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A Message
From Gonçalo Amaral
21 Jul 2014
Dear friends,
Upon reading the news about the most recent trial session, I am
certain that the vast majority of journalists doesn’t know what
is being discussed in court, and have not informed correctly.
Let us be clear. What is at stake is to find out:
- Whether the writing of my book “Maddie: A Verdade da Mentira”
was a lawful or unlawful action;
- Whether or not the plaintiffs have suffered damages and
whether or not there are facts to prove it;
- Whether or not it is possible to establish a causal nexus
between the book and such damages.
This is what is at stake.
Concerning the book’s lawfulness, I suggest to anyone who has
doubts to read the Lisbon
Appellate Court’s decision within the injunction that
preceded the current action. The truth is that for the Appellate
Court’s Illustrious Judges, as can be concluded from that
decision, the lawfulness of the book’s publication is
indisputable.
With proof of the lawfulness of the book, the matter should rest
here, without the need to investigate anything further, namely
concerning the damages that the plaintiffs complain about.
Nonetheless, we should note that even if the lawfulness may
still be at stake, there is still the need to establish a causal
nexus between the publication and the damages that the
plaintiffs complain about, such as deep depression, social
isolation, etc. And, of course, to prove that said damages, no
matter where they originate from, really exist.
Concerning the social part, it seems obvious to me, if we pay
attention to the countless social events that the plaintiffs
have participated in, including speeches at the British
Parliament, interviews on television shows like Oprah Winfrey’s,
gala dinners with illustrious personalities, namely British,
among others, that said social isolation is totally false.
Concerning the depressions, although they are in no way proved
within the case, in my opinion, in fact it would be very strange
if they didn’t exist. The disappearance of a daughter, whether
she is dead or alive, whether or not she was abducted, has to
originate enormous consequences of that kind. How strange would
it be if that wasn’t the case! But about this issue I won’t say
anything further, given that the plaintiffs seem to attribute to
me and my book all of their pain, as if said disappearance,
followed by their arguido status and other circumstances that
surround the case, were of no importance, or weren’t more than
enough!
Unfortunately, due to clearly dilatory manoeuvres from the
plaintiffs, that have once more forced a postponement of the
hearing, I am afraid that the trial will drag on – as they
clearly wish -, and we won’t have a sentence soon, as I wish
would happen, and as I long for. Furthermore, the judicial
holidays have already started and, as the Illustrious Judge
explained, with the new judiciary organisation coming into force
on the 1st of September, the process’ slowness will be
considerably increased.
However, my trust in Portuguese justice remains steadfast.
All that is left for me is to recognise and thank you for all
the support that I have received, from all those that believe in
justice and in truth, without which it would have been
impossible for me to fight this lawsuit. Or to lead me to
ponder, as I do, to file a lawsuit against the McCann couple and
others, in order to be compensated for the enormous damages that
they have caused me already, on all levels, such as moral,
professional and financial.
The time to judicially react to all those who have put my
privacy, my intimacy, my freedom of expression and opinion, and
my survival conditions at stake is approaching.
They have tried to assassinate me civilly, but due to the
support and solidarity of all of you, they were not successful.
Thank you very much,
Lisboa July 21st, 2014
Gonçalo Amaral |
