Sep 8th: A few further thoughts on the Madeline McCann case
The Portugese police have stated that the parents of Madeline McCann are now official suspects in their daughters disappearance. There's many things about this case - beyond the worst aspect of it - that are quite hard to get your head round. But a couple of things stand out.
Like many other parents, I cant quite get my head round the cool level-headedness of the two McCanns. Maybe its living in denial, I dunno. But if that was my bairn, and if I had to then face accusations of being a suspect when it was false, I think I'd be swinging wildly between total despair and uncontrollable rage and there would be at least one Portugese policeman pressing charges for attempted assault. How could you react in any other way?
Another thing is that if the parents are genuinely suspected of this, then surely the police in England would have already done the necessary detective work and put together a psyhcological profile of the family before they went on holiday. They would have already unearthed stories of recent family arguments, screaming at the children, depression, or mental instability. You dont just kill your own child on a holiday whim. Such an action would have built up over a period of time, and witnesses would have come forward by now, probably selling their story to the tabloids, if they'd seen or heard anything. Since that hasnt happened then it puts a question mark over the accusations against them.
Which may rule out pre-meditated murder. But it could still leave the possibility of the parents covering up an accidental death, and are now too deep in their own lies to turn back. God knows why anyone would want to cover such a thing up, but life can take some strange twists and turns.
Another thing I don't like is the easy ride the parents have been given by the British media. The left wee kids on their own, for fucksake, in a holiday resort, while they went out enjoying themselves. If this had been the child of a working class single mother from Liverpool or Glasgow she would have been crucified by the media, and they certainly wouldnt have kept the story on the front pages for long.
If it turns out, and I certainly aint convinced of this, that the parents were involved in the abduction or sale or killing of their child then for the two parents their life is over. They would be the most hated people in all England. People would feel they had been made a fool of. Fellow prisoners would want to do what prisoners do in such cases. It would probably end in suicide.
I hope for the parents sake the Portugese police have made a big mistake. But gut instincts say something is not quite right here. Its a terrible story no matter what happens next.
posted by Kevin Williamson at
11:16 AM
20 Comments:
The are two sides in everything.
As portuguese its difficult to assist such attacks to Police (Judiciaria) not rational one, but biased, almost xenofobic.
Sorry for my bad English
Maria
1:05 PM
Without knowing or being privy to the facts it is difficult to make any judgment. What we know is the wee lassie is “missing”, and presumed dead by the Portuguese Police. I assume that they must have certain information which leads them to believe this.
Like you Kevin, I have been astounded by the cool and calm demeanor of the McCanns. I remember just after Robert Murat was named as a suspect, commenting on how Gerry was not down at his door with his hands round Murat’s throat demanding to know where she was………I can’t think of any circumstances where I would not have tackled Murat personally………unless of course I knew he wasn’t involved.
It is a tragic story whatever the outcome, I just pray the wee lassie is safe and well……..but it really does not look like it.
1:40 PM
[Note I am not deliberately anonymous... I just don't have a google identity.]
In Australia in the 1970's there was a similar case. A family were on a camping holiday and their baby went missing. The mother (Linda Chamberlain) claimed to have seen a dingo running out of the tent with something in its mouth, went inside to find the cot empty - and screamed "a dingo took my baby".
A media bloodbath ensued which resulted in the poor woman being tried and imprisoned for her baby's murder. She was later released and fully exonerated after spending 6 years in jail. [Go to wikipedia to read more detail.]
There are similarities between this and the McCann case.
1) The Chamberlains were also practising Christians (husband Michael was a minister) in a likewise secular country.
2) The baby's disappearance was also during a holiday. Like the McCanns the media suggested that they were negligent in their parenting duties. For the Chamberlains it was for taking a young baby on a camping trip (this was even mentioned when they were exonerated - i.e. "ultimately through your negligence you brought this on yourself - and let's call it quits that the 6 years were for being a bad parent").
3) But more relevant to your and kw14ultra's comments are that Lindy Chamberlain was crucified by the media for not showing public displays of grief. They didn't trust her. If she had seen a dingo take her baby then why wasn't she wailing with grief in public? She didn't smile for the cameras, she didn't cry for the cameras. This meant she was guilty.
We non-churchgoers don't trust the quiet faith believers place in their God. We interpret their silence as guilt - as having something to hide. We watchers of z-listers, fame-whores, and reality television wannabes forget that some people don't want to live publicly - and instead keep their innermost self private.
I'd hate to watch history repeat and see another woman be accused of murder by the press on the basis that she didn't cry for the cameras.
[p.s. Mr Murat is likewise mistrusted because he is not what we are conditioned to believe is normal. He lives with his mother (i.e. wierdo), is divorced and is blind in one eye (i.e. no woman would fancy him so he has to be a pedophile), is an expat (i.e. not one of us), quiet personality (see comment about z-listers etc). This is a man who has never been charged - and to suggest that it would have been right for Mr McCann to beat the shit out of Mr Murat... is shabby.]
