McCanns: Police right to focus on McCanns ?

Question

We read that British Police believe that...

"There is a mantra British detectives use in big investigations: clear the ground from under your feet.

"In this case it meant look at the apartment and the closest circle to Madeleine - her family.

"They should have been the first people to be looked at properly, and police had failed to do so.

"This case has been done back to front, but it is right that the parents should be scrutinised properly."

So are the Portuguese and British Police right to focus on the McCanns ?

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/08/nmaddy408.xml

Answer 1

Statistically, most murders are committed by someone known to the victim - this is old news. However, the McCanns are so manipulative that immediately after Maddie went missing they quickly threw themselves into their media campaign making it almost impossible to anyone to dare to criticise or accuse them - in short, they threw the authorities off the scent with their behaviour and of course, their never ending stories and lies they told to the police. They tell a better story than Jackanory.

Answer 2

I think they should start all over again! The McCanns should have been the 1st suspects along with the friends they were with. However if no evidence could be found then move the investigation on. If those poor parents had nothing to do with the disappearence of their little girl then the police should be devoting every man possible, and every spare second to finding out who is responsible. The whole investigation was a farce from day 1. If they had done more at the beginning then maybe Jerry and Kate McCann would have answers now instead of spending these past months not knowing. Lets hope they get their answers soon.


Lets all just take a second and spare a thought for a beautiful little girl, Madaline. Hope she is at peace, wherever she is x x x

Answer 3

Now the British Police is right?
To finally go with the version of the Portuguese Police, it was them who thought the McCanns were involved, not the other way round, now they're backing up the Portuguese Police in Public because they have no other chance (to obvious) but they always did as the FSS as well.
The only change it's that the British Police made it public.
One thing is strange, this morning on the train for the first time I couldn't read anything about the McCanns not a single small column, coincidence here? Now that both Portuguese and British Police and the FSS all agree to be sceptic against the McCanns?
Think about that...

Answer 4

In any disappearance it´s only right that everyone including the parents are suspects, but it is wholy wrong for a police force to tell everyone who those suspects are. There is no reason for the public to know. Furthermore, it could eventually undermine the case the police are investigating.
Every police force in the world do things differently. Many say the British police are the finest in the world and they may well be right, but even the British police can´t solve murders or child disappearances either. There is too much speculation on here and that can´t be helpful to anyone. The police have to work with facts to secure a case, not guess work.

Answer 5

Looks like they could ALL be in it together but what I can't understand is why the Tapas gang accused Murat on day one if he was helping the McCanns. Seems like snitching on an accomplice. There is definitely some reason why the pj still have Murat as a suspect.Hopefully next month when they are all possibly allowed to see the files which the PJ have then they will all start accusing each other.

Answer 6

It's a learning curve for everyone. In Britain, our police force have long known (from experience) that even close loved ones who are showing "genuine" grief are not above suspicion in a crime matter, and should be considered as suspects from the beginning as a matter of course.

Portugese police have learned this lesson now... and I suspect they will have learnt more lessons on how to go about dealing with all the factions (press / public relations)... even if they still choose to be less open than UK police in investigations.

Answer 7

Yes they are and the british detectives are right - they should have been investigated first.

But recall how much pressure they were put under to follow the kidnap theory promoted by McCanns......

Answer 8

It's kind of twisted, but I think it's a good idea to investigate the McCanns, when most children go missing most parents don't seek such huge media attention; they may be using the disappearence of their child for money and donations to their fund to "Find Madeline." And many private donators have donated large sums of money, so I think it's very intelligent that they are investigating the McCann family, especially since they have found Maddie's DNA in their car.

Answer 9

Its the normal course for police investigations thru'out the world to investigate those closest to the victim. Thats the reason why Kate & Gerry McCann have always been willing & ready to be questioned by the Police to further the investigation.

Answer 10

It's all they got as little evidence as there is. However, focusing on one suspect when there are others can lead to allowing people to get away with murder like OJ's drug dealer did.