People are spending far more time sabotaging McCann threads than the McCann enthusiasts are spending on tittle tattle. Pot and kettle.

[Spidermama]

These are developments. They're leading news bulletins the world over because so many people are following the story.

You don't have to, but don't spent so much time and energy ruining it for those who do please. Just look at other threads instead.

I used to be a nork clasper when the threads were devoid of real developments, but today I've had to move because I find the nork clasping camp (keepbumping and friends) is the loonier of the two now.

why are the McCanns a 'clan'? you are using this as a loaded term.

Yes, so they can close the case they otherwise can't solve.

It's a well known tactic. I'm sure the McCann's lawyers understood this.

Some of those pesky lawyers are pretty brainy.

And I thought everyone knew there was a difference between being a suspect and a convicted criminal

is there?

can't I just accuse them anyway?

No one can be arrested for murder in the MM case because a body has not been found.

That's been pretty clear cut since the Bronze Age.

Sure, why not, donnie? Others have. Hanged, drawn and quartered them, too in the Kangaroo Court.

Can I ask someone sensible please. Does anyone on here have a link to the Portugese procedures in such matters as this.

So, even though MM's parents have been made 'suspects', are they really in the frame for this?

Because if they had been made 'suspects' in this country, they would have been charged and remanded...

This is all a bit confusing, so anybody with legal knowledge on the Portugese way of doing things...........

In Portugal, a the evidence is put before a judge who then decides if charges can be brought.

The police don't bring charges.

By all accounts, this will go before a judge next week.

Desi under English law I believe you now can be arrested even if a body can't be found.

I seem to remember a big legal hoo-ha about it some years ago, when they changed the law to allow prosecutions in exceptional cases where there is no body.

I could be having a false memory of course, I can't quite remember whether that change to the law was ever pushed through.

They differ in certain ways, but not in the ultimate outcome. If the Portuguese police had enough evidence to arrest the McCann's, they would do so ... although that involves taking the evidence to the judiciary so that they can assess it.

As I understand it, the Police cannot, of themselves, arrest a suspect. The evidence has to be put before the judiciary first.

in fact ther have been murder convicions where no bosy has been found. Stuart something or other was convicted of the murder of his neice Danielle Jones about 5 years ago - they have never found her body.

body,even.

Yes, I think you're right, LB. The progress of forensic science, I guess. It's difficult to adjust, sometimes, to the swift pace of life.

I struggle with the Latin, but for centuries (certainly since the Middle Ages), the defence was Habeus Corpus (and I haven't spelled that correctly) ... which meant, show me the body?

I've read of cases in the UK having to be seen by the DPP before they can go to court. Is this for 'borderline' cases only? Just curious.

I think he confessed though donnie.

habeus corpus is not the "body" but the "body of the crime"

Amazingly enough, I agree. And without a body, I think they will struggle to even bring charges.

no - I am pretty sure he denied it and even appealed. But correct me if I am wrong.

A person can be charged with murder even if a body has not been found but there must be evidence to prove the victim could not be living.

I've always been a bit doubtful about convicting anyone of murder if there is no body.

What if someone's done a Reggie Perrin?

From what I've read recently, part of the reason for the secrecy (sp?) laws in Portugal is to ensure a fair, unprejudiced trial.

Wish there was a bit less 'trial by media' here in the UK. I am amazed that headlines can say.

'Mr/Mrs X. Cat-eating, sexual deviant etc. etc.'

with the word 'allegedly' underneath.

Oh perhaps I am getting confused with another story.

But what does that mean? The body of the crime?

It was (certainly in the Victorian era) used to mean the physical body of the deceased.

Fast forward, in the 1930s there was the famous case of the Acid Bath Murderer. I think he was called Haigh (sorry, I should google, but I'm dredging memory banks here). He taunted the police, saying that without a body he could not be convicted. And he could not, but that adipose tissue had gathered in the plug, and it was enough for the forensic team at the time to testify that a body had been in the bath.

I think that was the first time that a person was convicted without the evidence of the body.

So, in Portugal, the police can say that you are suspect and then ask you to appear in front of a judge. What if you left the country. After you are 'suspect' or aguidocod or whatever, would you be under certain restrictions.

This seems a bit bonkers but I suppose the only thing that Portugese resorts have to deal with are a lot lesser things than this, so I will reserve judgement on their procedures.