Madeleine McCann Missing-Praia Da Luz, Portugal 3/05/07 #1

[Rob]

FOX NEWS REPORT THAT THE PARENTS OF MADELEINE RELEASED THE COMPOSITE SKETCH. NOT THE PLE OR PJ.

[MuffyBee]

FOX NEWS REPORT THAT THE PARENTS OF MADELEINE RELEASED THE COMPOSITE SKETCH. NOT THE PLE OR PJ.

Revealed: The police e-fit of Madeleine's abductor that's 'nothing more than an egg with a side parting'
By NEIL SEARS and SAM GREENHILL - More by this author » Last updated at 08:32am on 10th May 2007
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=453724&in_page_id=1770
Comments Comments (3)
This bizarre sketch captures why the police investigation into the abduction of Madeleine McCann has been so savagely condemned.

Officers have not released any photofit or artist's impression of the suspected abductor.

But they have, apparently, shown a sketch like this to residents in Praia da Luz.
This bizarre sketch captures why the police investigation into the abduction of Madeleine McCann has been so savagely condemned.

Officers have not released any photofit or artist's impression of the suspected abductor.

But they have, apparently, shown a sketch like this to residents in Praia da Luz.

One of them was Simon Russell, 40, runs a video store and Internet cafe in the former fishing village.

"I smiled when they showed it to me. What else could you do?" he said.

He said the sketch was so simple it was easy for him to recreate, and it is Mr Russell's drawing that is used here.

He described it as looking like "an egg with a side parting".

The fact that such a virtually useless image is being used underlines claims that the Portuguese police are getting increasingly desperate.

"They have got absolutely nothing and are following up lines of inquiry which are barely credible," said a British police source familiar with the inquiry.

Last night there were signs of tension between the Portuguese police and the British specialists who have flown out to help them.

The local force accepted an offer for two "Cracker"-style experts from the UK's Child Exploitation On Line Protection Centre to assist with the investigation.

They arrived on Tuesday but a source close to the Portuguese detective leading the hunt said: "The British specialists aren't being received very well by the Judicial Police.

"There is quite a bit of friction there. The English guys have come out to make profiles of the kidnapper but the Portuguese officers are not entirely happy with the way their investigation is being taken over.'"

Various Portuguese papers, quoting anonymous police sources, have referred to a variety of suspects police are said to be interested in.

One is said to be a man believed to be Portuguese or Brazilian with thick dark hair and a side parting, wearing a dark jacket and white trousers.

Another is of a man thought to be northern European of about 6ft tall, medium built with a dark tan and a centre parting - and said to have been seen repeatedly using a public phone box in Praia da Luz shortly before Madeleine disappeared.

But no photofits or e-fits have been published by the police, on the grounds it is against Portuguese law to reveal any information about their inquiry.

There were also claims last night that Portugal's Judicial Police, the equivalent of Britain's CID, even held back from showing images of suspects to uniformed officers in the region.

A uniformed police source said he and his colleagues were not allowed to see sketches of suspects until Monday - four days after Madeleine's disappearance.

The source told a paper that he felt it was extremely counterproductive to have that portrait and not to pass it to other police forces or even publish it more widely.

"It is time to set aside petty pride and rivalry between police forces,! he is quoted as saying.

Police claim they have examined 500 apartments in the area, followed up 350 different leads, interviewed 100 people and taken hundreds more calls since Madeleine disappeared - but there has not been a single positive sighting and there is no evidence that officers have a clear suspect in mind.
(snipped)
Here is a link to the initial sketch: 

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/EfitPortugalPA_468x574.jpg
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Here is something early on about Jane Tanner's sighting:
Madeleine: Spotlight is back on the 'Tapas Nine'
Last updated at 17:54pm on 18th September 2007

[MuffyBee]

Darn, I hit "post" before I was ready:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=482391&in_page_id=1770
A key witness in the Madeleine case is at the centre of a critical new look at what happened the night she disappeared.

Jane Tanner - who told police she saw a man carrying away a child in a blanket - could be interviewed again by police to test what detectives describe as "contradictions and inconsistencies" in sworn statements from the so-called Tapas Nine.

The nine, which includes Kate and Gerry McCann, formed a dinner party that night at the tapas restaurant in the grounds of the Algarve holiday complex.
Portuguese police claimed to want to break a "pact of silence" among the group. The friends deny any such pact exists.

