Caros amigos,

O meu nome é Gonçalo Amaral. Fui coordenador de Investigação Criminal e sou o autor do livro “Maddie, A Verdade da Mentira”, escrito com o intuito de contribuir para a descoberta da verdade material e a realização da justiça, e na perspectiva de repor o meu bom nome aviltado na praça pública.

Este livro foi escrito no uso da plenitude dos meus direitos, tratando-se de uma opinião técnica e fundamentada em factos, indícios e acontecimentos constantes no processo de suporte à investigação do misterioso desaparecimento de Madeleine McCann.

Em Setembro do corrente ano foi interposta uma providência cautelar, sem audiência prévia do interessado, fundamentada em mentiras e interpretações abusivas das intenções que estiveram por detrás da criação daquela obra.

De forma a dificultar a defesa dos meus direitos foi igualmente interposto um pedido de indemnização no valor de 1.200.000 Euros, seguido do arresto de direitos e bens.

A estratégia daqueles que nos continuam a enxovalhar foi simples: cala-se o homem e fica o caminho aberto para influenciar atitudes e comportamentos, através da manipulação da opinião pública, a seu belo prazer. Está em curso uma campanha de descredibilização e de desinformação, ao mesmo tempo que nos tentam asfixiar financeiramente, de forma a ganharem na secretaria.

Não nos conformamos com a limitação dos nossos direitos fundamentais por decisões judiciais inconstitucionais que põem em causa o exercício da liberdade de expressão responsável.

Agradeço a todos aqueles que ao longo dos últimos anos me têm apoiado e que nos últimos dias assinaram as petições públicas, bem como aos que através de um esforço financeiro para o fundo de apoio recém criado e através de uma demonstração de solidariedade reforçaram a minha crença na defesa de valores que devem enformar as sociedades modernas e democráticas, a liberdade de expressão, a descoberta da verdade e a realização da justiça.

Da minha parte comprometo-me a dar corpo aos anseios de todos vós e a não desistir, apesar de estar em causa a sobrevivência da minha própria família; mas a defesa daqueles valores e princípios é essencial.

A todos, um sentido obrigado.

Portimão, 2009-12-03

Gonçalo Amaral

Dear friends,

My name is Gonçalo Amaral. I am a former Criminal Investigation Coordinator, and the author of the book “Maddie – The Truth about the Lie”, written with the purpose of contributing to the discovery of material truth and the performance of justice, and under the perspective of reinstating my reputation that was blackened in public.

This book was written under the use of my full rights, and stands as a technical opinion that is based on facts, indications and events that are part of the process that underlies the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

In September this year, an injunction was granted without previously hearing the defendant, based on lies and abusive interpretations of the intentions that were behind the creation of said book.

In order to render the defence of my rights more difficult, a request for damages worth 1.200.000 euros was filed, followed by the arrest of rights and goods.

The strategy of those who continue to dirty us was simple: the man is silenced, and the path to influence attitudes and behaviours, through the manipulation of public opinion at their pleasure, is opened. A campaign to discredit and to misinform is under way, at the same time as they try to asphyxiate us financially, in order to win the case without having to go to trial.

We will not conform to the limitation of our fundamental rights, through unconstitutional judicial decisions that put the responsible exercise of free expression at stake.

I thank all those who over the last couple of years have supported me, and who have signed the public petitions over the last days, as well as those who, through financial effort towards the recently created fund and a demonstration of solidarity, have reinforced my belief in the defence of values that should shape modern and democratic societies, freedom of expression, the discovery of the truth and the performance of justice.

As far as I’m concerned, I commit myself to embody the hopes of all of you, and not to give up, despite the survival of my own family being at stake, but the defence of those values and principles is essential.

To all, a heartfelt thank you.

Portimão, 2009-12-03

Gonçalo Amaral

The civil complaint filed by the McCanns against Gonçalo Amaral, over his book "Maddie - A Verdade da Mentira" (The Truth of the Lie) will start to be tried in February 2012.

