Rui Pedro´s case update

http://www.abola.pt/mundos/ver.aspx?id=312300

Rui Pedro´s case:

Translation:

Court today to watch closing arguments

The court of Lousada will hear this Thursday morning the final arguments of the case of Rui Pedro, the missing child on 4 March 1998.

Thirteen years after the disappearance of the young, we are witnessing the final arguments in the trial of Alonso Dias, the sole defendant in this case, charged with kidnapping the child qualified.

According to the indictment, which is based on the investigation of the Judicial Police (PJ), the man was the last person to see Rui Pedro before it has been reported missing.

According to eyewitness accounts, Afonso Dias took the youngster to an encounter with a prostitute in Lustosa, and the boy was never seen again since then.

Although the family of Rui Pedro appeal to the defendant to tell the truth - so to see what happened to the child that day - Afonso Dias should remain silent.

At the entrance to the courthouse this morning, Filomena Dias, mother of the child, reaffirmed that not give up to know what happened to her son that day.
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http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/pais/article1265129.ece

with vídeo:

translation:

the lawyer of Rui Pedro´s family expects in front of the closing arguments, Afonso Dias can change his opinion and speak.

The Court of Lousada will hear today the closing arguments in trial of the case Rui Pedro. In the dock is Afonso Dias, the last person to be with the child before the disappearance, in 1998. The family's lawyer, Ricardo Sá Fernandes, expect at what is said in closing arguments, Afonso Dias can change his opinion and talk.

The accusation must be the first to speak. The child's family who disappeared 13 years ago had hoped that the arguido presented information about what happened, but throughout the trial, Afonso Dias remained silent.

Rui Pedro´s family lawyer words:
“today he may change his opinion, it seems that his lawyer transmits the idea of not talking, but, because the trial is not over and he will have to listen the arguments of the public accusation and from the particular accusation, perhaps after that, he changes opinion”

Journalist:
“it is true that the lawyer of Afonso told that he may not talk in court but could talk in other situation after the trial, does that interests in this case to the family of Rui Pedro?”

Rui Pedro´s family lawyer words:
“look, the position of the family of Rui Pedro is this:
Everything that help us find Rui Pedro is useful, inside the court, outside the court, wherever it has to be”.
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http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/portugal/caso-rui-pedro-afonso-dias-nao-vai-prestar-declaracoes

translation:

Mother of missing child wants justice and condemnation of the accused
Afonso Dias will not testify

The lawyer of Afonso Dias, advanced this morning,at the entrance to the Court of Lousada, which will take place the final arguments of the trial of the case Rui Pedro, that the accused will not testify.
The lawyer Paulo Gomes: taking into account all the evidence produced, it would be not beneficial to Afonso talk at this stage of the trial.

Filomena, Rui Pedro's mother, was visibly disappointed with the decision, expecting that Afonso could give clues about what happened to her son in March 1998.

"Our goal was to find Pedro but since no clues were revealed at trial, that justice is done and that he be condemned," said the mother.

comments:
“Justice through own hands, if he´s not talking it´s because he is an accomplice, shameful case for Portuguese justice, bad for the child and for the parents, desire of justice through own hands, of course that he will not speak, idiot, he it well advised. The condemnation, would be forever, to see if he have time to think about the s### he did.”

Thank you, Pedro.

I find it very odd that the accused is refusing to testify, personally. It suggests to me that there is something that scares him more than a maximum sentence of twenty five years.

You welcome my friend, I agree with you bb1.

I feel desperately sorry for his parents - after all this, they still are none the wiser. And I don't think the accused was working alone, for Rui to have been seen in Paris, and on those vile films.

sad, but true

I can't say that I would fault him for keeping his mouth shut. He is hardly likely to admit that he was involved. And if he wasn't, what can he say?