Miss Tanner, 37, is said to have arrived late at the table on the night of May 3, saying she was attending to her sick child.

Now police want to re-interrogate her to confirm her exact movements, and analyse how it fits in with evidence from other members of the group.

The interview - probably conducted by police in this country - will be carried out as part of a general review of the witness evidence, which is being examined by a Portuguese judge.

Miss Tanner's testimony is central to the investigation because it was she who insists she saw a mystery man walking away from the Mark Warner holiday resort with what looked like a child in his arms.

She realised its significance only later. The McCanns are convinced it was Madeleine in the clutches of a kidnapper.
However Portuguese detectives have always played down the reported sighting, questioning its veracity and maintaining that it has no relevance to the inquiry.

It took 22 days before they agreed to release Miss Tanner's description of the man, and then only after pressure from the McCanns in following discussions at diplomatic levels.

Another witness, TV producer Jeremy Wilkins, has cast doubt on Miss Tanner's story and said he did not see any suspect carrying a child in a blanket.

Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann has been missing since May 3

Police are also likely to re-interview Miss Tanner's partner, Dr Russell O'Brien, 36, who was also absent from the tapas restaurant table for a time.

Last month Dr O'Brien was forced to defend himself against slurs that he was in some way involved in Madeleine's disappearance.

Not a single witness has been found to shed light on what truly happened to Madeleine in the

hours after she was put to bed at 8pm.

Police are having to rely instead on the friends' statements - the reason why they are coming under such intense scrutiny.
(snipped)

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There are a lot of questions unanswered and a lot of conflicts.  A Mr. Wilkins says he was at a spot at the same time as Jane Tanner, and he didn't see this.  Which statement is true?   And it originally was said to be a man carrying a bundle in a blanket.  Hence "bundleman" a name some British papers used concerning this sighting Now, person carrying the bundle doesn't have a blanket, and it has grown legs, with pajamas that match those that were said to be worn that night by Madeleine.  The legs are hanging down to suggest the child is either sleeping or unconcious.  I haven't made my mind up about this case, but I will say this looks like a real stretch.  There has been a lot of chat on the forums about how this figure has seemed to evolve.     I do not know if the McCann's are responsible for Madeleine's disappearance, but there seems to me to be a lot of conflicts.  I've heard some posters say they think the police are covering up and etc.  I can also see a lot of money that has been raised and is being spent in what is partly a PR campaign.   There is a lot being put out there by the McCann's and their professional group.  It wasn't only the police that were leaking and feeding information to the press... I would like to see a lot less about Kate and Gerry and a lot more searching for Madeleine...just my opinion.

[MuffyBee]

From Times Online
May 27, 2007
A friend of Madeleine's parents saw girl being carried away
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1847879.ece
A family friend of Gerry and Kate McCann has told police she saw a blonde-haired girl being carried away from an Algarve holiday apartment wrapped in a blanket at the time Madeleine is believed to have been snatched from her room.

The key witness, who is wracked with guilt, was on her way to dinner with Gerry and Kate McCann when she saw the man close to the open window of the bedroom where four-year-old Madeleine had been sleeping. The girl he was carrying was wearing pink pyjamas, the same as Madeleine's.

Her statement, which is the clearest evidence to date about what happened to Madeleine on the night she disappeared 25 days ago, comes as it was revealed that Mr and Mrs McCann are hoping to meet the Pope to discuss the plight of their daughter.
(snipped)
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This account has the pink pajamas.

[Rob]

Muffybee - "an egg with a side parting" is unaffectionately referred to as the the eggman by the Brits. And has been for months. 

[Rob]

Muffybee - also, the search for Madeleine is to be conducted only by the PLE and PJ. No one else. There are laws that govern whether or not the McCanns can even have private investigators. I think we all know that... just making the point.

As for the fund -  it has a non-exempt tax classification and this seems to be a new area of British tax law and there was a hearing on what the fund could be used for. It can be used to raise awareness that Maddy is missing. It can not be used for a defense of the McCanns should they be charged.

Weeks ago we were told that the church would be searched. Likewise for the road way that was to be ripped up. And to date only the reservoir has been searched. No Maddy there apparently.

I think the PJ (at the time) just made those locales up. It doesn't seem to be based on anything I have seen.... but I haven't seen much (to be honest) that leads anyone anywhere.

