Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial

by Keitei 05.02.17 3:10

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4192424/Madeleine-McCann-libel-trial-winner-publish-second-book.html

Former police chief who accused Madeleine McCann’s parents of cover-up over her death plans SECOND book after winning libel trial

Goncalo Amaral claims Madeleine McCann's parents covered up her death
He published a book in 2008 and the McCanns tried to sue him for libel
But they were told they could not by a judge, as it's revealed Amaral is writing another book
He is said to be looking for a publisher in England, though the McCanns will sue

By Rebecca Taylor For Mailonline
Published: 02:00, 5 February 2017 | Updated: 02:00, 5 February 2017

The police chief who won a legal battle with the parents of Madeleine McCann is writing a second book about the young girl's disappearance.
Goncalo Amaral claims that Madeleine died in 2007 and her parents covered it up, sparking a huge police response both from the UK and abroad.
He published a book in 2008 making his claims and Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of Madeleine, who has been missing for nearly a decade, tried to sue him for libel.
Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 3CB93E1B00000578-4192424-image-a-39_1486259030163

Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 3CB93E1B00000578-4192424-image-a-39_1486259030163

Goncalo Amaral with his book which was banned at one point as the McCanns tried to sue for libel
But judges ruled Mr Amaral's 'exercise of his freedom of expression was not considered abusive' and 'was within admissible limits in a democratic and open society, which excludes the illegality of possible damage to the honour of the McCanns.'
The couple had won 500,000 euro damages from their tormentor, whom they branded 'a poisonous liar' but, under Portuguese law, this was never handed over to them while proceedings were ongoing.

Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 12E36BD3000005DC-4192424-image-m-43_1486259050755

Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 12E36BD3000005DC-4192424-image-m-43_1486259050755

Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 0229620500000578-4192424-image-m-45_1486259150417

The book claimed that the McCanns, pictured left, had covered up the death of their daughter Madeleine, pictured right, when she went missing in 2007

Now the Express has claimed the former chief is putting the finishing touches on his second book.
He is said to be on a break in Switzerland as he finishes it and is looking for a British publisher.
A friend of the author said: 'Goncalo took no great pleasure from the court case because he fully expected to win. For him these battles in the courts are important because they protect freedom of expression.
Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 3CB93F1F00000578-4192424-image-a-49_1486259242883

Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 3CB93F1F00000578-4192424-image-a-49_1486259242883

Mr Amaral is said to be putting the finishing touches to his second book and wants it to be published in English
'He could only afford to pay the legal bills thanks to donations, mainly from people in Britain, who have given more than £50,000. With the support in Britain he obviously thinks his second book on the case would sell well if translated into English and he is actively looking for a publisher.
'He would also ask any publisher if they would be interested in publishing his first book in English.'
The McCanns are said to be prepared to sue if the book is sold in the UK.
Mr Amaral worked on the case when Madeleine, then three, went missing from the apartment the McCanns were staying in in Praia da Luz as Kate and Gerry ate dinner with friends.
He was moved off the case and resigned six months later but wrote his book using police files as he put forward a theory she had died in the apartment.
The McCanns took legal action, saying there was no evidence and his work was defamatory.
The appeal hearing in Lisbon which ruled against the McCanns was held in private.
A spokesperson from their lawyer's office said: 'This is a big disappointment and very bitter for us and for Mr and Mrs McCann.
Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 0C06873E00000578-4192424-image-a-47_1486259195746

Goncalo Amaral plans SECOND book after winning libel trial 0C06873E00000578-4192424-image-a-47_1486259195746

The McCanns believe their daughter is alive and are continuing the search for her. Scotland Yard are investigating one last throw of the dice
'We know the libel decision has gone against us but we do not know the basis of the ruling and will not find out until Thursday.'
Mr Amaral, 56, who the McCanns first sued for libel in June 2009, won the lengthy legal fight after judges decided he had the 'right to freedom of expression.'
Madeleine's parents could now lodge an appeal to the highest court in Europe, the European Court of Human Rights.
But a source close to the exasperated couple said: 'I think the fight is finally over. They want to concentrate on finding Madeleine and don't think they have the time or energy to lodge yet another appeal.'
Scotland Yard are busy investigating one 'last throw of the dice' lead in a bid to end the family's torment but time could be running out as police now have just two months left of guaranteed Government funding to continue to unravel an 'important' new tip.
Detectives on the Madeleine inquiry recently revealed they are working on a final theory that the youngster was kidnapped by a European trafficking gang.
The 'spotters' are believed to have targeted the blonde toddler taking photographs of her while she was playing on the beach and beside the pool at her holiday apartment.