3:03 PM
I didn't say it was "right" to beat the shit out of Murat - simply that I would have been compelled to tackle him..........if that is abnormal, then I am abnormal..........by the way I'm an expat:)
4:30 PM
Ok, agreeing with the first commenter (Maria), there are always two sides to everything. I shall elaborate on both so as to show an unbias stance on the situation. But, first, I wish to say that I am a college student with a double major: forensic chemistry and psychology. These are the kinds of things that I will have to figure out and, hopefully I won't have to do it very often. Children are precious and why anyone would want to hurt them is beyond my comprehension.
Parents guilty:
1) Abnormal behavior can have either an acute or insidious onset. This means that either it is completely unexpected--no warning--or it has a subtle onset that is only apparent after the incidence of abnormal behavior is at its peak activity. I only say this because in cases such as these where a psychological profile is put together to determine probable cause, there may be warning signs and there may not be. The British police may or may not have found any such evidence(i.e. domestic disputes, signs of neglected children). This does not mean, however, that the kidnapping and possible murder of the child was not done by the parents.
2) We had a similar case in the US, the abduction and murder of Jean Benet Ramsey in 1996. The following quote is from wikipedia: "Police suspicions were initially concentrated almost exclusively on the members of the Ramsey family, although the girl's parents had no prior signs of aggression in the public record, nor any suspicious behavior towards their children."
Parents Not Guilty:
1) The parents, although being neglectful and selfish for doing so, were eating dinner with friends 120 meters away. For the average, healthy person, this is a distance short enough to not need the assistance of a vehicle. The story that they took turns checking in on the children every hour is plausible, albeit incredibly stupid.
2) The blood found in the rental car was not described as a small or large quantity and, therefore, could have come from a nose bleed. That aspect of the investigation was probably discussed with Kate (the mother) during the 10 hour interview before being declared a suspect.
3) A suspect is defined as a person considered to be directly or indirectly linked with a crime. This does not mean they are guilty of said crime. Between my training to be in law enforcement and my criminal justice classes (for my forensic chemistry degree), it has been shoved in my head that all persons are to remain innocent until proven guilty. This applies to anyone, including Madeleine's parents.
4:25 AM
Very interesting to read, erika (cheers!), and a lot more insightful than the huge amount of garbage spewed off on other internet messageboards. Thanks for sharing.
7:10 AM
Interesting comments and worth thinking about. There is a case closer to hand where a teenage girl was found murdered in Midlothian. Her boyfriend was jailed without any evidence to prove it was him. He didnt show any of the emotions of a falsey accused person. Which sealed it for most folk. I thought at the time it was a sound conviction, but now? Not so sure.
11:08 AM
For some reason (might be my instinct) that I suspected the couple from day one. It is just the feeling that their story is profoundly UNTRUE. One should not make judgement based on their emotional display (which is very false and pretentious to my eyes). But I can't help wondering that the couple's bussinessy attitude in dealing with the aftermath is hiding something very fishy.
12:49 PM
The commentaries in tabloids, insinuate that the Portuguese wanted to get rid of the McCanns o, because he is bad for the Tourism and other awful commentaries.
The periodicals had never investigated because the forensic results had taken as much time.
Many theories exist.
Maria
1:11 PM
I don't have enough information to make a judgement at the moment, my instincts tell me there is something wronmg with the parents story, or something that we are not being told - but I just can't see that they "could" have done anything........like everyone else I will be truly shocked if they have.
On the forensics etc, mistakes have been made in the past, and will be in the future - none more so in the UK. I cannot believe if the authorities had significant forensic information that they would have allowed the McCanns to return to the UK, nor that they would be pursuing them further.
1:44 PM
interesting, but, the bottom line is, we don't fucking know. My only comment is that I hate the way the media has used this case and uses every criminal case and makes us all part of the family's emotional experience. Well, we aren't part of it and it's got fuck all to do with us, so get it out of the papers and get it off to TV. When there is something to report - i.e. a body is found or a child is found or a person is charged with a crime - then report it, otherwise, report on news and not emotions and speculations.
2:17 PM
Hi Kev
"Interesting comments and worth thinking about. There is a case closer to hand where a teenage girl was found murdered in Midlothian. Her boyfriend was jailed without any evidence to prove it was him. He didnt show any of the emotions of a falsey accused person. Which sealed it for most folk. I thought at the time it was a sound conviction, but now? Not so sure."
I spoke to you at the time of the murder of Jodie Jones that I had a gut feeling and also the evidence presented about Luke being her killer was wrong an I felt it was a miscarriage of justice.
I have also felt from 3 May since Maddie's disappearance something’s did not feel right about what we have been told. Lately in the press it's been reported that Gerry McCann father was a Labour Party MP Jack McCann.
http://www.anorak.co.uk/twitterings/176297.html
Also allegations of accidental death and sudation by the parents:
The vanishing, the mystery, and the accusations:
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2944400.ece
WTF.
How can you accidentally kill your kid?
Totally agree re: If they were form a housing scheme, they would have been hung drawn and quarter by the press by now.
Who in there right mind would leave wee barins alone?
Their body language has been very shut down and it all seems to be about impressing the media till now.
