Lisbon Court denies Kate and Gerry chance to give evidence

martinbrunt ‏@skymartinbrunt 44m
#madeleine Kate and Gerry McCann refused permission to give evidence next week in Lisbon libel trial over ex-cop Goncalo Amaral'sbook.

martinbrunt ‏@skymartinbrunt 42m
#madeleine McCann's lawyer will appeal the judge's decision. The hearing is expected to finish on Tuesday.


Absolutely shocking, but sadly, not surprising. Perhaps it will actually be better if the McCanns can speak directly to the UK media, without Gonzo propagandists spinning, twisting and mis-interpreting what is said, though.

Suzanne McCrory can this case drag on much longer? I am not liking that they can appeal this decision.
12 minutes ago via mobile

Numty Gonzo fan proves it's also a Fascist.

I am shocked, but not frightfully surprised. It is after all, just a retrospective thing since The Law has only recently changed.

No one can possibly doubt that Amaral grossly added to their distress. So not all that important.

It's a bad move by the judge - it gives the impression that the court is scared to let them speak.

Let's hope Gonzo isn't allowed to speak either - if he is, that court will be a complete laughing stock in the eyes of the world.

I think it is just to do with personal distress, Bonny. And The McCanns don't really need to reiterate that. It is quite obvious that Amaral will have added to their distress.

There are two different things going on here. Did Amaral have a right to Defame The McCanns? And will they have been Distressed by him doing so.

It may not be true, of course - it wouldn't be the first time Brunt has announced absolute garbage as Breaking News.

I suppose there is a point at which it is irrelevant, as 90% of the evidence is documentation, not verbal evidence, but still....

I personally would like to have heard direct evidence from Kate and Gerry, evidence that Guedes couldn't spin and misinterpret.

Hopefully, if the Lisbon court won't let them speak, the McCanns will give newspaper interviews at an appropriate time of their choosing.

I hope that they won't need to, Bonny. Although I can't say that I really care. But the days of The McCanns being arrested on the say so of Amaral are long past.

well, I´m not surprised, which proves that corruption is also in PT court, but this is not new.

sweepyface ‏@sweepyface 2h
#mccann can see frugal days ahead for K & G, might have to sell house if foolish enough to lodge an appeal, might have to anyway ! shame

Pure evil - that hater's got some very bad Karma heading its way.

Looks like Brunt was right, for a change.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/451814/Madeleine-McCann-parents-cannot-give-evidence-at-detective-s-libel-trial-judge-rules

Madeleine McCann parents cannot give evidence at detective's libel trial, judge rules

KATE and Gerry McCann were "disappointed" today after a judge ruled they cannot give evidence at the £1million libel trial of disgraced detective Goncalo Amaral.

By: Tom Worden Published: Fri, January 3, 2014

The couple wanted to take the stand to give explain how Amaral's book about the Madeleine case had left them devastated.

But judge Maria de Melo e Castro ruled neither the McCanns nor the former police officer can give evidence in the case.

The couple, both 45-year-old doctors from Rothley, Leics, are suing Amaral for £1 million over his book The Truth of the Lie and a related TV documentary.

In the book Amaral, the former chief investigator on the case, claimed Madeleine died in the family's Algarve holiday apartment and accused the parents of faking her abduction.

The McCanns say Amaral became rich by promoting his warped theories after being thrown off the investigation in October 2007, five months after Madeleine went missing.

The judge also ruled Amaral cannot give evidence in the civil case, being heard at the Palace of Justice in Lisbon.

The McCanns' lawyer Isabel Duarte said today: "Obviously Gerry and Kate were disappointed when they were told the news, but that is the judge's decision and they have to accept that.

"We believe they have the right to give evidence in the case. But the judge has made up her mind."

The judge informed the McCanns' legal team of her decision today.

The libel trial began last September and had has heard how Mrs McCann contemplated suicide after Amaral's book was published.

British psychologist Alan Pike, who counselled Madeleine's mother, said she confessed to secret "dark thoughts" about suicide after the book came out.