The first two hearings have been scheduled for the 9th and 10th of February, 2012, at 9.30 a.m., at the Civil Court of Lisbon.

The defence fund that supports Mr Amaral by helping to finance the legal expenses related to this trial, is still in operation. Donations are very welcome. Please refer to the information on the right for contributions. Thank you.

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Related
The McCanns' Injunction: Quotes by the Defence Lawyers
Providência Cautelar dos McCann: Citações dos Advogados de Defesa
Audiência das testemunhas de defesa de Gonçalo Amaral
Gonçalo Amaral in Court: Witnesses defend that book results from the Investigation
The Temporary Injunction: Granted on September 9, 2009 (1143/09.0TVLSB)
Lisbon Appeals Court Decision on the McCann Couple Injunction (overturned)
McCanns appeal to the Supreme Court to forbid Gonçalo Amaral’s book
Supreme Court turns down McCanns' request

O Tribunal da Relação de Lisboa revogou a providencia cautelar interposta pelo casal McCann contra o livro do ex coordenador da PJ Gonçalo Amaral, o Tribunal ordenou a imediata reposição do livro nos pontos de venda.

The Court of Appeal of Lisbon overturned the injunction filed by the McCann couple against the book written by the former PJ coordinator Gonçalo Amaral, the Court ordered the immediate replacement of the book at the usual sale points.

will be updated...

Sofia Leal & Gonçalo Amaral have been married for the last eight years and have two young daughters

“I will not get divorced. That would be a fraud. Our family lives in full communion [unity].”

Sofia Leal, who has been married for the last eight years with the former Judiciary Police coordinator Gonçalo Amaral, reacted indignantly upon being notified with a citation requested by the McCanns, to proceed with a separation of assets in order to allow the arrest of a house in the municipality of Olhão, within the scope of a 1.2 million euros claim.

By Paulo Marcelino

The claim made by the McCanns is based on the contents of the book “Maddie - The Truth of the Lie” (written by Amaral, in July 2008) concerning the investigation into Maddie's disappearance, the McCann's daughter, in Praia da Luz (Algarve), back in May 2007. The couple alleges that the former investigation coordinator accuses them of being responsible for their daughter's death and persists on the abduction thesis.

The interim measure [injunction] was filed at the 1st Civil Court of Lisbon in June 2009 and was allowed. The McCanns gained all the still due book authorship rights, half of Amaral's retirement pension as well as his “share [moiety, half] of their rural property” in Olhão. In July this year, the house division in two parts at the registry office was refused on the grounds that it affected a common asset.

The McCann couple via their lawyer [Isabel Duarte] applied for Sofia Leal to execute a separation of assets, as foreseen by law. She refused and in August the court carried into completion the full arrest. “My husband and I have never abandoned our daughters, or allowed paedophiles in our circle of friends. I am shocked that a couple who affirm to be religious is seeking out to destroy our family”, said Sofia Leal.


British Rule Out Abduction

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) does not held Madeleine McCann's disappearance recorded as an abduction, thus accepting that there is no evidence to suggest that a crime of that nature has taken place; exactly what was concluded by the Portuguese Judiciary Police investigation initially led by Gonçalo Amaral and that is mirrored in the book “Maddie - The Truth of the Lie”.

In a reply to an investigator, who requested [FOIA PDF here] information regarding British missing children abroad, the Consular Directorate of the Foreign Office - dated December 14, 2009  to which the CM had access - affirmed: “The FCO filed the case in May 2008 [Ben Needham]. You will also be aware of the Madeleine McCann case. Both this and the Needham case are categorised as a missing persons, rather than child abduction cases, as there is no evidence in either case to support whether the children were or were not abducted.”.

in Correio da Manhã 08.09.2010

Related
Exclusive Video: McCanns Press Conference February 2010


Read as well: Any Resemblance Is Pure Coincidence & The many victims of the McCann Media Campaign

Em Português (Sinopse): Carta de uma Noite de Verão

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translation from here McCanns Want Amaral's Family Home