How can we expect the public to understand Portuguese law?

Question

When many of them seemingly have not grasped the basic concepts of UK law?

(such as the need for evidence in the process as opposed to hearsay?)

superchipbigal
Did I say that?

I am talking about people believeing the press as opposed to evidence as told by the police!

Answer 1

I think in major cases like this many people will easily jump to conclusions and believe anything the papers feed them. Not many people have the skill to think for themselves and wonder "is what is being said REALLY true?"

Trial by media seems like a UK specialism.

Answer 2

Well, we could start by holding news reporters to the same standards as sports reporters.

How long would a football announcer in the UK last if they remained absolutely silent throughout a match, except to say when there had been a goal scored? They'd be sacked for being irrelevant.

What if they predicted which player would score the next goal, and from where? They'd be sacked for being wrong most of the time.

No, they tell you what's going on at the moment, and explain penalties and infractions, give you biographical information on the players, and explanations of the plays being used on the field, and give an interested listener the information they'd need to form their own predictions.

Now, do news reporters do that? No, they constantly predict what will happen next, and give no context to explain why they make that prediction. They are wrong more than they are right, and never give any explanation of the timing involved in when whatever happens next will happen. The reason is that sports reporters are the exception, and happen to have some clue as to what they are looking at.

So, to answer your question... the public certainly could understand the relevant parts of Portuguese law, if reporters were held to a higher standard.

Answer 3

I am an English lawyer and also half Portuguese... What's your question precisely ?! You're implying what precisely ?
You commit a crime in Portugal you need to face their Laws. Pretty simple to understand !!
Is it more acceptable to follow the idea that "...THE PORTUGUESE POLICE ARE TRYING TO FRAME THE McCANNS" ??? or perhaps by trying to discredit them by touching that they have a legal system like "... A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY" ????

How, then, do you get round the FACT that the decisions of the Portuguese Police were BASED ON FORENSIC EVIDENCE FOUND BY THEM WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE ENGLISH POLICE ???? Did not the English sniffer dogs detect cadaver scent presence in the vehicles ?

And that their decisions and moves in the last 3 days are based on FORENSIC TESTS CARRIED OUT IN BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND ?
Where does the "peculiar" Portuguese legal system come in?
If there was the slightest indication that the McCanns are being framed, would not the English Police jump in immediately ?

And where did you get the "evidence as opposed to hearsay" from ? The Sun newspaper ? LOLOLOL

Come on... no offence intended... just grow up !!! Attempting to discredit others by insulting them solves nothing. A little innocent child, a British citizen HAS BEEN EITHER MURDERED OR KIDNAPPED. Give Portugal a bit of credit for the efforts they are putting into the case WITH THE ENGLISH POLICE's support !!!!
If you knew anything about Portugal and their Police you would know that there are TWO believe or not, Police forces. One is called the PSP (Policia de Seguranca Public) -- this is your normal bobby Police force. The PJ-GNR is the more SERIOUS CASES police. A bit like the FBI in the USA.
It was the Police that English hooligans faced curiously enough in the Algarve in the Euro-2004. Not surprisingly, English hooliganism stopped as fast as it started -- no more for the rest of the Euro-2004. The PJ-GNR are not brutal but respond in kind !!!

Answer 4

Wouldn't it make sense to first make note that anyone traveling to a country outside of their own that they should be aware they are subject to the laws of the country they plan to enter and not to the laws and lifestyles from whence they came...???

We, as lay people, should not judge the situation at hand because even international media does not have all the facts...

We should not degrade nor judge the Portugal Authorities for their lack of ferensic skills or equipment. At least they are aware of their limitations and were intelligent enough to accept outside help. Small communities right here in the USA will do the very same thing...

While we usually accept that all people are innocent until proven guilty, that is not entirely so of all countries and we must accept that as well...

Even here in the USA there are many situations of innocence having to be proven rather than guilt... There is always some justice in the law but often it seems there is no law in the justice...

It is a knowing fact that 2 - 4% of those imprisoned in the USA are actually innocent but could not prove their innocence. How can we justify that...? We are in no position to cast stones at the justice system of another country beyond humane and legal representation...

I would address two factors of my own curiosity...

One would be "Why does a parent not have a babysitter for children that young regardless of where they may be or for how long...?"

......In the USA that is considered "child neglect" and is a crime...

Two would be "If the blood was found in a rented vehicle five weeks later, just whose blood is it...?"

Perhaps that is the key link to establish a foundation of innocence or guilt and not the "try-by-media" and "hang-Portugal police" attitude so many seem to be approaching lately...

Answer 5

Yes. But I will help explain ALL laws. A crime is committed, the police investigate, suspects questioned, evidence gathered, a trial and if guilty, punishment. Simple really.

Answer 6

You can get an 'expert' who will tell you anything you want to hear for the right price and rthats what the press does

Answer 7

How true,even the portugese police dont understand the law.

All the british experts are in the papers today rubbishing them,from top CID to DNA experts,if they had DNA the McCanns would be locked up now.

Answer 8

And, outside of Portugal, why should anyone care ?
You obey the law of the country you're in.....or suffer.

Answer 9

I suppose you are an expert on Portuguese law and we should all listen to you.

Answer 10

that's easy.. translate the entire thing into english.