BRIT POLICE WATCH AND LISTEN NEXT DOOR
http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=brit-police-watch-and-listen-next-door%26method=full%26objectid=19758723%26siteid=93463-name_page.html
And as for there been no evidence of abuse of their children by others when is there ever any, most people turn a blind eye to the abuse of children and say it none of their business. Like the abuse of women. It’s just a domestic. After all you can do almost anything to your children and young people and it’s seen as discipline.
2:59 PM
Reidski - tend to agree with you. But... like half the country, I feel I've been duped into thinking about this more than it deserves, trying to work it out, and its getting harder and harder to switch off and say fuck it, who cares.
It's like watching a horror film where everyone is trying to figure out the ending.
Yeah the media have been ignorant cunts. But thats their job. For the media to act in any other way to the way they have done is to assume some sort of community service from big corporations whose only concern is for paid sales and viewing figures.
The public are addicted to celebs. So celebs are what the media gives us, preesenting their lives as news when its nothing of the sort. Even if they happen to be parents of a kid gone missing, who cares, as long as they can be used in the vacuous world of here-today reality celebdom.
At the end of this I'm even begining to wonder if many of the reality TV generation will feel cheated if they dont get a premium telephone number to vote on the McCanns innocence or guilt. (With all profits split equally between the BBC, ITV, and a children's charity of your choice, chaired of course by a peabrain celeb).
5:25 PM
H! kev, their is a good piece, in sundays Observer newspaper. On this, complicated investigation. At this stage, i think, it is better, to wait and see, how developments unfold. Making unfounded accusiations. Can be criminal on its own.
3:05 PM
Is it only me or does nobody else think there's a bit of a weird mental dissociation from real life / active fakery of sympathy on the part of a bunch of strangers going about as if they're all cut up about a kid they've never met and claiming to have some kind remotely relevant opinion about what happened when they've got no access to the evidence and don't know the personalities of the people involved?
Same as Diana.... everyone wants to look as deep and emotional as the next person so walks about in a simulated haze of pain and outrage about something that has fuck all to do with them.....
Grooving on other people's misery.... I think its pretty sick and I find it hard to take people with a STRONG opinion on the whole thing seriously.
Than again I might just be an unfeeling bitch..... What do people think will happen...... if I say 'I don't care who did it'?
The idea that people are gonna feel angry that they've been duped.... when a wee girl is probably dead.... a sense of perspective says that that is fucking perverse.
4:08 PM
No Anja, not just you. Same shit happened over here in the States over that Jon Benet Ramsay case several years ago. The one thing that kept it from going entirely over the top, thank fuck, was that the whole media circus hadn't quite gone as perverse as it is today. It's unbelievably creepy how strangers get all emotional over someone they don't know. A new low in this was seeing the image of the 'News of the World' with the headline 'Find Maddie' used as a some folks' Myspace image. A real show of support, eh? Like buying one of those poxy rubber bracelets for some cause or another. Oh yeah -- and how about those makeshift shrines people throw together on the site of some kid's death -- the flowers & stuffed animals. I have a kid, I'm not insensitive but this, as they say, is some fucked up shit!!!
9:59 PM
I think this whole saga has been compounded by the empathy that most parents have with other parents that lose children. I know that since I have become a parent I find it hard not to put myself into their shoes. I doubt if it would have affected me that much before.
10:34 PM
It's becoming more an more like America in those Isles every day. Drive-bys, baseball caps, noxious rap, mass fixation on crime suspects. Why not go to live coverage of your trials. The McCanns will make a great show, it will be OJ Simpson Brit style. Even Larry King, over here in Yankyville is covering the case. There's nothing like a good whodunnitt to keep us involved.
8:20 AM
How many child killings/gone missing happen each year in Britain? Last year more than 800 as far as I am concerned, and where are your comments on this? Where are your comments about the British Police when they can not solve any of these cases?
Just for the record, Portugal is one of the SAFEST places in the World to live in or to go on a holiday. I would also like to remind you that it was not the Portuguese Police who left the 3 children alone to go to the restaurant, while there was FREE baby-sitting facilities!
The forensic analysis are underway in BIRMINGHAM, one of the BEST forensic labs in the World!
By the way: Portuguese NEVER leave children alone to go to a Restaurant, our family ties are a lot stronger than in Northern Europe! We don't even consider going on a holiday without our children!
9:09 AM
Seeing as we've got a forensic chemist online, can I ask, Erika, what you make of the fact that the police allowed the mcCanns to drive away with the car that they found their main forensic evidence in; also that the DNA match is 88%? Correct me if i'm wrong, but I thought that if it belonged to Madeleine, that you would get something nearer to a 100% match. 88% suggests a family member rather than Madeleine herself.
On the subject of the McCanns calm demeanour, grief is a strange thing. I had a friend who died of bowel cancer a couple of years ago (she was 30) and by all accounts it was a very sad occasion, especially because she was so young. But the people who were crying at the funeral were those who knew her least; we, her real friends, ended up comforting them! Don't take calmness as a presumption of guilt. I think their grief has gone into their campaign and I know that if it was me, there's absolutely no way that I would ever cry for the media, even if it meant that people thought I was guilty.
12:56 AM
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