and was delivered to the McCann couple at the apartment they were occupying in P da L, from which time it was noted in the contract that a friend of the McCanns, Alexander Cameron, was noted as an additional driver.

- At a later date, at the end of August, another additional driver was added to the contract, Michael Terrence Wright.

- The return of the car to the rental agency, was done at the agency's offices on 23-09-2007 by a Caucasian individual, who appeared there alone, speaking English, about 1.80 cm tall, with short grey hair, about 60-65 years old, who signed the delivery document for the return of the car, but whose signature is illegible.

- When the car was delivered to the McCanns it had 3.114 km on the clock and when it was returned it had 14.443 km on the clock, thus 11.227 km had been travelled during the period the car was in their possession.


3. In relation to the McCanns stay at the OC, the following was checked: Date of occupation of apartment 5 A 28-04-2007 and the departure date was registered on 05-05-2007, being certain that from 04 - 05 they did not stay in the apartment. They entered apartment 4G on 04-05-2007 and left on 03-07-2007.

- After the disappearance apartment 5 A was occupied by the following individuals: 12-06-2007 - 19-06-2007 by R and F. F****** (friends of the owners), from 28-06-2007 - 12-07-2007 by SR, W & CF, 12-07-2007 to 19-07-2007 by BSP and JFP, 19-07-2007 - 26-07-07 by MMS family.


4. It was stated by Silvia Batista that on 20-09-2007, during the morning, three reporters from Sky News, two men and a woman, were seen on the patio of apartment 5 A and that they had forced the external blind to the bedroom that Madeleine had disappeared from, probably with the intention of filming inside, and she told them to leave. But she said that yesterday 25-09-2007 a security guard was asked to come to the same apartment as there was a group of three journalists - two Spanish men and a woman, who had set up cameras on the patio next to Apartment 5 A which was occupied at the time. Their identification was not noted, but given the fact they had filming equipment, they were assumed to be reporters.

- With regard to journalists, it was reported by cleaners working in the block containing apartment 5 A that they are often bothered by journalists trying to get access to the apartment, which has always been denied them, the journalists often tried to persuade them or offer money in exchange for access.


5. With regard to the possible sighting of arguido Gerry McCann next to a pink coloured block of apartments at a site opposite the Luz cemetery, we can inform you that this an establishment called 'St James Portuguesa Lda', lots 1 and 2 being situated in the positions mentioned, from the outside the spaces corresponding to Lot 1 can be seen of a total of apartment designated as follows: 101-104, 111-114, 121-124, 105-109, 115-119, 125-129.

- In Lot 2 there are some apartments with T3 typology.

- The buildings in question have 3 pavements, whose access to the different areas is visible from the outside, as they consist of an open perimeter and there are several commercial establishments at ground level.

- In view of the number of buildings and given the scarce information provided it does not seem to us to be viable, immediately, to take measures to prove or disprove the elements provided.


6. As concerns the information provided by F***** J**** with regard to a sighting of the McCanns at a residence called Vila d'Arte, in the Melody Urbanisation in Espiche, during the month of July, it was possible to determine which residence this was and that the building is the permanent residence of some citizens from NL or the UK for the past 4 or 5 years.

- As regards the sighting itself which occurred at 20.30 - 20.45 on dates that it was not possible to determine more than that this was in July of the current year and that the couple and their two youngest children were transported in small car, that the witness thought to be a dark coloured Citroen C3 or Renault Clio.

- Upon contacting the current inhabitants of the residence it was established that they were Dutch citizens who had made their reservation during the days 24-09-2007 and 29-09-2007 via the portucasa.nl website and who were from Amsterdam.

- The contract was signed through an intermediary from Winkworth who said that the McCanns never had any relationship with the residence in question because it was always let to friends or family members of the Dutch owners.

- The action of the intermediary was informal, there was no register of contracts with the occupants.

- The property is normally rented out, the owners do not live there on a permanent basis.


7. Reference is made that with some of the OC employees an attempt is made to obtain information about any strange movements surrounding the apartment initially occupied by the McCann family and we were told that apart from the journalists, they did not notice anything unusual. However, they would like to clarify that given the endless insistence on the part of these journalists, the employees did not really pay attention to details, neither did they register their identification of physical characteristics, limiting themselves to refusing access to the building and not answering any questions about the events that occurred there.

