Can someone point me to the post number of the article that says blood was found in the rental apartment? TIA.
Here is a better-translated article than the one I found last night:
in Jornal de Noticias this morning:
http://jn.sapo.pt/2007/08/06/p....._cann.html
Blood in the McCanns bedroom
Madeline McCann can have died for accident in the room of the Ocean Club, in the Algarve, where she was installed with the parents, she advances the Periodical of Notice in its edition of today[/b]
Traces of blood from a dead person, presumably from little Madeleine, have been discovered on a wall in the bedroom that was occupied by the McCann couple, in the apartment at the Ocean Club, in Lagos, from where the girl vanished on May 3. This fact locates the childs death inside the apartment, but the investigators do not take it as certain that this was a homicide, although according to the clues that were collected by forensics experts, somebody tried to clean up these traces. On the contrary, JN knows that the explanation that is seen as more likely at the moment to explain Maddies death practically given as certain is that this was an accident.
New elements of proof were apparently discovered early last week, through the use of dogs that are specially trained to detect the biological residues of dead persons, independently of the time that has passed after they were left. Investigators are convinced that the blood belongs to Madeleine, but they wait for more detailed analysis in order to confirm their suspicions.
The day before yesterday and in the early morning yesterday, the McCanns apartment was still being subject to intense technical examinations by the PJs technical staff, namely using ultra-violet light sources. JN could witness that numerous pictures were also taken.
New interrogations
The discovery has led to an entirely new perspective on this case and may focus the investigation on the childs family circle and the McCanns close friends. The possibility of new interrogations on these persons has not been dismissed.
Almost 100 days after the english girl disappeared, while her parents were dining in a restaurant that is located approximately 50 metres from the apartment, the case investigation seems to be coming close to its final. It is now clear to the Policia Judiciaria that the childs death happened inside the bedroom. But there is still a lot of doubt concerning the bodys destiny.
Intense searches made during the last days in the garden of Robert Murats house, were an attempt at clearing this aspect, but apparently without any results. Yet, JN knows that the searches will intensify over the next days, in various locations. Many of these, that were already inspected before, will be analysed again by the dog that was brought in from England.
Joana case
But the discovery of the body may not be determinant in order to close this case. We just have to remember the case of Joana, the 8-year old girl that disappeared from the village of Figueira, in Portimao, in September 2004. Her body was never found, but her mother, Leonor Cipriano, and her brother were condemned to prison for 20 years and 4 months, and 19 years and 2 months, respectively.
Contamination eliminated
JN also knows that one of the main concerns of the investigators was to eliminate any doubts about a possible contamination of evidence, which has been done succesfully.
Since the day Madeleine disappeared, dozens of people went through the McCanns apartment, including police, family, friends, hotel staff and even dogs.
In the investgations initial phase, over 300 biological residues were collected by elements fron the Judiciarias Scientific Police, and then analysed at the Instituto de Medicina Legal.
Even after the inspectors work in the apartment was considered finished, there were other people inside. Since June 11, the apartment was rented to other couples on holidays by the Ocean Club.
JN knows that any possibility of clue contamination was definitely dismissed.
Dogs distinguish residues of dead people
They are trained to detect biological residues and they are able to tell whether these belong to a living or a dead person. The dogs that were brought to Praia da Luz by english police can trace corpses, or even a skeleton. The resies age is not a problem either. Therefore, their capacity is extremely important. These dogs were trained just for this function, a source with GNR said, adding that this mission is not specific for one dog race, but is all about the training that is given. In Portugal, there are no dogs trained for this type of action, but according to our source, that is a future goal. The sniffer dogs that are used by GNR and PSP are trained to detect peoples odors. The person may be alive, and that makes it easier for the dog. If the person is dead, the animal can only detect her smell if the death is recent, the same source explained. In the searches that were done in the garden of Robert Murats house over the last two days, english police used a border collie race sniffer dog. In order to evaluate if the soil was hiding anything, holes of half a metre were made, using steel cables, but the animals detected nothing.
Robert Murat is confident and continues to plead his innocence
Francisco Pagarete, Roberts lawyer, did not offer any comments on the processual diligences that were done in the garden of Casa Liliana. He assured that they counted on the collaboration from Robert Murat and his mother. Not speaking many words, the lawyer also pointed out that the arguido was cooperative and by the end of the actions he was confident and satisfied. Now, according to Francisco Pagarete, Murat awaits the result of the diligences in order to quickly prove his innocence. The diligences may determine the change of the coaction measure that was applied to Robert Murat. The police is still trying to discover whether or not there is a connection between the anglo-portuguese man and the McCanns or their friends.