by hogwash 05.02.17 6:15

The McCann's will be furious about this!

by The Rooster 05.02.17 8:44

I sincerely hope it does get published in UK.

by Guest 05.02.17 9:05

I think a book could be published in the UK that reported what is in the PJ files with some analysis from experts in the field (Amaral being an expert in the investigative field).

Obviously a lawyer would need to look at it but it should be possible.

We do in theory live in a free country with free speech.

by **Jill Havern** 05.02.17 10:42

Victorious Maddie McCann detective writing new book on her disappearance

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/763253/Detective-writing-new-Maddie-McCann-book

by ChippyM 05.02.17 12:23

A 'source' said they don't have the time or energy to appeal. Is this new info? ......and does threatening to sue any UK publisher not take up time and energy?

They know an appeal wouldn't have a cat in hells chance more like and the threat to sue publishers is desperation.

I can't wait to buy the new book.

by Verdi 05.02.17 12:42

If Kate McCann can get a UK publisher to market her 'version of the truth' and Summers and Swann can get a UK publisher to market their 'version of the truth' - why not Goncalo Amaral?

His previous book was a factual documentation of the official Portuguese investigation - where's the harm in that?

As if I didn't know!

A pointless exercise anyway. IF the McCanns legal representatives can successfully stop sales in the UK, they'll have a heck of a task trying to stop any book being published and widely read otside the UK - including the internet.

If anything it would be advantageous if they did again pursue litigation, excellent publicity - sort of 'Streisand effect'.

by MayMuse 05.02.17 13:53

They don't have time or energy because they know it is fruitless, they do know the ruling why lie abut what the ruling was...all game tactics, I can't see how they can sue a publisher for a book which is not banned, has not caused harm and is based on the investigation ....Any book, whether it be the first , the second or a third, anyhow they would need to read them first specs

by Philip Anders 05.02.17 21:19

Verdi wrote:If Kate McCann can get a UK publisher to market her 'version of the truth' and Summers and Swann can get a UK publisher to market their 'version of the truth' - why not Goncalo Amaral?

His previous book was a factual documentation of the official Portuguese investigation - where's the harm in that?

As if I didn't know!

A pointless exercise anyway. IF the McCanns legal representatives can successfully stop sales in the UK, they'll have a heck of a task trying to stop any book being published and widely read otside the UK - including the internet.

If anything it would be advantageous if they did again pursue litigation, excellent publicity - sort of 'Streisand effect'.

Amaral's mistake with his first book was stating that he thought the McCanns were involved in a cover up.
All he had to do was state that the evidence led him to believe that Madeleine had died in the apartment & leave it up to the reader to draw the only sensible conclusion. That way he could have published his book in the UK & couldn't have been sued in the first place.
He needs to do this with his second book.

If the McCanns do get his second book banned I think there would be a case for taking it to the ECHR on the grounds that we were being denied our right of freedom to be informed.

by Verdi 05.02.17 22:40

Philip Anders wrote:Amaral's mistake with his first book was stating that he thought the McCanns were involved in a cover up.
All he had to do was state that the evidence led him to believe that Madeleine had died in the apartment & leave it up to the reader to draw the only sensible conclusion. That way he could have published his book in the UK & couldn't have been sued in the first place.
He needs to do this with his second book.

A report by Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida to the Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation

Where he concludes, after analyzing all the evidence gathered, that the child is dead and the parents were responsible for cadaver occultation, and the entire GROUP was lying since the first day of the investigation.

10 September 2007
(Processo: VOL ,X, p. 2587-2602)

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TAVARES_ALMEIDA.htm

Goncalo Amaral's book 'The Truth of the Lie' was based on the official Portuguese investigation.

by Philip Anders 06.02.17 8:05

Verdi wrote:
Philip Anders wrote:Amaral's mistake with his first book was stating that he thought the McCanns were involved in a cover up.
All he had to do was state that the evidence led him to believe that Madeleine had died in the apartment & leave it up to the reader to draw the only sensible conclusion. That way he could have published his book in the UK & couldn't have been sued in the first place.
He needs to do this with his second book.