We have the beach, church crypt, roadway, country side, sea, trash bins, Murats house, other flats at Mark Warner, boot of hire car, wandered off, fell down steps, abducted, accidentally killed due to sedation, and sold.

Who knows what happened??? - I sure don't.

[MuffyBee]

This is a rather long video, but extremely thought provoking.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EpKZO3c69Ps
The real Madeleine Mccann story. Questions that need answers

[Rob]

This link is called the Getty images. These are of Gerry. The web-link was 1427 characters long - so I 'tiny'd' it. 1427 seems like a record.

http://tinyurl.com/37odj7

In this set of images there is a pic - I believe it is number 74112882 (Scroll down on the right side) you will see Gerry with a cell phone and this photo was taken on May 9th. 6 days after Madeleine was missing.

In the photo you will see that Gerry is either text messaging or receiving a text message. According to info the PLE and PJ know what THAT message says and it only came to light about a month or so ago. This message seems to implicate someone - either Gerry, Kate, or someone they know.  Gerry was triangulated and photoed and the time stamp is certain. The message - if true - could turn the case.

I do not know what the message is.

[MuffyBee]

This link is called the Getty images. These are of Gerry. The web-link was 1427 characters long - so I 'tiny'd' it. 1427 seems like a record.

http://tinyurl.com/37odj7

In this set of images there is a pic - I believe it is number 74112882 (Scroll down on the right side) you will see Gerry with a cell phone and this photo was taken on May 9th. 6 days after Madeleine was missing.

In the photo you will see that Gerry is either text messaging or receiving a text message. According to info the PLE and PJ know what THAT message says and it only came to light about a month or so ago. This message seems to implicate someone - either Gerry, Kate, or someone they know.  Gerry was triangulated and photoed and the time stamp is certain. The message - if true - could turn the case.








I do not know what the message is.

That could be an interesting bit. 

[Rob]

That could be an interesting bit. 

I concur Muffybee.

[MuffyBee]

That could be an interesting bit. 

I concur Muffybee.

I was reading on another forum that 24 Hours has an article saying the PJ don't have records for the McCann's for the last 5 months, and so cannot cross check the calls.  Some of the tabloids I guess we have to take with a grain of salt and then some.    I see you were posting there  previously.

[Rob]

That could be an interesting bit. 

I concur Muffybee.

I was reading on another forum that 24 Hours has an article saying the PJ don't have records for the McCann's for the last 5 months, and so cannot cross check the calls.  Some of the tabloids I guess we have to take with a grain of salt and then some.    I see you were posting there  previously.

Not only that, but someone forgot to turn on the sound for the interviews that were conducted with Kate and Gerry. I guess that is why Lucian Deville said a month ago that lip readers were being used. That is true. They are using lip readers.

[MuffyBee]

Rob ~  I had read the interviews weren't "recorded" and to me, it sounded at first as if there was no intent by the PJ to record.  And then I found out there was video, but the sound wasn't working.  Was the sound not working for Kate and Gerry's interviews, both?!  And I think there is a concern when more than one language is being spoken in interviews, and there are translators involved.  Sometimes a word can have dual meanings and etc.  The sound would be pretty helpful for clarification purposes. 

[Rob]

Rob ~  I had read the interviews weren't "recorded" and to me, it sounded at first as if there was no intent by the PJ to record.  And then I found out there was video, but the sound wasn't working.  Was the sound not working for Kate and Gerry's interviews, both?!  And I think there is a concern when more than one language is being spoken in interviews, and there are translators involved.  Sometimes a word can have dual meanings and etc.  The sound would be pretty helpful for clarification purposes. 

CORRECT AS USUAL. It's going to come down to a translation issue and lip readers will not be useful in a court situation in my opinion.

I believe the sound was not turned on for both Kate and Gerry. So many mistakes - either intentional or not.

[MuffyBee]

Muddy waters.

[Levi]

McCann friend is certain she saw abduction

A FAMILY friend of Kate and Gerry McCann has described for the first time why she is convinced that she saw their daughter Madeleine being abducted shortly before she was reported missing.

Jane Tanner, 36, saw a man carrying a child wearing pink and white pyjamas away from the McCanns’ holiday apartment on the Algarve in Portugal.

The sighting was considered so significant by the McCanns that they commissioned their own artist’s impression, which they released last week.

