The arrogance of those (mostly British) who incessantly attack the practices of the Portuguese police baffles me. What ever happened to the English policemen who mistakenly shot and killed the young Brazilian in the London underground two years ago?

Anna, Nicosia, Cyprus

I hope McCanns are not guilty, I hope that very much indeed...
I know that the portuguese police is doing their best and are setting up much more than they could cope with. They have been in contact with the brittish police and brittish laboratories that analyzed DNA. And both of them will lose the case, of course. Let them work and wait to the real evidences, not speculations.
McCanns began with wrong "marketing". And the help of image and media advisors is not the best image for two innocent parents.

Elisa C., Stockholm, Sweden

I think Mr.Stephen Jakobi, should not make comments of that type regarding the portuguese police. First its not true, I am portuguese and have lived in 5 different countires, including the UK for 5 years, and the stories I read in the papers regarding the police in Portugal are the same type of the UK..... and my experience with english hooligans, is NOT the same as with portuguese soccer supporters. But doesn't mean I go on and say all british are drunkers and aggressive; hence, accusing the portuguese police to be one the worst in Europe is not fair, responsible or actually true. And I am sure that PJ is doing all they can to solve this case.

Helena, Stavanger,

Arrest the Portugese Police who are handling the case; it is obvious to most that this poor family have been set up.

Regards

Angela O'Connell

Angela O'Connell, London , UK

As an American lawyer, I disagree with Ana, juries play THE central role in a criminal trial Although it is true that a judge can, in certain jurisdictions, set aside a verdict that is the rare exception to the rule. At the federal level, and indeed, generally, most judges are loathe to touch a jury's verdict, it is fairly sacrosanct.

JennyA, Baltimore, MD

A small village in Portugal is under scrutiny because of some british holiday -trouble makers. If you want to travel to these countries, make sure you take precautions like anywhere else. Any place outside your home is a possible danger. I hope british holiday makers will take this as a valuable lesson. It's not where you go, its how you behave where you go.

Torido, Lisbon, Portugal

All good enough reason never to go to Portugal.

Ian, Leicester, England

Francis Gibbs is incorrect when she writes:
"But Mr Castro-Pereira added that the jury did not have the central public role as in Britain or the United States and could be overuled by the judge if the judge felt that its verdict out of line with the law"

In the many US States the judge can alter or set the veredict asidet. Gibbs should know that. In the (in)famous case of British nanny Louise Woodward. The jury's verdict was murder in the second degree which was reduced to the conviction to involuntary manslaughter by Judge Hiler Zobel.

ana p. , philadelphia, usa