11 Oct 2011

McCann civil trial hearings to start in February 2012



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.


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


19 Oct 2010

McCann Book Ban Lifted - Freedom has returned to Portugal



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...


13 Jun 2010

PJGA Statement on the «Madeleine Foundation»



As of 12 June 2010 no donations made by Mr. Anthony Bennett or by the «Madeleine Foundation» had arrived to the ‘Citizens for the Defence of Rights and Freedoms - Project Justice Gonçalo Amaral PayPal account or Bank Solidarity account.

Whatever Mr. Bennett is claiming, and the recent «Madeleine Foundation» proposals (click on the left image to read) are not supported in any way by the ‘Citizens for the Defence of Rights and Freedoms - Project Justice Gonçalo Amaral’ nor by Mr. Gonçalo Amaral.

The unauthorized use of the PJGA's Legal Defence Fund details by the «Madeleine Foundation» and/or by Mr. Bennett as if that organization and/or individual partakes with the ‘Citizens for the Defence of Rights and Freedoms - Project Justice Gonçalo Amaral’ is undesirable and unwanted.


Extract from the PJGA Manifest
published on 11.06.2009

«The book “Maddie: A Verdade da Mentira” was subject to an injunction that sought not only the suspension of sales of the book and the DVD that was based on it, but also of any and all divulgation of the thesis that is defended by Dr. Gonçalo Amaral, author of the book and former Judiciary Police coordinator, about the ‘Madeleine McCann’ case.

Through this action, a ban was imposed not merely on the written work, but on an entire line of thought: the expression of an opinion, based on the facts of a police investigation; a rational, responsible, mature decision.

Nonetheless, said injunction was merely the tip of an iceberg. In the main action that it refers to, Madeleine’s parents seek to extort the sum of 1.2 million Euros from Dr. Gonçalo Amaral – an astronomical amount that is out of any proportion, both legal, and ethical.

A second injunction succeeded in apprehending belongings and professional income from the defendant, stifling his capacity to respond in financial terms, given the fact that judicial and process costs are indexed to the value that is demanded through the main action. In this manner, stripped of his freedom of expression and economically asphyxiated, the siege on a Man who, at huge personal and family cost, seeks nothing more than the reopening of a judicial process, in order to conclude an investigation that so many consider has been cut off halfway through, closes in.»

The Legal Defence Fund/Solidarity Account was constituted to support Gonçalo Amaral in his struggle to regain his inalienable Right to Freedom of Expression as consecrated in the Portuguese Republic’s Constitution exclusively through the payment of judicial expenses and whenever it is proved necessary.

Cheques or donations made out personally to Gonçalo Amaral and/or to his family members are not accepted, and will be returned.

Financial resources that are deemed excessive in the future will be delivered to a social institution, dedicated to support children in need.

More information at Press Release – Defence Fund and Charter of Principles.


21 Apr 2010

Gonçalo Amaral at the Lisbon Book Fair on May 1


For the first time, editor Planeta will have their own booth at the Lisbon Book Fair that will take place between the 29th of April and the 16th of May, at Parque Eduardo VII.

Their presence at the event will include the sale of over 70 book titles and the promotion of autograph sessions with authors, according to the editor.

At the editor's booth, the public will be able to find works by Juan José Millás («The World» and «The Objects Call Us»), crime novels (from Donna Leon to Alan Bradley), historic thrillers (by Glenn Cooper, Gongora, etc.), «Firmin» (by Sam Savage), «Uma Noite Não São Dias» (by Mário Zambujal) and «Morrer é Só Não Ser Visto» (by Inês Barros Baptista), among others.

In childrens' and juvenile literature, Geronimo, Tea Stilton, Cassandra Clare and L.J. Smith are some of the highlighted authors.

The autograph sessions will include the presence of Gonçalo Amaral, who will be available on the 1st of May, at around 4 p.m., to sign «The English Gag» (written following the Maddie Case).

On the 2nd of May, at the same time, Inês Barros Baptista («Morrer é Só Não ser Visto») will be present.


source: Diário Digital, 21.04.2010