The whole thing is a disgrace since The PJ and The justice System have had this evidence for nigh on thirteen years and done sweet bugger all about it until now.

http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=2269309

Rui Pedro´s case:

Sá Fernandes believes in condemnation of Afonso Dias
The family lawyer of Rui Pedro´s family said today rely on the conviction of man accused of kidnapping the child of Lousada, considering "fair" if this were to occur.
"We can be sure that Rui Pedro got into the car of this man [defendant] and went with him to prostitutes," said Ricardo Sá Fernandes in their closing arguments. "We have overwhelming evidence," he added.

The attorney began his argument by reading, his voice cracking, an excerpt of the testimony in a hearing Filomena Teixeira, mother of the child. "Words that portray the strength of a mother who lost her son, the tragedy of this process," he said, praising the tenacity and courage of the family.
The lawyer said in the review of the sentence as "more than seven years' imprisonment today by the prosecutor asked the prosecutor, Elina Cardoso.

Ricardo Sá Fernandes insisted that the evidence is solid and the charge was made abundantly at the hearing. According to the lawyer, "Rui Pedro, 11, was seized to satisfy a tare, a perversity or a business," of the defendant Afonso Dias.

Over nearly three hours of oral argument, counsel addressed the key points of the indictment, which was corroborated, and stressed the importance of the testimonies of young people who said they had seen Rui Pedro enter the defendant's car. Highlighted by the way, that said John Andrew, Rui Pedro's cousin, on hearing when the court ensured that the trip had been arranged for prostitutes on the eve of the invitation of Afonso Dias.

http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=2267395&seccao=Norte&success=1

Rui Pedro´s case:

Requests for seven years in prison for Afonso Dias

The prosecutor asked for a sentence of imprisonment exceeding six or seven days for Afonso (pictured), who is accused of the crime of aggravated kidnapping of Rui Pedro.

In the morning session on Friday before the Court of Lousada, the state prosecutor, Elina Cardoso, held that the defendant, who is charged with kidnapping of Rui Pedro March 4, 1998, "did not give a single signal of repentance, and, by demonstrated contempt for the family. "Recognizing the fact that Afonso Dias have been silent throughout the trial cannot "serve as a benefit or as a loss" of this, noted that the "over these 13 years has never looked back."

On leaving the courtroom in the lunch break, Rui Pedro's father, Manuel Mendonca, stressed that "these 13 years of silence is the hardest to forgive Afonso Dias."

The afternoon session continues on Friday with closing arguments from the lawyer for the parents of Rui Pedro, José Sá Fernandes, and the defendant, Paulo Gomes.

SEVEN YEARS?????

And I thought British courts were feeble

Unbelievable. This must be a sick joke.

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/actualidade/mae-de-rui-pedro-ja-so-peco-justica

Pain: Hope for new clues that may arise at trial fades

Rui Pedro's mother: "I only ask justice"

The hope that new clues about the whereabouts of Rui Pedro arise in the trial, which continued yesterday in Lousada, begins to fade. Philomena, mother of missing boy at age 11 does not give up, but the silence of Afonso, charged with kidnapping leads - increasingly to believe that there will not be in court that will find out what happened over 13 years. Yesterday, first asked the condemnation of the accused.

"My struggle is to find out what happened to Pedro, and even after this trial, I will not lose hope. While I´m alive, I will continue to look for clues that lead me to my son," she said.

Yesterday, Paulo Gomes, lawyer of Afonso Dias, has reaffirmed the willingness expressed by the accused during the trial, ie, it will not talk about the crime he is accused and which incurs a maximum penalty of ten years in jail .

"After all the evidence produced, we feel it would bring no benefit to my client to testify. Mr.. Afonso will not speak in court, may someday make it to another host, not the court," he said.
Filomena proved to be disappointed, but confessed that she was already waiting. "He did not speak up now, as expected," she said.

CHANGES TO PROVE THE ABDUCTION
Ricardo Sá Fernandes, lawyer for the parents of Rui Pedro, asked yesterday some insubstantial changes the facts contained in the indictment, namely that of the boy on the day of the disappearance, have been not once but twice with Afonso Dias.

