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Mystery: Madeleine
McCann disappeared in
Portugal in May 2007 and
has never been found |
He later came up with a computer
edit based on witness statements of
a long-haired bearded man which the
McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell
insisted at the time could cause
confusion.
Mario Sena Lopes, editor of Guerra &
Paz which published Mr Amaral's
controversial book, admitted he
could not guarantee all copies had
been returned after the McCanns
successfully injected it.
The couple secured a temporary
injunction in September 2008 before
a court upheld the ban in February
2010 after a challenge from Mr
Amaral. The injunction was lifted
again in March 2011.
Mr Lopes, who is still Mr Amaral's
literary agent, told the hearing:
‘There are always booksellers who do
not respect the orders of the
distributors.’
He also admitted knowing the book
had been circulated in Brazil but
insisted Guerra & Paz had nothing to
do with it.
Luis Vale Frois, former managing
director of a firm which distributed
a DVD of a documentary based on Mr
Amaral's book, said it was
inevitable pirate copies would find
their way onto the Internet.
He told the hearing: ‘If this week
you release a series on TV, next
week it's already on the internet
with Portuguese subtitles.’
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Concern: Kate and Gerry
McCann claim Mr Amaral's
book turned Portuguese
people against them when
they most needed their
help in finding their
daughter |
Mr Amaral, removed as head of the
Madeleine McCann probe in October
2007 after criticising the British
police, attended court for the trial
as he has done every day since its
start in September.
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ANGER AT MONTEIRO
REPORTS |
|
Portuguese-based Cape
Verdean associations
have reacted angrily to
reports an immigrant
thief has been blamed
for Madeleine McCann's
disappearance and
death.
It emerged last week
Euclides Monteiro, who
died in a tractor
accident in 2009, was a
suspect.
A spokesman for a Cape
Verdean association
said: ‘The
representatives of Cape
Verdean associations in
Portugal always defend
the normal workings of
justice and the idea
that unlawful behaviour
should be punished
accordingly through the
proper legal channels.
‘However we denounce the
fact that this immigrant
cannot defend himself
from these accusations
in the Madeleine McCann
case which could,
conveniently, remove
blame from other people
and ease some
consciences.
‘We discover history
repeating itself - with
yet another Cape Verdian
suspect and a community
which feels once again
smeared.’ |
He has been critical of a new
British police appeal about the
six-and-a-half year-old mystery,
branding it a ‘PR campaign of
intoxication and misinformation.’
But he declined to comment today on
the reopened Portuguese police
investigation into Madeleine's
disappearance.
Mr Amaral's lawyer Vitor dos Santos
insisted outside court: ‘We are not
going to make any comment about the
criminal investigation. This is a
civil case and when it's over my
client will be free to speak. No
lawyer should make any statements
about people being absolved or not
being absolved from an
investigation.
'This is not the time to be saying
anything about it because it makes
no sense to do so.’
The McCanns claim Mr Amaral's book
turned Portuguese people against
them when they most needed their
help in finding their daughter.
The ex-police chief is denying
defamation and insists everything in
the book was contained in police
files. Former police colleagues have
given evidence backing his argument.
The McCanns, of Rothley,
Leicestershire, have applied to take
the witness stand as well as Mr
Amaral.
Judge Maria Emilia Melo e Castro is
expected to rule on their
application at the end of the month.
The case, scheduled to finish in
December, continues