- Yesterday at 21.16 the Portimao DIC received a phone call from a security officer who worked for the OC to say that a few minutes ago somebody had forced up the shutters of the window of the bedroom Madeleine had disappeared from. The undersigned, together with two of his colleagues went to the scene, where they saw the shutter was hanging obliquely in front of the window and noted that it had been effectively forced open from the outside. However, there were no signs of anyone trying to breach the window.

- These facts were reported by the security guard.

- The guard said that the incident happened between 21.00 and 21.05, when he was making his 21.00 round of the block containing Apartment 5 A and then walked down the die of 5 A, down the road to the Baptista supermarket and then returned up the same road, returning to the surroundings of Apartment 5 A and saw that in that short space of time, someone who he cannot identify as he saw nobody around, had approached the window and forced the shutters. At about 21.06 he alerted reception and the GNR.

- Immediately before he had been talking to a colleague, opposite 5 A and 5 B and neither of them had seen anyone strange, but a few moments earlier they had seen two journalists - a man and a woman - near the bar, with logos from a Canadian media channel stuck on their camera.

- Given the scenario, as well as the way the shutter had been raised as well as the limiting factors that other people had already been at the site and there was no guarantee of its preservation, the procedure to examine for fingerprints was not activated by the Portimao DIC.

- Some trips were made to Lagos in order to attempt to identify journalists and TV stations, as well as any other persons suspected, but this activity had negative results. Signed.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

David Payne Rogatory Interview - April 2008

01:00:40 Male knocks at the door, DC MESSIAH leaves the interview room.

01:02:37 DC MESSIAH re-enters the room.
1485 "You thought we'd finished didn't you.'
Reply "I know.'

1485 "(Laughs)'
Reply "Not quite.'

1485 "Not quite, no. Not long now to go. Okay, I'm just gonna go over these, this phone issue again.'
Reply "Yeah, yeah.'

1485 "I just, there's just some areas that I've been asked to point out, or been asked to speak to you about.'
Reply "Yeah.'

1485 "Who lent you these phones that SA had organised for you''
Reply "Err I mean, S brother err is a gentleman called Nand N's wife N had got friends out in the Algarve and they were just you know basic people who were just willing to help us in whatever capacity it was, whether we wanted a room for the night or anything and they asked is there anything we can do, err whether they could do, and err and that was, you know, that was one thing we said well actually you know err Kate's phone's nearly ran out, we're sat, we don't know how long we're gonna be at the Police Station you know could, you know, can they, you know is there any way of getting phones to us just so that you know, we can, for communication. Err and err so that was, that was a capacity really err of people.'

01:04:02 1485 "And where were these phones, when did these phones arrive''
Reply "Err when did we get the phones' When we were at the Police Station, err you know as, you know I just asked whether I could just pop downstairs there was someone who's brought us phones and they said yeah, so I quickly popped downstairs, got the phones, and took them back into the Police Station. Err I can't remember if there was any power in them when we opened them up but err so then that was, you know, so the phones were just, you know because we hadn't got any other, anything there, so.'

1485 "And what phones were they' Do you remember what sort of, what make they were''
Reply "Err they were Samsung phones, err and I think they were Vodaphone SIM cards. Err the actual model, I can't tell you the Samsung phone but they were, something like the Samsung three hundred, something like that.'

1485 "Yeah, how many phones were there''
Reply "There was, there was two err and we ended up, err again, we ended up keeping one and Kate and Gerry had one, I think we gave the second one to Kate and Gerry as well after a while but we were err you know because they'd got credit put on to them so we were just using those phones rather than run up the expense of our own phones.'

1485 "Yeah.'
01:05:33 Reply "So err yeah.'

1485 "So the two phones, you've kept one and gave one to Kate and Gerry''
Reply "Kate and Gerry yeah.'

1485 "And do you have the numbers of those phones in your phone''
Reply "I don't, no, no.'

1485 "Where are these phones now''
Reply "Err as far as I am aware that they, you know, remained in Portugal, again''

1485 "With whom''
Reply "With Kate and Gerry.'

1485 "So Kate and Gerry took possession of that second phone which you had''
Reply "Well, they certainly kept the first one, the second one, the second one, sorry, no I think that's rubbish. I think I, I may well have got the, I might have got the second phone. Actually I've got a sneaky feeling when I got home I tried the UK SIM card in it and it didn't work so I could well have got the second phone.'

1485 "So is it likely that this second phone is at your home address''
Reply "Err that is a strong possibility.'