The revelation, made in the trial sessions and already reported by the CM, shows that on March 4, 1998, the defendant was with Rui Pedro around 13:50 near the wilderness, in Lousada, the meeting having been seen by the witness Maria Menezes. About 30 minutes later, after asking permission to leave the mother, Rui Pedro met again with Alfonso, a few meters from the first location, where he was seen by five minors who were in school. It was there that got into the car, it seems towards Freamunde.

The state prosecutor also requested minor changes that support the abduction theory, but the panel of judges decided to take a position on the two requests until after the closing arguments, which will take place today.

This may mean that there has to be one more session before reading the above.

BEHAVIOR OF DAYS AFONSO change over course of the sessions
The behavior of Afonso Dias has been change over the course of the trial sessions. Is more agitated and shows some nervousness in the audience. The trucker, 35, repeatedly asked the panel of judges to leave the courtroom, especially when they are displayed documentary evidence such as videos or photographs. Afonso has even a third lead in his pocket for some of the audience. Yesterday, the defendant was accompanied by a friend who, like her brother, has been on your side during the trial. The other family members remain missing..

"I only ask justice. It was not what I meant with the trial, I wanted to find out what happened to Peter, but at least I pray that Afonso is convicted, to pay for what he did, not out of all this free "Filomena said, visibly distressed.

In the 14th session of the trial, which should have been dealt the final arguments, which were eventually postponed until today due to successive requirements (see box), Rui Pedro's mother returned to reaffirm that while alive is going to look for the truth.

"My struggle is to find out what happened to Pedro, and even after this trial, I will not lose hope. While I´m alive, I will continue to look for clues that lead me to my son," she said.

Yesterday, Paulo Gomes, lawyer of Afonso Dias, has reaffirmed the willingness expressed by the accused during the trial, ie, it will not talk about the crime he is accused and which incurs a maximum penalty of ten years in jail .

"After all the evidence produced, we feel it would bring no benefit to my client to testify. Mr.. Afonso will not speak in court, may someday make it to another host, not the court," he said.

Filomena proved to be disappointed, but confessed that he was already waiting. "He did not speak up now, as expected," she said.

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/exclusivo-cm/rui-pedro-lagrimas-fecham-caso-sem-resposta

Ricardo Sá Fernandes cries in the allegations.Rui Pedro: Tears close case with no response.
State prosecutor wants Afonso in jail

Sá Fernandes words:
“If Mr. Afonso Dias has something to say it is in the court and I think that he exhausted all the possibilities, we insisted until the last moment and he and all his relatives maintained in the position of refusing to talk, it is a right he have, but it is a judicial right, it is not a moral right, he in this case has no moral right of being in silent.

Rui´s father:
“the doctor was correct about the way he answered, because I think that a person that is, that knows that the parents for 13 years waiting for a child, that don´t want a meeting to answer us, he himself picks any document, a letter with this: Pedro is in certain place and we will go there bring him

Journalist: he should have done it before,

Rui´s father: “he should have done it before, he is still with time to do it”

Pedro Silva wrote:
http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/exclusivo-cm/rui-pedro-lagrimas-fecham-caso-sem-resposta

Ricardo Sá Fernandes cries in the allegations.Rui Pedro: Tears close case with no response. State prosecutor wants Afonso in jail

Sá Fernandes words:

“If Mr. Afonso Dias has something to say it is in the court and I think that he exhausted all the possibilities, we insisted until the last moment and he and all his relatives maintained in the position of refusing to talk, it is a right he have, but it is a judicial right, it is not a moral right, he in this case has no moral right of being in silent.

-/SNIP/-

Journalist: he should have done it before

Rui´s father: “he should have done it before, he is still with time to do it”

He is terrified to open his mouth. Only my opinion but from:

http://portugueselostchildren.blogspot. ... aping.html


-SNIP/-
15-"Miguel" after be interviwed to newspaper Morning Courrier,was spanked and menaced.

16-In the village of Rui Pedro, a man is known to turn of films of pornography and the father of this man would have precisely returned from France to Portugal at the time of the disappearance of Rui Pedro, dislocated of his station abroad because suspected of paedophilia. These two men would have been heard by the Portuguese police force, but would not be worried, "for lack of reasonable evidence".