A report by Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida to the Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation

Where he concludes, after analyzing all the evidence gathered, that the child is dead and the parents were responsible for cadaver occultation, and the entire GROUP was lying since the first day of the investigation.

10 September 2007
(Processo: VOL ,X, p. 2587-2602)

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TAVARES_ALMEIDA.htm

Goncalo Amaral's book 'The Truth of the Lie' was based on the official Portuguese investigation.

I'm talking about UK libel law, not Portuguese libel law.

by Guest 06.02.17 8:25

I'm not sure what Amaral did, I've read what he wrote a while ago but the exact details escape me now.

Did he say in his opinion, based on the evidence and the PJ files, that the McCanns were involved in a cover up?

Or did he state it as fact? (I can't believe he did).

I'm not sure what the libel laws are in regards to evidence related opinion.

by MayMuse 06.02.17 11:44

Philip Anders wrote:
Verdi wrote:
Philip Anders wrote:Amaral's mistake with his first book was stating that he thought the McCanns were involved in a cover up.
All he had to do was state that the evidence led him to believe that Madeleine had died in the apartment & leave it up to the reader to draw the only sensible conclusion. That way he could have published his book in the UK & couldn't have been sued in the first place.
He needs to do this with his second book.

A report by Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida to the Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation

Where he concludes, after analyzing all the evidence gathered, that the child is dead and the parents were responsible for cadaver occultation, and the entire GROUP was lying since the first day of the investigation.

10 September 2007
(Processo: VOL ,X, p. 2587-2602)

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TAVARES_ALMEIDA.htm

Goncalo Amaral's book 'The Truth of the Lie' was based on the official Portuguese investigation.
I'm talking about UK libel law, not Portuguese libel law.

And how does that make a difference?

I'm sure if UK law applied then the McCanns would have used Carter Ruck!

It is a moot point as the book is not banned neither was any harm or distress or privacy violated etc because the McCanns shared all and sundry via the media, you know No Stone Unturned!

by Verdi 06.02.17 12:48

Philip Anders wrote:I'm talking about UK libel law, not Portuguese libel law.

After much initial huffing and puffing, the McCanns litigation against Goncalo Amaral amounted to the use of the word 'dead' or derivations thereof. For that reason they insisted Mr Amaral's book was 'harming the search', their reputations were in tatters and somehow or another it reflected on their two remaining children. They tried to proceed with the litigation by suing Mr Amaral, not only in their own names but also that of Madeleine and the twins who, they said, should be financially compensated.

It is 'the book' that is causing so much controversy. It is quite clear to me at least, they knew from the outset that their case was weak, otherwise their lawyer/s would have presented a stronger case, rather than a feeble 'harming the search'. What search I ask myself - it is but a fictitious scenario, they seem to expect the world to 'search' for their child but they can't be arsed to do anything themselves.

The grand finale was really when they went before the Lisbon courts, flanked by an army of so called character witnesses, supposedly to prove their suffering. It turned out to be a pathetic joke as anyone with an ounce of sense can see.

This is about Goncalo Amaral pure and simple. Not his book nor his documentary nor his media interviews - it's about him, an individual who they want to see ruined - to be miserable and feel fear - to see the whites of his eyes - to bore into his sub-conscious. If you could sue a dog they would have been on the case!

So you see, any book written by Goncalo Amaral must be banned in the UK, no matter what the content. It's a matter of principle, they know as well as you and I that an English translation of 'The Truth of the Lie' has been widely read on the internet, there is naff all they can do about that - they cannot control the internet and that's what really hurts.

NB: You do know that Goncalo Amaral is a trained lawyer don't you?

ETA: http://goncaloamaraltruthofthelie.blogspot.com/

by Philip Anders 06.02.17 17:32

MayMuse wrote:
Philip Anders wrote:
Verdi wrote:
Philip Anders wrote:Amaral's mistake with his first book was stating that he thought the McCanns were involved in a cover up.
All he had to do was state that the evidence led him to believe that Madeleine had died in the apartment & leave it up to the reader to draw the only sensible conclusion. That way he could have published his book in the UK & couldn't have been sued in the first place.
He needs to do this with his second book.

