Hoax Kidnap Team to Probe Maddie's Disappearance - The Star 18.2.2010

by Autumn 18.03.10 12:52

Article in today's Star newspaper:

By Jerry Lawton

THE police team who found hoax kidnap victim Shannon Matthews are to probe Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) will study Portuguese police files.

Madeleine’s doctor parents Kate and Gerry, both 41, are said to be “delighted’’ at the move. It follows a meeting with Home Secretary Alan Johnson at which they begged him to relaunch the official search for their daughter.

He asked the Child Exploit-ation Centre And Online Protection Centre to appoint a new investigating force.

They have called in HMET, whose officers found Shannon, then aged nine, alive 24 days after she vanished in Dewsbury, West Yorks, in February 2008.

Detectives worked out her disappearance was a plot to claim reward money dreamed up by her mum Karen, 34, and stepdad’s uncle Michael Donovan, 40, who were jailed for eight years Portuguese and British police forces have been at odds since Madeleine vanished from her family’s Algarve holiday apartment in May 2007, days before her fourth birthday.

A source told the Daily Star: “It’s hoped we can clear the decks and start over again.”

The case was archived as unsolved in July 2008, and the McCanns, of Rothley, Leics, have had to hire private detectives to search for her.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/126788

by justagrannynow 1 18.03.10 12:56

Thanks for that Autumn. Wonder what they mean by " probe" ?

It is to be hoped West Yorkshire police study all the PJ files, not just the rubbish sightings which have recently been released.

by littlepixie 18.03.10 13:53

They were supposedly "delighted" and "excited" when Eddie and the gang arrived to take forensics in PDL.

Lets see what happens if this "probe" takes place.

by Pascal 18.03.10 14:00

Why would the West Yorkshire Police be investigating a crime that happened in Portugal?

thinking

by Pascal 18.03.10 14:01

...'clear the decks'? what decks? What, start all over again? How?

by listener 18.03.10 15:04

You couldn't make it up - well the good old Daily Star can, and does on a daily basis!

by Guest 18.03.10 15:22

"the police team who found Shannon Matthews"

I thoought a member of the public gave them a tip as to where she was. THEY didn't really FIND her did they?

by aiyoyo 18.03.10 15:56

West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) will study Portuguese police files.

That word jumps out.

by aiyoyo 18.03.10 16:01

'delighted' they said......pee in their pants more like.

No scotland yard, not a few entities making up the review committee...
not consulted and approved by Portugal. Doesnt look as if taken seriously at all by the HO.

Is something else going on? The mccanns is too arrogant to recognise .....

On verra.