1485 "So two Samsung phones.'
Reply "Yeah, yeah.'

1485 "One is, to your knowledge, still with Kate and Gerry.'
Reply "Yeah.'
1485 "The other one you may well have at your home address.'
Reply "Yeah, yeah.'

1485 "Did you use the phones often''
Reply "Not''

1485 "In Portugal''
Reply "Not a great deal no, no, it was, it was, first of all you know we didn't have any numbers in them already and then with being a Portuguese phone you know it was just a bit more difficult so we, if we ever used them, I mean which wasn't often, we'd perhaps call Kate and Gerry using the Portuguese phone, but it wasn't a kind of religious oh we'll just use the, that Portuguese phone to err you know establish communication.'

1485 "Yeah.'
01:07:23 Reply "Err you know and the other reason that we, we had the, one of the phones is because Fiona didn't have a phone either so you know, so it's like she had the use of the other phone as well.'

1485 "Right, so out of the two of you then, who predominantly used that phone''
Reply "I'd say Fiona.'

1485 "Fiona''
Reply "Yeah.'

1485 "And has it been used since it's been in the UK''
Reply "No.'

1485 "Okay, okay.'
Reply "And I'm just trying to think you know how much, you know the, the, I can't remember you know obviously we were there for four weeks after but when the actual credit ran out, because I remember the credit running out and not being able to actually put anymore on even though it's supposed to be quite straight forward but again, you know whether that was after, you know, three weeks of being out there or whatever I can't remember.'

1485 "Yeah, how many times do you think you topped it up then''
Reply "I don't, I don't think we did, I don't think I did. I don't think I could work out how to do it to be honest.'

1485 "So when both of them arrived both of them had credit on them''
Reply "They put, I think they put, I think err I think they put forty pound credit or forty euros, you know, which seemed to last a lot longer than the amount of credit we were (inaudible) we were using our own err mobile phones.'
1485 "Just wait there a second I'll just (inaudible).'
Reply "Okay.'
01:08:40 DC MESSIAH leaves the interview room.
01:09:00 DC MESSIAH re-enters the interview room.

1485 "All done.'
Reply "Okay.'

1485 "The phone, is it likely that I could collect it when I take you home''
Reply "I can certainly have a look for it and I can give you, I mean if you, if you wanted to have my other mobile phone with all the numbers in and you know if you can access text messages on that you're welcome to have that phone.'

1485 "Okay, do you know where you'd be able to put your hand on it if you''
Reply "Err the Samsung one, again, there was a Vodaphone bag that was knocking around, and that would be where it is if err I can find it. Fiona might know.'

1485 "Okay, perhaps you could give her a call or something.'
Reply "Yeah, yeah.'

1485 "Alright then, it's now sixteen forty on this date.'

Mrs Pamela Fenns statement, taken in Praia da Luz on the 20th of August 2007:

Included in the files as a witness statement.

When questioned she said that she never saw any strange person or action before or after the event. She claims however, that a week previously she was the victim of an attempted robbery, which was not successful and neither was anything taken, thinking that the crying of the child could be linked to another attempted robbery in the residence.

A very curious comment considering more recent events concerning a certain German man, said to be a master burglar and said to have been lurking around the Ocean Club before/during/after the alleged abduction of little Madeleine McCann.

From Jane Tanners Rogatory interview

078    “I need to check the other statement you made as well, there’s a mention when we were speaking earlier that Matthew had made a comment about, oh sorry, I’ve found it, I’ve found it now.  It depends on which way you read this as to what it means, now I need to clarify with you way it was intended”?
 Reply    “Right”.

4078    “I’ll read the two paragraphs that are relevant, ‘After about fifteen to twenty minutes, her husband Russell O’BRIEN and Matthew OLDFIELD left to see the children, because all three (inaudible) was agitated and crying Russell O’BRIEN stayed in the bedroom, however Matthew OLDFIELD went to check on his children and Gerald McCANN and Kate (inaudible).  According to what you said, he saw the twins but he could not see Madeleine Beth McCANN.  ‘As he did not hear any noise, he assumed that all was well and went back to the Restaurant’.  Now do you remember if Matthew made a comment when he came back to the Tapas Bar about being only able to see the twins”?
 Reply    “No, this was afterwards, this was after we discussed it that night, so yeah, no it wasn’t then, he hadn’t made it then, it was after she’d gone missing”.

