There are so many myths going around about this case that I thought a thread to clear a few up was in order so here goes.
Myth 1) that madeleine's DNA was found in the hire car
This is incorect. What was found in the hire car was a mix of dna from three to five people which contained components found in the dna of madeleine, It is incorrect to think because 15 out of madeleine's components were found it is like a 15 out of 19 chance it is hers, simply because all nineteen components are found in the dna of her parents, as well as her grandparents, and to a lesser extent her other relatives. There is no reason why this material could not have come from anyone of the mccanns seen using the car.
Myth 2) that the smith family identified gerry as a man carrying a child away from the resort at approx ten pm 3rd may.
Incorrect. the smiths say a man carrying a child away at this time, but all said that they could not identify him as it was dark. Several weeks later one of the family said after seeing Gerry on TV he felt by body language alone it could be him (60% chance), but was uncertain and as it was dark and he did not have his glasses he could not identify the mans face. Several other witnesses, including those outside the tapas nine, testify that gerry was at the complex at this time
Myth 3)that the fund could ave been set up as a charity and that this would have been more transparent.
Incorrect under english law (charities act 2006 and 2011) a charity must have a public benefit beyond helping one or a few more name dindividuels. The charity ommission is just a regulator and cannot bend the rules. This is why even funds for sick children are either held in banks or made companies as they cannot be charities. Also charities are not more transparent that normal companies and in fact it is harder to obtain accounts for charities than it is for companies in the UK. The mccanns only option was to keep the money in a private bank account which had no transparency or set up NF company which required the submission of accounts.
Myth 4) the mccanns were made suspects in the case.
[I]Incorrect they were made aguidos which is akin to a person of interest, and not suspect. In most places parents are normally the first POIs in a missing child case[/I]
myth 5) the mccanns have behaved unusually in sueing media outlets.
Incorrect this is not an uncommon step in the Uk for libel and has been taken by many victims including christopher jeffories and Robert murat. In the jefferies case some media were even prosecuted. Most recently Lord McAlpine has taken action against media and threatened ten thousand twitter users for libel after false accusations were made against him. So the mccanns are not unusual.
Everyone has the right to sue for libel, but it is easy to defend. If someone is telling the truth they have no problem defending a libel case.
myth 6) The mccanns used calpol to sedate the children and kates father admitted this.
Incorrect. Firstly calpol is not a sedative. Secondly Kates father stated that they never sedated the children, and thirdly no evidence of sedation has ever been found.
Myth 7) Jane tanner changed her story
Incorrect her story has remained consistant throughout.
myth 8) There is evidence of a cover up
Incorrect, not one shred of evidence has ever come to light that there has been any cover-up, let alone one involving different governments, and officials.
myth 8) the fss did not have a license to examine dna in the Uk and had links to the mccanns.
Incorrect. The FSS was in fact a government owned agency set up for the purpose of exmainign and storing DNA, and as such had no links to the mccanns
myth 9) that it was unusual for the embassy and british police etc to be involved.
Incorrect, any case involving a British national would result in embassy or comsular assistance, as well as offers of assistance from the british police, and the FSS routinely looked at evidence from foreign case.
myth 10) The EVRD that alerted in the mccanns property was one of the top dogs, and his alerts meant a body had to have been there.
Incorrect. there are no records claiming the evrd was one of the best at his job. His alerts did also not have to indicate a body was present since he was trained to alert to transfer scent, as well as bodily fluids from living people (this is also confirmed int he jersey case report which states that the dog alerting to tissues was in his remit as they had bodily fluids on them). It is also the case that the handler stated his alerts were not evidence in their own and needed to be backed up, which they could not be.
Myth 1) that madeleine's DNA was found in the hire car
This is incorect. What was found in the hire car was a mix of dna from three to five people which contained components found in the dna of madeleine, It is incorrect to think because 15 out of madeleine's components were found it is like a 15 out of 19 chance it is hers, simply because all nineteen components are found in the dna of her parents, as well as her grandparents, and to a lesser extent her other relatives. There is no reason why this material could not have come from anyone of the mccanns seen using the car.
Myth 2) that the smith family identified gerry as a man carrying a child away from the resort at approx ten pm 3rd may.
Incorrect. the smiths say a man carrying a child away at this time, but all said that they could not identify him as it was dark. Several weeks later one of the family said after seeing Gerry on TV he felt by body language alone it could be him (60% chance), but was uncertain and as it was dark and he did not have his glasses he could not identify the mans face. Several other witnesses, including those outside the tapas nine, testify that gerry was at the complex at this time
Myth 3)that the fund could ave been set up as a charity and that this would have been more transparent.
Incorrect under english law (charities act 2006 and 2011) a charity must have a public benefit beyond helping one or a few more name dindividuels. The charity ommission is just a regulator and cannot bend the rules. This is why even funds for sick children are either held in banks or made companies as they cannot be charities. Also charities are not more transparent that normal companies and in fact it is harder to obtain accounts for charities than it is for companies in the UK. The mccanns only option was to keep the money in a private bank account which had no transparency or set up NF company which required the submission of accounts.
Myth 4) the mccanns were made suspects in the case.
[I]Incorrect they were made aguidos which is akin to a person of interest, and not suspect. In most places parents are normally the first POIs in a missing child case[/I]
myth 5) the mccanns have behaved unusually in sueing media outlets.
Incorrect this is not an uncommon step in the Uk for libel and has been taken by many victims including christopher jeffories and Robert murat. In the jefferies case some media were even prosecuted. Most recently Lord McAlpine has taken action against media and threatened ten thousand twitter users for libel after false accusations were made against him. So the mccanns are not unusual.
Everyone has the right to sue for libel, but it is easy to defend. If someone is telling the truth they have no problem defending a libel case.
myth 6) The mccanns used calpol to sedate the children and kates father admitted this.
Incorrect. Firstly calpol is not a sedative. Secondly Kates father stated that they never sedated the children, and thirdly no evidence of sedation has ever been found.
Myth 7) Jane tanner changed her story
Incorrect her story has remained consistant throughout.
myth 8) There is evidence of a cover up
Incorrect, not one shred of evidence has ever come to light that there has been any cover-up, let alone one involving different governments, and officials.
myth 8) the fss did not have a license to examine dna in the Uk and had links to the mccanns.
Incorrect. The FSS was in fact a government owned agency set up for the purpose of exmainign and storing DNA, and as such had no links to the mccanns
myth 9) that it was unusual for the embassy and british police etc to be involved.
Incorrect, any case involving a British national would result in embassy or comsular assistance, as well as offers of assistance from the british police, and the FSS routinely looked at evidence from foreign case.
myth 10) The EVRD that alerted in the mccanns property was one of the top dogs, and his alerts meant a body had to have been there.
Incorrect. there are no records claiming the evrd was one of the best at his job. His alerts did also not have to indicate a body was present since he was trained to alert to transfer scent, as well as bodily fluids from living people (this is also confirmed int he jersey case report which states that the dog alerting to tissues was in his remit as they had bodily fluids on them). It is also the case that the handler stated his alerts were not evidence in their own and needed to be backed up, which they could not be.