h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

(sorry if this is tedious, but I have a couple of important points to make, and if one line gets the whole thing pulled, it's incredibly annoying)

Guardian.co.uk now reporting that Portuguese police have promised McCann mater a light sentence, say two years, if she confesses to having killed Maddy accidentally then hidden the body.

[Can't be a problem me posting this, this is simple fact - the Guardian website IS reporting precisely this].

SoRB

The only thing I don't understand is why anyone is surprised the parents are suspects.

[I'll explain this opinion, but that's all it is, opinion - I think it's perfectly natural that the parents are at the very least *suspects*. Aren't ALL parents in such cases?]

SoRB

The not-particularly-comforting myth is that children who are
abducted, raped and killed by adults are victims of passing strangers.

[This is a simple fact, unrelated to any case in particular. This really is what most people think most of the time.]

SoRB

The even-less-comforting truth is that the VAST majority of children who suffer abuse and murder do so at the hands of their parents or other people who know them well.

[Again, this is undeniably fact. While "stranger danger" is real, statistically children are most at risk from people they know and trust. Any social worker or GP will tell you the same.]


SoRB

The police know this, and most intelligent people know this.

[Well, they do, don't they?]

SoRB

The indignant response of those close to the McCanns rings rather false.

[Opinion of what it's reported those close to them are saying. It does rather beg the response 'well, they would say that, wouldn't they'.]

SoRB

Well now you know what the problem is SoRB.

Incidentally - on the plea bargaining rumour - I'm told that under Portugese law there is no such thing - there is a sentance for a crime, and judges and police do not get to interfere with it. I don't know if this is true or not, but it was expessed to me as fact.

That's how I understand it too, McKay.

In that case presumably it makes a difference what the charge is - hence suggesting confessing to a crime which carries a lesser penalty than being charged with one bearing a harsher sentence?

Of course, this would also neatly cross the case off the books too.

In general, if someone has pleaded guilty, are they automatically convicted, even if there is insufficient evidence? Haven't there been cases thrown out where a confession is thought to have been forced?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6985454.stm

Once again, the McCanns 'set the rules':

"Gerry McCann said they had returned for the sake of their twins and he appealed for their privacy to be respected"

Now, I do wonder what is going to happen to all the money raised to help them find their daughter and whether they are using any for legal bills etc.

From the BBC news site: "they are "heart-broken" to have left Portugal without their four-year-old daughter."



Did the Pope come to them? I seem to recall they didn't have much problem leaving Portugal when it meant a jaunt over to Rome and a photo-opportunity with ex-Nazi Cardinal Rap-singer.

Whatever happens to the McCanns over the coming weeks I make one prediction with some confidence - it ain't going to be pleasant.

SoRB

Wasn't there a trip to America by the father?

It's very easy to get very cynical about all this media circus ...

I wouldn't be surprised to find out the parents end up being the guilty parties (please don't yikes this Eds, it's just a personal opinion).

What's amazing to me is, if what is suspected is true, the lengths these parents went to in order to be seen as not guilty. *If* they are guilty. The whole media circus that followed and the part they played in keeping it going.

I agree with SoRB - that although 'stranger danger' is a real and constant concern to be aware of when you have small children - the facts show that most of the time children are hurt and abused, and even killed, it's by people they know.

az

It's a statistically correct statement...a personal opinion ilke htat could get you sued!

Of course, we all hope they aren't the guilty party...

I suggest if anyone is going to make comments like that they post it in a separate post from the rest of what they say so only that is yikes'd.

What???

I doubt anyone is going to sue me (or the BBC) for stating a personal opinion.

So, you are suggesting one-sentence postings? With one-line comments, suggestions or opinions in each?

That sounds rather ridiculous.

Yes, I also hope they end up being not guilty because if they are that would be too sad for words. But why isn't it okay to say that?


az

You have basically intimated that the parents killed her...that's libel if it isn't true...but it's true if it is true...let's wait for the potential trial but probably sooner...whether your post gets hidden.

If we could all go around stating personal opinions then I could say all blacks are mentally inferior to whites...it's just a personal opinion...but I know that is 'not acceptable' and it would be yikesed because some blacks aren't mentally inferior to whites...joke..bad one...but joke...

Obviously, our dear Blicky is one of the intelligencia...

i.e. it depends on what your personal opinion is and whether it conforms to the accepted norm...and in the case of BBC message boards whether it conforms with what they think we should be saying.

Oh for heaven's sake, Alfster. If you and SoRB don't want me to post here then just say so. Don't make up idiotic posts trying to make my comments seem other than what I meant them to be.

Fine, you guys win ... I'm outta here. Enjoy yourselves.


az

Don't get so touchy.

It's the mods you should be worried about. I agree with you totally but due to the amount of hidden posts on this thread it really isn;t worth tryting to get modded. Also, the McCanns have been given over £1million and therefore have plenty of money to start lawsuites as with the one against the Portugese paper...I wonder what money they are using to sue them..?

Phew, what a hard discussion to follow! Hidden posts really confuse the reader! No illumination at all from this thread...