4078    “Right, so this statement reflects the comments that have been made the following day, where you’ve understood what Matthew’s involvement was”?
 Reply    “Er either the following day or that night after”.

4078    “Right”.
 Reply    “You’d, once, once we know so probably when we all got back to the apartment after we’d been, he’d been, they’d all been searching, it was probably then that (inaudible)”.

4078    “Right, so it’s not (inaudible) reason that Matthew’s come back to the table and said only, I’ve seen the twins but I couldn’t see Madeleine”?
 Reply    “No, no, no”.

In the immediate aftermath of Madeleine's disappearance Jane, Fiona and Rachael all discuss the man Jane saw carrying a child at around 21.15, now bear in mind at this point they all know Matt checked at 21.30 but they are unaware that he didn't actually set eyes on Madeleine, so why on earth would these 3 people not naturally presume that the man Jane saw couldn't possibly have been carrying Madeleine because Matt's check occurred after Jane's sighting, are we expected to believe all three of them had this ridiculous memory failure, one of whom is Matts wife. How can people not see how these people pushed Tannerman as the abducter from the very start, the whole period of 21.00-21.30 is so very clearly a fake smokescreen, it would be laughable if it wasn't so serious.

_____________________________________________________________

Topic merged with active thread. Mod

Exactly how many times in the rogatory interviews conducted in UK was there an element of 'inaudible'? 

In such a high profile case it would seem prudent to adopt a belt and bracers approach to capture every single word spoken. After all, the rogatory interviews were made on behalf of the Portuguese Authorities which was not heat of the moment procedure - and yet there was an incident IIRC where a recording had failed due to equipment malfunction. 

It's been a long time since I read the rogatory files.

One is an accident, two is a coincidence, three is a pattern. Police recording equipment, for the purposes of PACE should not fail on only on specific words that then become ""ínaudible''.
One could conclude that Leicestershire police were deliberately playing with the rogatories, obscuring risky words, like the BBC Blankety Blank game
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This feels like a Hillsborough style cover up and an instance of perverting the course of justice, as per our other thread.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

So, can we play Blankety Blank with Leicester Police?

The rogatory interviews were very informal, although conducted in an apparent official capacity - i.e. recorded and documented in the PJ files.

The rogatory interviews conducted by Leicester Constabulary, the McCanns group of friends/acquaintances were interviewed at the request of Gerry and Kate McCann's legal representation, the questions were formulated to accord with that request - in short, they were character witnesses.  The PJ capitalized on the opportunity to add a few questions of their own, although seemingly not very productive in terms of the investigation or the law.

If, a very big if, Leicester Constabulary colluded with the McCann defence team as would appear to be suggested here, wouldn't it have been easier to have insisted that the rogatory interview transcripts were classified?  That is after all the case with all other information collated by Leicester Constabulary.

Why else do you think team McCann took the matter to a court of law, demanding Leicester Constabulary make known their case detail?  

And just for the record - team McCann lost the case!

Does that really signify perverting the course justice by Leicester Constabulary?

Let's keep this real.

It's been suggested many times here on CMOMM that Leicester Constabulary are guilty of tampering with evidence - falsifying witness statements.  A very serious accusation I'm sure all will agree, especially without evidence let along proof.

The simplest solution for perverting the course of justice in an instance such as this would be for the authority, if not to classify, to destroy the evidence, the documentation that might implicate them.  Not to present before the world, or even just a foreign police force, hard copy evidence of forgery.

Seriously, it makes no sense.

Beyond doubt there is corruption within the police force, more particularly the higher echelons but they are accomplished felons, not part-time petty criminals who would make such a crass faux-pas as laying themselves open!

Who was the person or police department who first suggested cadaver dogs be sent to PdL to assist with the investigation? Somewhere I read that Gerry claimed he asked for the service. Thanks.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Topic moved.

Verdi

During the search of the Murat home, it is mentioned that Portuguese police "sniffer" dogs were used. Would these dogs have alerted to the presence of cadaver in the grounds? If not, was Eddie and Keela taken to the house/grounds to search for cadaver?

Bird131 wrote:Who was the person or police department who first suggested cadaver dogs be sent to PdL to assist with the investigation?  Somewhere I read that Gerry claimed he asked for the service. Thanks.

Hi, I think you'll find the answers you want at this link, from the Portugal PJ files (thanks to 'pamalam' for this):

  https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON-RIGATORY.htm