For the rest of the link GO HERE: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2753519.ece

[San]

McCanns Accused of Using Madeleine Fund to Pay Their Mortgage

Monday, October 29, 2007

A spokesman for the McCann family has refused to comment on allegations they used some of the Madeleine fund to pay their mortgage.

The statement comes after the Daily Mail reported that the family’s spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, confirmed: "part of the donations ... had been used to help with mortgage payments".

Mitchell told Sky News the use of the money was in line with the fund's objectives, "to provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine's family".

The Find Madeleine Fund has attracted more than £1 million (over $2 million) in public donations, to help find Madeleine McCann.

However, use of the fund has been called into question after it was revealed about a third of the money had been used to meet the McCanns' living costs, publicity fees and pay staff.

But the family has defended the fund, and said they would not use it for their legal fees.

Mitchell, recently appointed as the family's PR spokesman, said he would not be paid from the Find Madeleine Fund but from "private financial backers" to the McCanns.

Six months after their daughter went missing, the McCanns are facing financial pressure.

While Kate McCann is unlikely to return to her job as a part-time GP, Gerry will return to his work as a consultant, a move likely to help ease the financial pressure

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306077,00.html

[MuffyBee]

http://www.findmadeleine.com/fund/
Fund Details
Statement by the Board of
Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited

 

The Fund would like to thank everyone for their kindness, support and generosity.

Madeleine’s Fund was set up to:

   1.

      Find Madeleine;
   2.

      Support the Family; and
   3.

      Bring the abductor or abductors to justice

and subject to that to help other missing children

With the sudden dramatic and unexpected turn of events at the weekend the directors had to consider whether legal defence costs could be paid for by the Fund.

The Board has taken advice from Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP and Christopher McCall QC.  The Board has been advised that payment of Gerry and Kate’s legal defence costs would be legally permissible subject to conditions about repayment in the event of a guilty conviction.

The directors of the Fund discussed this today.  The two family directors, Brian Kennedy and John McCann withdrew from the meeting when the decision was made. Esther Mcvey chaired the meeting.

The Fund directors realise that there is not only a legal answer and recognise the spirit which underlies the generous donations to Madeleine’s Fund, which it is the directors’ responsibility to steer.

For this reason the Fund directors have decided not to pay for Gerry and Kate’s legal defence costs.  We stress that Gerry and Kate have not asked for these costs to be paid.  However, people have already called in offering their financial support.  Any such fund to pay legal defence costs would have to be separately set up and administered.   

At the heart of this campaign and Fund is a little girl confused, lonely and in need of her parents.  This Fund’s money will be focused on finding that little girl and leaving no stone unturned.

12 September 2007

 

 

MADELEINE’S FUND

 

Leaving No Stone Unturned

 

 

Madeleine’s fund is a non charitable not-for-profit company, which has been established to help find Madeleine McCann and to support her family and bring her abductors to justice.  Any surplus funds will be used to help families and missing children in the United Kingdom, Portugal and elsewhere in similar circumstances. If there are surplus funds Madeleine’s Funds can be converted into a charity.

 

The Fund is following best practice governance procedures as set out in the Good Governance Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector.  The directors of the company are Peter Hubner, Brian Kennedy, John McCann, Michael Linnett, Esther McVey, Doug Skehan and Philip Tomlinson.  They have appropriate legal, business and charitable experience. An experienced Fund Administrator has been appointed to ensure the highest standards of transparency and accountability.  This should enable the Directors to maintain an appropriate governance distance in the day-to-day operations of the Fund.

 

The Board and its individual Directors will ensure that the Fund is subject to required financial legal scrutiny.  They will ensure that they receive reliable external advice and information, as the basis for making good decisions.

 

 

NOTE

1.1 The full objects of the Fund are:

1.1.1 To secure the safe return to her family of Madeleine McCann who was abducted in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007;

1.1.2 To procure that Madeleine’s abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to justice; and

1.1.3 To provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine’s family.

1.2 If the above objects are fulfilled then the objects of the Foundation shall be to pursue such purposes in similar cases arising in the United Kingdom, Portugal or elsewhere.

 

You can make instant payments to the fund, using PAYPAL.

Simply Click the button below.