A report by Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida to the Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation

Where he concludes, after analyzing all the evidence gathered, that the child is dead and the parents were responsible for cadaver occultation, and the entire GROUP was lying since the first day of the investigation.

10 September 2007
(Processo: VOL ,X, p. 2587-2602)

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TAVARES_ALMEIDA.htm

Goncalo Amaral's book 'The Truth of the Lie' was based on the official Portuguese investigation.
I'm talking about UK libel law, not Portuguese libel law.
And how does that make a difference?

I'm sure if UK law applied then the McCanns would have used Carter Ruck!

It is a moot point as the book is not banned neither was any harm or distress or privacy violated etc because the McCanns shared all and sundry via the media, you know No Stone Unturned!

It seems we're not talking about the same thing. My comments are confined to what could happen if the book is published in the UK & nowhere else in the world. In the UK Amaral can post, verbatim, all the evidence including his conclusion that Madeleine died in the apartment. As soon as he says that his opinion is that the McCanns covered it up is where he crosses the UK libel law line.

by MayMuse 06.02.17 18:49

There are literally thousands of people who say the exact same thing all over the internet, worldwide. As did the chief inspector Tavares de Almeida on conclusion.
Even Gerry McCann said in an interview, if she died in the apartment and we were there, why would we cover it up? or something along those lines.

by Verdi 06.02.17 23:25

Philip Anders wrote:It seems we're not talking about the same thing. My comments are confined to what could happen if the book is published in the UK & nowhere else in the world. In the UK Amaral can post, verbatim, all the evidence including his conclusion that Madeleine died in the apartment. As soon as he says that his opinion is that the McCanns covered it up is where he crosses the UK libel law line.

Utter nonsense! You can't realistically be libeled for repeating the conclusion of a criminal investigation nor expressing an opinion. It's got nothing to do with fact, supposition or opinion - it's all about money and the lawyers skill, reputation and influence.

The law is an ass.

Question is Philip Anders - what is your game plan?

by Verdi 07.02.17 0:01

MayMuse wrote:There are literally thousands of people who say the exact same thing all over the internet, worldwide. As did the chief inspector Tavares de Almeida on conclusion.

Of course, they can't realistically sue Goncalo Amaral through UK libel law. They can however prevent his book from being published or sold in the UK - not by libel litigation but by monetary influence.

In short, not by suing Goncalo Amaral but by threatening, or if you prefer advising, publishers and/or sales outlets. The case being straightforward has long since passed - this is big money and big conspiracy and big threat to exposure of some dark secret. There can be no other explanation.

by Guest 07.02.17 7:46

Verdi wrote:
this is big money and big conspiracy and big threat to exposure of some dark secret. There can be no other explanation.

I agree.

With all of the big guns involved right from the beginning this involves something more than just the McCanns.

Sending the Government head of media monitoring and him being attached to the case for 10 years is a real head-scratcher.

It has been extraordinary.

by Verdi 07.02.17 11:45

BlueBag wrote:
Verdi wrote:
this is big money and big conspiracy and big threat to exposure of some dark secret. There can be no other explanation.
I agree.

With all of the big guns involved right from the beginning this involves something more than just the McCanns.

Sending the Government head of media monitoring and him being attached to the case for 10 years is a real head-scratcher.

It has been extraordinary.

Not forgetting how the joint UK force effectively sabotaged the official Portuguese investigation.

by Philip Anders 08.02.17 11:47

re

Verdi wrote:
Philip Anders wrote:It seems we're not talking about the same thing. My comments are confined to what could happen if the book is published in the UK & nowhere else in the world. In the UK Amaral can post, verbatim, all the evidence including his conclusion that Madeleine died in the apartment. As soon as he says that his opinion is that the McCanns covered it up is where he crosses the UK libel law line.
Utter nonsense! You can't realistically be libeled for repeating the conclusion of a criminal investigation nor expressing an opinion. It's got nothing to do with fact, supposition or opinion - it's all about money and the lawyers skill, reputation and influence.

The law is an ass.

Question is Philip Anders - what is your game plan?

I bow to your superior knowledge & wish I'd hadn't been stupid enough to venture an opinion on the subject.

I don't know what your question to me means as I don't have a game plan.