17-Rui Pedro was tracked by an Missing ppl association,but someone in Portugal blocked the track.


Now those are my words?

Is Rui Pedro the lamb that had to be sacrificed to catch the wolf?

Is the pedophile net that kidnaped him so strong that can block investigations?

The guy, Alfonso, is terrified; under threat from some criminal organisation/man?

As far as sentencing is concerned, it would be better to talk and co-operate
As far as his well-being against the criminal elements (that I suspect are behind Ruis abduction) the reverse is true. Seems Alfonso fears beating up and torture; the sort of stuff that the underworld delivers to peeps that get in the way

The Judge is not going to think well of him if he fails to talk and likely he will give him a stiffer sentence.
The master abductor is not going to want him to talk and will likely torture him or worse.

Alfonso is watching his back.
Content to do a longer sentence rather than be destroyed by criminal elements. He is not going to grass. He had his orders before the trial started.

Just my opinion, but based on oddities about the case as outlined in various arguments.

Rob a bank and you will get thirty years. Steal a child and you get a slap on the wrist.

A seven year sentence is a disgrace, Tony. That's what, six months for every year the child - or man now, if he is still alive - has been missing.

I agree with Sadie, he is terrified to testify - something worse than jail is liable to happen to him if he does?

Five children disappear in Portugal in odd circumstances; the little British girl is the only one who was found, sadly dead, and another Brit was framed for it.

One child maybe, perhaps even two - but not FIVE. Especially as we know Rui Pedro was alive, in Europe, a long time after he was abducted.

It stinks, frankly.

There is something so wrong about this case. Cant understand how it can have got this far, with Alfonso charged unilaterally.

One thing that i am pretty certain about it is that as a young 21 y.o. man of limited means and limited lifestyle and skills, Alfonso did not take Rui Pedro to Paris.

That WAS Rui Pedro at Disney, Paris, but not Alfonso. The man was reported to be middle aged.

Another thing that I am certain of, is that Rui Pedro WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE SERVICES OF A PROSTITUTE

He only looks about 10 years old, in fact his eleventh birthday was the day before his abduction. Not mature in any way. Lovely face; very like his mum, with his Dad there especially around the chin.
In the first photo below, he is about the age he was when he was abducted and in the second, age progressed to how they think he would have looked in 2007






Very interestingly the photo of Rui at Disney seems to have been whooshed. If that is the case this means, almost without doubt, that he WAS with the abductor. This man appears to have enormous influence and seems to be able to whoosh / negate things that incriminate, or point to him / his organisation


Also there were four abductions in a small area of only about 33 miles across. Rui was one of these. They were in the Oporto, Vila Nova de Famalicao, Guimareas region. Surely they were connected . No others in the 8 year period, 1991-1999, for the whole 400 mile length of PT except Rene Hasse. He was abducted in the Pdl area.

.... And this was on the Atlantic Coast just 18 miles from PdL....

The abductions all stopped after the son of an Elite was cautioned by the PJ in 1999. No more abductions for 5 years, until Joana Cipriano in the PdL area in 2004

Wonder who had the necessary influence to get this elite off 4 - 5 potential abduction charges, with just a warning?



In the 1990's, there were no other [Stranger-under-15-year-olds] abductions in the whole of PT ! Just this clutch in the North + Rene in the south...........Makes you think!

+=====================

So there were 5 abductions in that 8 year period, all except Rene, within 33 miles of each other and 17 miles from the most central point. Did Alfonso abduct all four or five? He was only about 14 when the first one happened.

Of course seven years is a disgrace. Rui has lost his loving family, his lifestyle, his friends, his future and has probably been tortured and abused. There are purportedly photos showing this. In fact Brians Dreams has a disturbing photograph.

And his family have lost their lovely son and brother.


What i am driving at is,
Should there be another man, or possibly a group being tried? Has the real demon got away with it and his maybe rather simple henchman taken the rap? Alfonso, a man who didn't work and hung around with children half his age.