 

Postal Donations

 

These can be made with cheques payable to 'Madeleine's Fund : Leaving No Stone Unturned'. Cheques should be posted to the following address:

Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited

PO Box 53133

London

E18 2YR

 

Internet donations can be made into the following account:

'Madeleine's Fund : Leaving No Stone Unturned'
(snipped)

[MuffyBee]

If you will read my previous post, you can see that the fund is not a charity.  It is a private holding.  The article says they can pay family expenses.  There had been discussion as to whether the fund would/could be used for legal fees, but so far as I know, the fund isn't being used for that.  I believe they have had other benefactors paying their legal fees.

 MCCANNS USE FUND TO PAY MORTGAGE


Tuesday October 30,2007
By Martin Stote

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(13)

KATE and Gerry McCann have paid their mortgage with some of the £1million donated to help find Madeleine, it emerged yesterday.
Contributors to the fund immediately complained that they did not expect their money to be used to cover the cost of the McCanns’ four-bedroom home worth £600,000.

The couple went on unpaid leave shortly after their daughter’s disappearance on May 3 and it is known that they have struggled to meet the enormous and unexpected financial strain placed on them.

Gerry is due to return to his £75,000-a-year position as a hospital consultant this week which will ease some of the family’s financial pressures. But Kate is said to be unlikely to return to her part-time GP’s position, for which she was paid around £45,000 a year.

The couple are understood to have paid £460,000 for their home in early 2006, taking out a mortgage of around £350,000. It is believed their repayments are more than £2,000 a month.

Last night it emerged that the fund was used to pay the mortgage on the house in Rothley, Leics, twice in July and August.

It was when the couple were still in Portugal but before they were made official suspects on September 7.

The controversial use of the Find Madeleine Fund was revealed as Gerry, 39, enjoyed a round of golf on the Rothley Park course near his home just days before his return to work as a consultant cardiologist at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital.

Yesterday it was stressed he would not be treating patients and that his role would be “strictly academic”.

But, even as Gerry relaxed, one  contributor to the fund was writing on the internet after learning about the mortgage payments: “I was shocked.

“I cannot believe that they haven’t at least moved to a house that they CAN afford to live in instead of choosing to remain in that one.

“I am so annoyed that I contributed to their mortgage. I’m struggling to get on the property ladder myself and it enrages me.

“My donation went towards their mortgage instead of helping to find Madeleine. I am disgusted and would like my money back.”

Another said: “That money was to be used to find Maddy, not to pay the mortgage of two highly-paid doctors. I hope they intend to pay it back into the fund.”

While another wrote: “This pair should go back to living their lives if only for the sake of their other children. This is a totally inappropriate use of the money.

“The money should be given to the Red Cross or some other organisation to be used in locating missing people.”

Last night Esther McVeigh, a director of the Find Madeleine Fund, confirmed it had been used to make the mortgage payments.

She said: “They have never received any personal financial support since then, nor have they asked for it.

“When the fund was set up, one of its express intentions was to support the family financially if that became necessary.”
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Conversion:  The McCann's 2,000 pound monthly house note = $4121.79  USD  And they paid 2 months out of the fund.  Also, their 600,00 pound home is $1,236,539 USD  http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html Link is currency calculator.  I think some people gave money thinking it was charitable or would be used to find Madeleine and what was left would be given to another charity.  There are some people that realized and agree some of the money would be used for the McCann's living expenses.  There are other people  that are not happy that they donated money, bought tee shirts, bought wrist bands,   paid for missing child posters for Madeleine to put up, and etc.  to find it was used on the McCann's mortgage.    Some of the people didn't have a lot of money themselves.  I've read of some instances of  children selling their toys and donating  the money to the madeleine fund.  To call into the child find hotline, there is a charge per minute.  It is not free.  I had read previously the McCann's were considering using the fund for fighting their legal battle, but that got axed fairly quickly, because I believe there would have been a lot of anger among the donors to the fund.  Supposedly, the McCann's could legally use the money for their legal fight, but would have to pay it back if found guilty.  I think they decided not to even go there, as it would cause anger among the populace.  There is a lot of money involved in this case.  Who stands to profit?  There are paid consultants, high priced lawyers etc., the PR campaign itself.  Whew.  But what I really want to know is:  Where is Madeleine?  This seems to be so much about the parents.  Where is the lost, little blonde girl?

[Rob]

Casa Liliana - Robert Murat's home - Tapas Bar - Maddy's apartment.