Lisbon Trial: Awaiting the Verdict

Many of you who have been following the trial will be aware of the fact that the deadline for all parties to deliver their legal arguments to the court ended on the 26th of February.

Legal arguments were delivered by several parties and now we await a verdict from the Judge.

Article 607 of the Portuguese Civil Process Code stipulates an indicative period of 30 days after the process is concluded by the Judge. While this is not a legal deadline but merely a recommendation, several jurists believe that this case will receive a relatively swift decision.

Judicial holidays over the Easter period (March 29-April 6, dates are inclusive) mean that no verdict will be issued during this interruption of the Courts' work.

We trust in Justice and serenely await the Judge's decision, in solidarity with Gonçalo Amaral.

For your ongoing support, we thank you very, very much.

What is Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral?

A bit of history. A lot of friendship. 

Founded as a quest for justice and backed by supporters from all over the globe, in solidarity, friendship and above all, in the interest of furthering the investigation of the case into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Within this scope, with the relentless support of those who will not let this case pass into obscurity, who do not tolerate the leaving of unanswered questions, there are many who follow Amaral’s dissatisfaction, and whom, like him, urge for the day the truth, or some more of it will emerge.

During the last months of 2009, a group of Gonçalo Amaral friends realised that it would be impossible for him to face the costs of his defence in the civil suit that was filed against him personally – as well as against others – brought by the McCann couple and their children, in response to his book “Maddie, A Verdade Da Mentira”.

Lawsuits in Portugal are expensive, like anywhere else in the world, and the Portuguese State will only help funding legal costs if one is completely destitute. With part of his pension and the total of his assets frozen, Gonçalo Amaral would not be able to cover the legal expenses; what was left of his pension was barely enough to meet everyday living costs, but it was more than enough for the State to refuse financial support. 

Therefore, his friends decided to open a private bank account, where funds would be kept to pay, whenever necessary and whenever possible, expenses that were presented by Mr Amaral’s lawyer. Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral was born out of solidarity and friendship.

The trial is ongoing, since 2009, nothing has changed, pending final judgment. We continue to accept your donations only into this one bank account and we continue to meet only legal expenses out of that very same account.

If any funds are left unused, they will be donated to a Portuguese children’s charity, according to Gonçalo Amaral’s wishes.

There are many ways to contribute to this Project. You can help by spreading information about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann by highlighting the Case File information. You can help by voicing your support for freedom of expression and freedom of opinion. You can help by supporting Gonçalo Amaral’s defence account.

We trust that Justice will be served.

Thank you.

A Message from Gonçalo Amaral

Dear Friends,

The civil suit that was filed against me by the McCann couple is in its final stages, and the decision concerning material facts, which to me seems rather favourable, is already known. A period for legal allegations ensues, after which we will await the verdict, which I envision will translate into my longed for acquittal and the consequent lifting of the attachments that have caused me such extensive financial difficulties over the past five years. This means that it has been only due to your help that I have been able to financially sustain the ongoing lawsuit, which nonetheless cannot be said about my increasingly strangled personal life.

I say strangled because in reality I am experiencing a very serious crisis on an emotional as well as a financial level. This is due to those who have tried to asphyxiate me financially, wishing for my civil death and wanting to place me in a position where I would be unable to react judicially. After five years (counted since the civil suit was filed) the parents of the child that mysteriously disappeared on the 3rd of May of 2007 in the Algarve were not able to fully achieve what they intended. I am alive, I'm able to financially sustain the civil suit, although not much more than that...

Concerning my emotional crisis, I ask you to understand that for me, this whole struggle is not only about the fundamental discovery of the truth, because no matter how optimistic I may be, I can never forget the demand for damages amounting to 1.200.000 Euro that was filed by the couple, which, if absurdly it would be granted, will completely destroy me on all levels.

To all of you, thank you very much.


Gonçalo Amaral


Lisboa, February 2, 2015

Mensagem de Gonçalo Amaral

Mensagem de Gonçalo Amaral

Caros Amigos,

O processo civil intentado contra mim pelo casal McCann encontra-se na recta final, sendo já conhecida a decisão relativa à matéria de facto, a qual me parece bastante favorável. Segue-se agora o período de alegações de direito, no fim do qual ficaremos a aguardar a sentença, que perspectivo se traduz na minha tão esperada absolvição e consequente levantamento das penhoras que financeiramente tanto me têm prejudicado ao longo destes últimos cinco anos. Enfim, quero com isto dizer que apenas graças à ajuda de todos vós tenho conseguido suportar financeiramente o processo em curso, o que já não poderei dizer relativamente à minha vida pessoal cada vez mais estrangulada.

E, digo, estrangulada, porque na realidade me sinto emocionalmente e financeiramente numa crise muito séria. Tudo graças aos que me tentaram asfixiar financeiramente desejando a minha morte civil e colocar-me incapaz de reagir judicialmente. Ao fim de cinco anos (contados desde a interposição do processo civil) os pais da criança misteriosamente desaparecida a 3 de Maio de 2007 no Algarve, não conseguiram alcançar completamente os seus intentos. Estou vivo, consigo suportar financeiramente o processo civil, embora pouco mais…

Ainda a propósito da minha crise emocional, peço-lhes que compreendam que para mim, toda esta luta, não se resume à fundamental descoberta da verdade, isto na medida em que, por mais optimista que eu esteja, não consigo nunca esquecer o pedido de indemnização de 1.200.000 Euros deduzido pelo casal que, a ser, por absurdo, deferido, me destruirá completamente a todos os níveis.

A todos vós um muito obrigado.


Gonçalo Amaral



Lisboa, 2 de Fevereiro de 2015