Has the real Mastermind got away with it for good? Because after seeing what has happened to Leonor Cipriano, it seems to me that once convicted in PT, that is it; the case is closed permanently

From my earlier post
The abductions all stopped after the son of an Elite was cautioned by the PJ in 1999. No more abductions for 5 years, until Joana Cipriano in the PdL area in 2004

Wonder who had the necessary influence to get this elite off 4 - 5 potential abduction charges, with just a warning?



In the 1990's, there were no other [Stranger-under-15-year-olds] abductions in the whole of PT ! Just this clutch in the North + Rene in the south...........Makes you think!

+=====================

So there were 5 abductions in that 8 year period, and four were within 33 miles of each other. In other words none was more than 17 miles from the most central point. In the same 1991-1999 period Rene Hasse was abducted but from the PdL region. Did Alfonso abduct all four or five? He was only about 14 when the first one happened.

It really seems as though at least four of these abductions in the 1990's are connected and most probably all five


Alfonso was only 14, the same age as Jorge Sepulveda, a strong looking lad and the first abductee in 1991. That happened about 20 miles away from Alfonsos home in the city of Oporto, in the subdivision of Masserelos,

Alfonso was older than Claudia, he was about 16 or 17, yet that happened about 26 miles from Alfonsos home ... a long way away for such a young guy to operate

Alfonso was older than Rene Hasse, yet that happened nearly 300 miles from Alfonsos home at a time when he was only about 19 years of age and seemingly unemployed so presumably no transport.



Not easy to abduct a child without being seen, especially so far away from home in a strange area.!


And MOST PEOPLE DO NOT DO ABDUCTIONS BY BICYCLE or SHANK'S PONY especially at 20+ miles distance.



If Alfonso was responsible for abducting Rui Pedro, then almost without any doubt, he was doing it for someone else.

Just who is getting off the hook at Alfonsos expense?


Just my thoughts and opinions, but based on known facts and concern

The thing is, Sadie, police officers normally take great pride in tracking down people who harm children - but in these cases, it just doesn't seem to have happened.

And no, rounding up the Usual Suspects and framing one or two is NOT anyone's idea of 'Justice'.

about: "it just doesn't seem to have happened", because, unfortunately,
Portuguese police has no experience in abductions".

There aren't many Stranger-under-15-years abductions in England either, Pedro. Probably more than in PT but then there are a good many more people too.


Mainly our police seem to have worked diligently but in one case the wrong man was convicted and imprisoned. Another man was later tried and convicted, but the poor guy who had spent years in prison enjoyed very little freedom becos he died soon after release.

So it can happen in any country Pedro. Just that Amarals /Christavaos crew seemed rather good at messing up. I am sure that the average cop was good, but without leadership .........

Pedro Silva wrote:about: "it just doesn't seem to have happened", because, unfortunately,
Portuguese police has no experience in abductions".

And no wonder they didn't have any experience since they appear to have avoided investigating abductions like one would avoid the Plague. The PJ simply refused to believe that abductions happen, so they were never going to learn anything.
In fact has an abduction ever been investigated in Portugal?

sadie, with all do respect, I understand your point of view, but this has nothing to do with leadership, the truth is: PJ has no experience in abductions, the PJ never learned or were taught about procedures on how to investigate abductions, but, if, the PJ never recognized the existance of abductions in Portugal, because they do happen (Portugal is no exception), this is a wrong behaviour in a police force. besides, all the cases of missing / abducted children or adults in PJ´s website proves it. I know that these cases are not easy to solve, I recoginze that, but, without experience or without knowing what procedures should be performed from a police force, how can a police force expect to solve such cases.

This is the truth, whether people like it or not. What I wrote here is not an attack to PJ.

It is so much easier to blame Mummy if they can, Pedro. And if that remains impossible then the child must have run away.

Sabot, I agree with you, your words are mine. It is also much worse to accuse mums or dads, or any other relatives (without any solid evidence) just to hide lack of experience or incompetence or corruption.