Why I chose to believe that the McCanns are innocent?

Question

Even on the basis of scant knowledge, accusing the parents of killing their daughter doesn't seem to make much sense. The thought of this poor family being wrongly accused of their missing daughter's death (for whatever reason) is so utterly abhorrent and distressing. If they are innocent as seems probable, then this latest development is simply horrific. If they aren't innocent, well time will tell, but I come from a country where someone is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, and I think the McCann's deserve that assumption more than most.

Answer 1

Toietmoi, you have defended the McCanns right from the start and I admire you for that. However, I cannot agree with you because, whilst it may be abhorrent for the McCanns to be wrongly accused, it is equally abhorrent that, if they are guilty, they are getting the sort of high level support which is doing its best to intimidate the PJ and brainwash the public.
I have no idea whether they are guilty or innocent but I don't like their behaviour and I have not liked it right from the start. They are bringing most of the criticism upon themselves. I don't want to quarrel with you but that is what I think.

Answer 2

Innocent till proven guilty by a court of law is such a tough thing. I will use a recent big thing in the news here in the US. A little girl was violated in the worse way possible by an adult male who has not been found. It is on video and the police have seen it. He has not had a fair trial but the man is certainly guilty and if the police don't find him first some citizen will and he may likely be killed rather then get a trial. He is obviously guilty and has not been to trial. I do understand what you are saying however. We cannot refer to the McCanns guilty of anything except the obvious neglect which for some people is not neglect at all. But for some of us there are some very odd events and leaks that just do not add up and seem bizarre and seem to make them seem more guilty. I think the best thing for them to do at this point is stay away from the cameras, Clarence stay away from the cameras and media as well as their friends and family because all of these new things coming to light just make them look more suspicious. I do think however Madeleine's face should continue to be out there. I think though toi that even if the police say they have solid evidence and they were convicted for it there is going to be alot of people out there that still say they were framed, wrongly accused and vice versa if they are cleared.

Answer 3

You might as well choose to believe in innocence.
Presumed innocence does require an element of of trust.
Innocence is less easily proved than guilt, in a court of law or in life.

When someone is under suspicion, there is the idea that if just one more fact or detail emerges, that person's innocence will become proven guilt and that someone has been very cleverly deceptive.
Hence many people await the moment when a piece of new evidence reveals undeniable guilt.
(I refer to suspicions in general, not just the specific instance of the McCann investigation.)

Answer 4

So we are all qualified arm chair lawyers now, are we? The "facts" as I have read them are scant, and circumstantial, at best. There are so many variations on a theme out there that any "sensible" person would be skeptical.
Time will tell the real story and until the real facts emerge I keep an open mind.
As parents they may have been misguided but they are not the first and only...........and most likely will not be the last.

Answer 5

"I come from a country where someone is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, and I think the McCann's deserve that assumption more than most".

I am very curious as to why you have used this phrase, why do the McCanns deserve the assumption of innocence more than most? Because they are doctors? Because they are educated? Because they are intelligent? Exactly WHY is it okay for them to leave 3 toddlers alone at night in an apartment in a foreign country. Why them "more than most"?

Answer 6

I don't call myself pro-McCann, but I too prefer to believe them innocent until actual concrete proof of guilt is confirmed.
Leaving body language out of it (because like forensic evidence it takes an expert to analyse it correctly), I think that especially in the first few days/weeks they acted exactly as you'd expect innocent people to act. If you'd killed your child, accidentally or otherwise, and had gone to some lengths to cover it up, why would you then encourage everyone to look for her, get the world's media involved, and set up a massive campaign to find her? Why put yourself so much in the spotlight, when her body is hidden in a place so unsafe, you then have to move her -risking being caught not once, but twice?
The forensic evidence we know of so far is so flimsy as to be laughable, and would never stand up in court. Hundreds of people were in that apartment before it was sealed off and samples taken -no-one can say with certainty that some of the DNA found wasn't tracked in by someone else.
And why get independant forensic tests done on the car if you were guilty? Again, you're risking someone else finding what you want to keep hidden -or is someone going to suggest that the McCanns have paid off the forensic team (as well as all their friends) to cover up for them?
There are far too many ridiculous assumptions being touted as facts in this case -one of the worst being that Kate McCann called Sky news before the police, which was absolutely refuted by Sky news yesterday.
Some people on YA have made statements to the effect that "you've got nothing to fear if you haven't done anything", as if the McCanns avoiding answering questions etc proves their guilt. That's incredibly naive, if I may say so. Do you really think everyone who ends up in court (even everyone convicted) is guilty?
YES they were wrong to leave their kids alone, but IMO they're being demonised for it.

Answer 7

They are innocent until proven guilty/ The police are currently working on their evidence. So far, DNA evidence has made them suspects.

Why do you think they should be treated differently than anyone else. The parents are always investigated when a child of theirs dies - statistically, most murders are committed by people the victim knows. If they are innocent then that is great. If they are guilty then they should be punished like any other Joe Bloggs would be.

Answer 8

All I would say is if you tell the truth, you always remember what you say and when asked the same question, you give the same answer because it is the truth and you know it. If you lie, you have to have a very good memory and lately, practically every day Gerry is saying something else which to my mind says he either can't remember what he originally said or getting worried and making up different things that he's suddenly remembered.

Answer 9

Hello,

(ANS) I am totally in full agreement with your point. The McCanns treatment by the press & media, but specially the Portuguese press is nothing short of psychological torture and trial by media, as if the loss of their child wasn't bad enough.

**I too completely believe in the innocence of Gerry & Kate McCann.

**Sadly, this case reminds me of the abduction of little Ben Needham from his family in Kos in Greece many years ago, Ben was never found nor seen again and is still (status) missing.

Ivan

Answer 10

I believe innocent until proven guilty. Portuguese law states that no information surrounding the case can be made public. If no evidence has been publicised the we can only then assume that this has been trial by media.
The media in this case could possibly jeopardise any case brought to to court or risk diverting the attention away from finding this poor child.
What ever the outcome the media will gain from the spoils unfortunately.