McCanns set for court showdown

THE ex-police chief who accused the McCanns of faking their daughter’s abduction to cover up her death has told how he wants to speak in court about his claims.

Goncalo Amaral had not planned to take the witness stand to defend a controversial book which is at the centre of a £1 million libel trial. But he has applied for permission to testify after Gerry McCann said he wanted to give his version.

Both men could end up taking centre stage at Lisbon’s Palace of Justice at the start of next month. The court has to decide on the pair’s applications to give evidence by mid-October but the trial does not restart until November 5 after a sixth sitting on Tuesday.

Mr Amaral confirmed his U-turn after the last hearing on Wednesday, the sixth anniversary of his removal as head of the investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance after he criticised British police.

A source close to the case added: “Mr Amaral’s bid to speak is a reaction to Gerry’s application. He has made it clear that he wants to speak if Madeleine’s dad is allowed to testify. But it seems unlikely one will be given permission and not the other.”

Mr Amaral, 56, is being sued by the McCanns over his bombshell July 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie. He accused the couple of faking Madeleine’s abduction in May 2007 to cover up her death. Around 120,000 copies of the book were sold before it was withdrawn when the McCanns won an injunction against the ex-police chief.

Portuguese TV station TVI, also being sued by the McCanns along with Mr Amaral’s book publishers, broadcast a controversial documentary based on the book in 2009.

Gerry’s sister Trish Cameron told this week’s hearing the McCanns are living in purgatory because of the “smears” of Mr Amaral. Three of Mr Amaral’s former police colleagues are set to defend him in court this Tuesday when the trial restarts.

Mr Amaral, 56, denies defamation and insists everything he published in his book is already contained in police files which have been made public. The case is due to finish hearing evidence in late November.

Yesterday it was reported that Scotland Yard detectives believe Madeleine may have been abducted after disturbing burglars. On October 14 the McCanns are to make an appeal on TV’s Crimewatch in light of “fresh, substantive” material unearthed by British detectives.

The Met Police, which announced a £5m review of the case during the summer, said this week it was now examining 41 “people of interest”, including 15 from the UK, and revealed new evidence had been uncovered.

A Scotland Yard squad is trawling through thousands of telephone records of tourists who were in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz when Madeleine disappeared.

A team of six Algarve-based Portuguese detectives are also making inquiries on behalf of the Met following an official request for help sent by the British Government in July.