With thanks to JJP for transcript:



Processos Vol XV
4016 to 4017


Statement for Johnathan Stanley Cooper

I am the above named person. I reside at the address given to the Police with my wife Gail.

On Wednesday 18th April 2007 In company with my wife, her daughter ?..., son ?..., other daughter D ---- and her 2 children. We all flew out to Portugal to stay in the resort of Praia da Luz.

The trip was for my wife Gail's 50th birthday. We stayed in Casa Belabea.

On Friday 20th April. Myself and R.....d H...... (D....'s Husband) decided to to and do some shopping leaving Gail, 2 daughters, at the villa.

(Page One)

During our stay we had rented a car. We drove to the supermarket. We then went into the bar Habana. This is situated near to the beach front of Praia da Luz, and within close proximity to the bar Parasio. I would estimate the time of day to be late afternoon.

We stayed in the bar for around 30 minutes. We then left and went back to the villa. I would estimate us being gone for around an hour and a half.

We got back to the villa, everything was as we'd left it. Gail, the grandkids were still around.

A few hours later that evening Gail and I had a quiet moment together. She said to me "A funny thing happened today while you were out some strange man came to the door wafting paper about saying he was collecting for an orphanage in the town of Espiage".

She told me it unnerved her abit. She then said "He told her there was a car crash on the EN125 where a british couple (Page Two) were killed leaving 3 children. It occurred a couple of days before we arrived.

I cannot recall much about the conversation however she went on to say he spoke English but his accent wasn't Portuguese. She told him she had no money and that her husband was coming back.

From vague recollection, following the conversation with Gail about the le, I think that on Sunday 22nd April 2007 all of our party were having a drink at the Bar Paraiso. This is situated literally on the beach of Praia da Luz. I can remember that that day was drizzly and damp. It was around 1pm.

We were all sat around the table I was sat with my back to the sea. At that time, there was myself, Gail, T...., L...., S..... and H.....

Someone from our group said something like "He's not gonna get a tan today" I turned round and saw a man who I will later describe. He was walking towards the sea alone. The tide at that time (Page 3) was out. He was walking in the dock boards leading to the sea. I thought it was strange and out of place. I didn't really pay that much attention to him. I turned and spoke to our group, when I turned round again he'd gone.

I would describe this male as following. Medium Build, between 5ft 10 and 5ft 8 ins tall. He had collar length hair that was close to his head. I cannot say his age parameters but he wasn't an old man. He stood upright.




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He was wearing a medium blue casual jacket that came just below his bottom in length. It had no design. He had light creamy beige coloured long trousers in combat style with pockets at the sides. I cannot say what he wore on his feet.

Since we have returned to England we became aware of a missing girl called Madeleine.

We spoke about the male who came to the villa. We were at Trudie's home, when we were aware of an appeal regarding (Page Four) Madeleine. Gail said that the man who came to the villa might be connected.

Also, a few days ago I was aware Gail was being interviewed by an investigator. I heard her say something like "The male was on the periphery of a group of Mark Warner Children's group." I got the impression she was talking about the same person who was on the beach, and the man at the villa.

When I saw the male on the beach I was between 100 yards and 150 yards away

Jonathan Stanley COOPER

ETA: Doc linked in TOC.