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| McCann police libel trial delayed | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The libel action brought by Madeleine McCann's parents against a Portuguese detective who published a book claiming the girl is dead has been postponed. | |
| It was delayed after defendant Goncalo Amaral's lawyer did not turn up at the hearing's opening on Friday for health reasons, a court clerk said. | |
| Kate and Gerry McCann had flown to Lisbon for the opening of the case. | |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she went missing from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, was three when she went missing from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007. |
| In his book, The Truth Of The Lie, Goncalo Amaral questioned the McCanns' account that Madeleine was taken while they were eating with friends. | |
| The McCanns claim the book defames them by questioning their version of events, and are seeking £1.2m in damages. | |
| Despite a major police investigation and global publicity, the girl has not been found. | Despite a major police investigation and global publicity, the girl has not been found. |
| Mr Amaral had been involved in the initial investigation but was later taken off the case. | Mr Amaral had been involved in the initial investigation but was later taken off the case. |
| The court will take its own view of his activities Clarence MitchellMcCann spokesman | The court will take its own view of his activities Clarence MitchellMcCann spokesman |
| A Portuguese judge granted an injunction banning the further sale or publication of the book in September, after a year-long legal campaign to prevent the publication of the book and a subsequent DVD. | A Portuguese judge granted an injunction banning the further sale or publication of the book in September, after a year-long legal campaign to prevent the publication of the book and a subsequent DVD. |
| And Mr Amaral was banned from repeating his claims about Madeleine or her parents. | And Mr Amaral was banned from repeating his claims about Madeleine or her parents. |
| Kate and Gerry McCann have previously said any money awarded in damages by the courts would be used to pay for private investigators to look into their daughter's disappearance. | Kate and Gerry McCann have previously said any money awarded in damages by the courts would be used to pay for private investigators to look into their daughter's disappearance. |
| The start of the case was due to coincide with the launch of Mr Amaral's second book, A Mordaca Inglesa (The English Gag). | |
| Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesman, had previously said it was "regrettable" the policeman decided to launch the book on the same day as the hearing was scheduled to start. | |
| "Most people would expect him to concentrate on the trial rather than launching any new book and the court will take its own view of his activities," he said. | "Most people would expect him to concentrate on the trial rather than launching any new book and the court will take its own view of his activities," he said. |