Thinking the unthinkable: Did Madeleine McCann's parents kill her?

Yes

6 of 13

by Matt McCormack

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This is not some game of detective where you can blatantly accuse Miss Scarlet for killing Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with the candlestick and expect few consequences if there's a mistake. These are real people we are talking about, so we must take this seriously. Unlike the accusation on Miss Scarlet, a false accusation on the already distraught McCann parents could have dire emotional and legal consequences. This is while the people actually investigating the case are struggling to find sufficient evidence to charge the couple.

Loosing a child or loved one close to us would be one of the most devastating and horrible experiences which could happen to you or me. The last thing you would expect while grieving such a terrible loss is being blamed for it. In our modern western society we all have the sacred democratic right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. So why should it be any different for the parents of Madeline McCann who haven't even been charged for anything? While most of us are being sensible and show empathy to the plight of this family, an insensitive few are doing their best to trash these people's lives.

Accusations have been flying left, right and center through the media damaging the credibility of the family. Newspapers and television shows have excited viewers as if it were just a new interactive episode of CSI in order to increase ratings. Even comedians have included this case as part of their routines. However there's no guarantee as to how true any of these accusations are, whether or not they may have been exaggerated and sensationalized, or even if they would be acceptable evidence in a court if the couple were charged.

Unlike the media, courts have strict rules banning biased and unfair information such as someone's unqualified opinion or hearsay evidence. Media reports can be filled with this biased and prejudicial information which can create a serious legal problem for Gerry and Kate McCann if they are charged. Although the jury hearing the case would be asked to base their decision on the evidence heard in court, media coverage has been known to cloud the decision making of jurors and decrease the likelihood of a fair trial.

There is a serious lack of evidence that suggests Gerry and Kate McCann are responsible for the death of their daughter. The recent so called 'breakthrough' in the investigation where blood was found in the McCann's rental car does not prove their guilt. The major shortcoming with forensic evidence is that it must be backed up with real evidence.

Blood or hair samples can be left at anytime when someone's alive or dead. If the blood sample is in a poor condition, other substances such as engine oil can be confused for blood. As we all have injuries such as cuts and grazes it would not be unusual to find small traces of blood somewhere in our own homes. If someone disappeared from your own family and the police had found a sample of blood in your house, you could never be charged unless there is other evidence that strongly connects you to the crime.

This is a complex investigation where there are many issues that still need explaining. The fact that the in investigating bodies have not yet laid any charges on the family indicates a significant lack of evidence. The police have the ability to see all the evidence available and question the parents as much as they like. If they are not able to prove or accuse them of doing anything wrong, it's hard to see how anyone else could come up with such an accusation unless they are completely ill-advised.

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