The book was a best-seller in Portugal, selling 120,000 copies before it was removed from the shelves after the McCanns won an injunction.

The documentary based on the book was broadcast by Portuguese station TVI in April 2009 and was watched by 2.2million viewers.

Mr Amaral, 56, was thrown off the Madeleine investigation after publicly criticising British police involved in the case.

He denies defamation and claims everything in the book is based on police and court files on the case, which have been made public.

Lawyers for the McCanns, Amaral, the book publishers and the documentary producers, also being sued, are due to give their closing statements in the trial next Tuesday.

Madeleine went missing during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, in May 2007.

The case was shelved by Portuguese authorities the following year, but officially reopened last October when Portuguese police said there are "new lines of enquiry."


Speaking of their bid to give evidence against Amaral soon after they applied to testify, Gerry said: "My wife Kate and I know better than anyone else what we have experienced and what we have gone through and the damage that has been caused to the search for Madeleine."

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Gonzo couldn't have given evidence, anyway - he'd have had to go without a drink or a cigarette for more than five minutes. He'd have fallen apart under pressure without his little helpers.   

Amaral became rich by promoting his warped theories after being thrown off the investigation

Like.   

Just as I thought. Simply to do with Distress caused to The McCanns by Amaral. Nothing new there.

Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 2h
Gerry and Kate #mccann banned from giving evidence at resumption of ex-cop Goncalo Amaral's libel trial next week

Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 2h
Gerry & Kate #mccann hoped to tell Portuguese court how Amaral's book's claim they covered up daughter Madeleine's death had devastated them

It really doesn't look good to a UK audience.

Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 2h
Gerry & Kate #mccann applied to give personal statements to the court in Lisbon but have been denied the chance by the judge

Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 2h
Gerry & Kate #mccann said to be `very disappointed' by the ruling

It does look bad, that Kate and Gerry weren't allowed to give a victim impact statement in person.

longjohnsilver ‏@longjoh44309217 2h
#mccann my understanding is if the judges wont allow gerry and kate to speak that means they may think that the mccans have no case?

Should stick to playing with imaginary dollies instead of interupting the grown-ups with garbage.            

It may not be bad at all. The judge has all the documentation needed which sets out their distress. She will need to arrive at a suitable figure for damages.

For Kate and Gerry being able to speak about all of this before the court may be more therapeutic?

The judge also ruled Amaral cannot give evidence in the civil case, being heard at the Palace of Justice in Lisbon.

Gonzo will be breathing a sigh of relief - he's escaped having to play his non-existent Ace. Maybe he'll get up the courage on Dear Julia's sofa?         

       

bb1 wrote:longjohnsilver ‏@longjoh44309217 2h
#mccann   my  understanding is  if the judges wont allow gerry and kate to speak that means   they  may think that the mccans have no case?

Should stick to playing with imaginary dollies instead of interupting the grown-ups with garbage.            

It means to me that The Judge needs no further evidence. But then I am a grown up with a functioning brain.

Panda wrote:
The couple wanted to take the stand to give explain how Amaral's book about the Madeleine case had left them devastated"

See how the Press turns things around? The McCanns applied to be asistentes, not take the stand.!!!! They had no intention of returning to Portugal until they saw how poor their Witnesses performance was. I find this decision by the Judge heartening and if it turns out to be true that SY are investigating the Fund, I will die a happy Woman

What? The 'assistentes' business is to do with the CRIMINAL investigation into Madeleine's abduction, and has naff-all to do with the CIVIL case against Gonzo.

Oh, and the Fund is NOT being investigated, so looks like the hater will have to stay miserable. Which is all any of them deserve.

Every issue gets lumped into the fund money. That is what eats them up.

Rothley Pillowcase ‏@RothleyPillow 2h
@JerryLawton Oh for goodness sake! Just spit it out! What's your problem? > Gotta run your own tweets through a #McCann lawyer first? #Jesus

       

Hashtag Jesus? He won't like that. Has he even got a Twitter Account?

Invoking karma if you ask me.