MCCANNS WILL MISS COP’S TRIAL

by **sharonl** 09.09.12 6:52

MCCANNS WILL MISS COP’S TRIAL

THE parents of Madeleine McCann will avoid a showdown with a former police chief who wrongly claimed they lied about their daughter’s disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann are hoping to win a £1million libel payout from disgraced Goncalo Amaral, who they say has made their life hell.

But the McCanns, both 44, are staying away from this week’s trial in the Portuguese capital Lisbon.

Mr Amaral, 55, is attending the four-day hearing, which is scheduled to start on Thursday.

Kate and Gerry branded the ex-officer “poisonous” for claiming in a once-banned book that Maddie is dead and that they lied about her disappearance.

Their daughter vanished in Praia da Luz, Portugal, five years ago, aged three.

The McCanns’ lawyer Isabel Duarte said yesterday: “Kate and Gerry are not needed in Portugal for the trial.”

She said they were confident of victory, adding: “We reasonably expect compensation for the dreadful damages this book has brought the family.”

Any payout will be spent entirely on the continuing global search for Maddie, the couple said.

Mr Amaral led the bungled investigation but was sacked for criticising British police.

Kate wrote in her 2011 book Madeleine: “That man has caused us so much upset and anger.”

by uppatoffee 09.09.12 8:13

This is from today's Daily Star. Interesting to see they have banned comments on this article and have just ascribed it to "Daily Star Reporter." No one willing to put their name to it? big grin

How are they allowed to say "who wrongly claimed?" they have not been found innocent.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/271373/McCanns-will-miss-cop-s-trial/

by jimuck 09.09.12 10:24

Mr & Mrs McCann & their friends have been terrified of Mr Amaral from day one. They are terrified because Mr Amaral knows the truth. I believe his wife has also worked out what lies at the heart of this missing child.

“My husband and I have never abandoned our daughters, or allowed paedophiles in our circle of friends. I am shocked that a couple who affirm to be religious is seeking out to destroy our family”, said Sofia Leal"

"Paedophiles" ..that sounds to me more than one !

by Smokeandmirrors 09.09.12 15:19

Funny how the gruesome twosome can turn up abroad to promote Kates novel, but not attend a court case. What if Goncalo's defence necessitates asking the McCann's a question? How does that work? They are terrified of going into a courtroom, they'd either get caught out or get done for perjury.

by pauline 09.09.12 16:23

Smokeandmirrors wrote:Funny how the gruesome twosome can turn up abroad to promote Kates novel, but not attend a court case. What if Goncalo's defence necessitates asking the McCann's a question? How does that work? They are terrified of going into a courtroom, they'd either get caught out or get done for perjury.

exactly!

they claim they live in a permanant state of anxiety, insomnia blah blah blah due to Amaral. Now if they lived quietly at home, never going out they could say they were too ill/stressed to travel but since they've junketed world wide since Maddie vanished, this argument won't hold up. of course they need to be cross examined by Amaral's team. Does anyone know if under Portuguese law in this kind of case the Mccanns can be compelled to attend and give evidence?

by nospinnaker 09.09.12 16:55

Interesting use of the word 'avoid' in that piece.

I'm rather surprised that we haven't heard that they pair just can't bear the thought of coming face to face with Dr Amaral. Instead they're just 'avoiding' the court.

by ProfessorPPlum 09.09.12 16:59

What I find disgusting about the Daily Star piece is that they presume that because Amaral is under the McCann cosh at the moment this frees them to libel him with impugnity. After all, he won't have much spare energy (or cash) at the moment for bringing an action against the paper will he?

I hope the Daily Star pays heavily for their libel against Goncalo Amaral and their support of the McCanns

by pauline 09.09.12 17:36

Surely Professor Plum the headline is libellous as well as the parts of the article you highlight?

People read headlines and often read on.

The headline is 'McCanns will miss cops trial'

Now the cop (Amaral) is not on trial and the use of the word 'trial' has connotations of guilt. Surely this is just a highly contested libel case brought by the McCanns who have lost the last two rounds. the Portuguese state has not put Sr Amaral 'on trial.'

Also, the use of the word 'miss' implies there is a good reason why they cannot be there like ill health or an important prior commitment.

headlines need to attract readers to the article but should not be misleading or inaccurate.

What about

McCanns chose to miss Maddy book libel case appeal hearing

Its McCanns v Amaral round 3

McCanns hope to reverse verdicts in last two libel hearings

Can forum members suggest accurate but entertaining headlines for this tabloid article?

by ShuBob 09.09.12 17:50

pauline wrote:
Smokeandmirrors wrote:Funny how the gruesome twosome can turn up abroad to promote Kates novel, but not attend a court case. What if Goncalo's defence necessitates asking the McCann's a question? How does that work? They are terrified of going into a courtroom, they'd either get caught out or get done for perjury.

exactly!

they claim they live in a permanant state of anxiety, insomnia blah blah blah due to Amaral. Now if they lived quietly at home, never going out they could say they were too ill/stressed to travel but since they've junketed world wide since Maddie vanished, this argument won't hold up. of course they need to be cross examined by Amaral's team. Does anyone know if under Portuguese law in this kind of case the Mccanns can be compelled to attend and give evidence?

According to those who claim knowledge of Portuguese libel law, neither Amaral nor the McCanns are compelled to attend the trial. Their legal counsel can sort it out on their behalf. I do find that quite bizarre but if that's the law, one has to accept it.