What's gonzo up to?

Madeleine: Gonçalo Amaral Defends the Re-Opening of the Case

The ex- inspector of the PJ Gonçalo Amaral today defended the re-opening of the case into the disappearance of the English girl, Madeleine McCann in 2007 from the Algarve, as he heard that there are “hundreds of inquiries to be made”.

Gonçalo Amaral, who today attended the final allegations of the judgement on the prohibition of selling his book «Maddie - A Verdade da Mentira», observed that the case “was badly archived” leaving Kate and Gerry McCann implicated in involvement in the disappearance of their daughter.
“I feel legitimised to request the re-opening”, he said, upon leaving the Palace of Justice after the last audience in the suit brought by the parents of Madeleine, which has the main action of reclaiming the protection of rights and freedom on the part of the English family.

I don't know, Vee, I was upstairs but it seems that after his lawyers vomit statement, he left the court room to give a press conference at the court building entrance. I couldn't see much of that on the eight and ten o'clock news on RTP, because Sandra Felgueiras changed the tone of her reports (I wonder why...), and the only thing I've seen of Amaral was him 'threatning' to ask to be constituted as assistant. Don't know if he can request the reopening, which I very much doubt, but could be.

If the case is re-opened and some real evidence found, I doubt that it is going to be to Amaral's liking.

My BS radar is going like crazy here. My theory is that Amaral knows the case will not be re-opened so is trying to bignote himself by saying it should be. And if by chance it is opened, and he has offered his 'assistance', which of course would be refused, he can then try to paint himself as wanting to help but not being allowed to, as he worries just what re-opening the inquiry will show.

He has the least to gain by the case being resolved, because it will prove once and for all that Madeleine was abducted. Making him look like big fat liar and either corrupt or incompetent, to the people of Portugal.

Maria, it doesnt matter if he can or cannot request the re-opening of the case, and he has no more say in it than you do. He did it only for publicity, to try to garner support, or more appropriately popularity. He probably never expected the McCanns to want the case re-opened, as it does rather make it appear foolish to suspect them if they are instrumental in getting the investigation restarted.

I agree, Gonçalo Amaral is trying to garner popularity. I agree with Dianeh.

Sorry, Diane and Pedro, I disagree. If the process is reopened, he will ask to be constituted as prosecution assistant. And he may well be granted that, afteral he has been the inspector-coordinator, he has some 'interest' in the case. Unlike me, I do not have any links to the investigation, I'm not even a witness.

Remember, the Lawyers Order was constituted prosecution assistant in Leonor's appeal, because human rights were at stake.

He is not seeking attention, he is making veiled threats. Not saying that he is not worried though, but still counting on his influence over the judicial agents down in Algarve.

Bravo Maria

maria wrote:...
He is not seeking attention, he is making veiled threats. Not saying that he is not worried though, but still counting on his influence over the judicial agents down in Algarve.

Would anybody in their right mind allow him to become an assistant?
After the way he's handled the investigation, the way he's misinterpreted the DNA, the way he's talking about the dogs (as if they are GOD themselves), the way he's made money out of it, his conviction, the other trial, the way he's threatened people, a man who doesn't even have the decency to pay his debts?

If anything like that happens, Maria, I fear for the future of your lovely country.

maria wrote:Sorry, Diane and Pedro, I disagree. If the process is reopened, he will ask to be constituted as prosecution assistant. And he may well be granted that, afteral he has been the inspector-coordinator, he has some 'interest' in the case. Unlike me, I do not have any links to the investigation, I'm not even a witness.

Remember, the Lawyers Order was constituted prosecution assistant in Leonor's appeal, because human rights were at stake.

He is not seeking attention, he is making veiled threats. Not saying that he is not worried though, but still counting on his influence over the judicial agents down in Algarve.

Oh that's terrible. Thanks for the insight, Maria.
I can't understand how he could be given access. He was thrown off the case!

He'll likely be in jail, or bumped off, silenced, by one of his criminal associates before that happens.

vee8 wrote:He'll likely be in jail, or bumped off, silenced, by one of his criminal associates before that happens.

We can only hope.

Maria,

So can someone who has been convicted of lying or covering up a crime, or whatever it is he was convicted of (and yes I know it is still on appeal), be allowed work as a consultant on a criminal investigation.

I know in this country, he wouldnt be considered, even without the conviction.

Can you imagine the uproar if he was put on the case, then later has his conviction upheld, or loses the torture case against Leandro, or loses the libel case. No, IMO, he would not be considered as a consultant until all legal actions against him are over. Anything else leaves the PJ open to allegations of cronyism and corruption.

Just want to add, that IMO, Amaral is playing politics, and as Maria says trying to influence people. This is very dangerous, and can backfire in big ways, particularly if one eventually gets convicted of a serious crime. Friends will only help so long as their own butts are not on the line, and supporting a criminal is not something a judge or prosecutor wants to be known for. This makes it very dangerous for people to support him until after ALL his court cases are over and done with.

Just adding, that I am so glad Maria is here to give us her view. It is interesting (shocking actually) to hear that Amaral may be considered as an assistant/consultant. He obviously thinks he can be asked to do it. But I just cant see him with the support he seems to think he has, because honestly, if he gets convicted of anything else, it raises questions over any that support him. But Maria has more insight into this than I do, given that it is her own culture, and in many ways very different from the Australian culture.

I am dumbstruck, what hope has poor Madeleine got of being found if Amaral is involved again.

Maria, would the Portimao PJ also be in charge if it was reopened ?

So can someone who has been convicted of lying or covering up a crime, or whatever it is he was convicted of (and yes I know it is still on appeal), be allowed work as a consultant on a criminal investigation

This is a misunderstanding, in face of the law, Amaral is NOT(yet...) a criminal, even less a convicted one. His trial is waiting for the appeal. Then there will be another appeal no matter the outcome, Leonor may and probably will appeal (Supreme Court) and even to the Constitutional, but this last one I don't know if it counts or even if this specific process can go up to them. Only then he will be a convicted criminal, only after all the appeals. (I know you know Diane...)

But when it comes to justice, what you know is of no interest, and so it should be, I guess. Right to good name and presumption of innocence...

But what is interesting is that he is talking about constituting himself as assistant for the prosecution, at a point where the prossecution said that there were no evidences of which crime was commited and the new evidences only point to Madeleine search. So, reopening the process at this point, what type of assistance can he give the prosecutor? And why didn't he do that in first place? He could have required that long long ago. Why didn't he? Again, only if he is betting on the influence he may have over the judicial system down there in Portimão, can't see any other reason. This, if he really means it, he may also be betting on any legal reason that could be invoke to prevent him and then he could blame the 'justice system', a subject currently a hit on the news, side by side with the freedom of expression...

There are an awful lot of things that Amaral thought wouldn't happen, and then did.

Yes, I could see him trying to influence an investigation or a reopening. It could depend on how much dirt he has got on his ex colleagues, or how much they hope to cover up. He won't have been the only corrupt one of that bunch. Too many familiar names keep on coming up.

Maria

My questioning about a convicted criminal being an assistant on a case was raised because even though I know he is not considered convicted yet, it is likely at some point he will be. I would suggest that if such a thing happened, then the PJ would look positively corruption riddled if they allowed him on the case, and he were eventually convicted. Politically, I just cant see them taking such a risk.

And you last paragraph is totally correct. Amaral has nothing to contribute, and he never offered his services before (would have been refused anyway). So his offer is not about wanting to help, but has either a political or publicity (or both) motive.

Amaral knew jolly well that there would be a call for the case to be reopened. Especially after what has come out in court. He is just covering his back.

They won't let him anywhere near it. Except to question him about how he knew what was going on after he was removed. If he gets called in to answer questions, he will spin it as "Helping".

There is no way that Amaral can be let loose again on this case, after all he has a vested interest in Madeleine not being found, he has declared her dead and that is what he will try to prove.