Revised Translation

Cartas Rogatorias (File 5)
Pages 36-38


Leicestershire Police Force
Witness Account
Statement by Paul Anthony GordonOccupation: Accountant


This statement (consisting of four pages and signed by me) is truthful in accordance with my understanding. I make my statement in the knowledge that, if proved to the contrary, I could be charged if I have voluntarily stated anything in the knowledge of it being false or not corresponding to the truth.


Date : 24th April 2008




I am married to Saleigh and we have two children, C...... aged three and J..... aged two. We have lived at the present address since July 2007.

We took the decision to have a family holiday before moving house. Saleigh made a search of holiday destinations and found the ideal site in Portugal – at a Mark Warner resort. We stayed in the same apartment that the McCanns would later stay in, apartment 5 A of the Ocean Club, Praia da Luz.

We travelled directly from Gatwick to Faro on 21st April 2007. Mark Warner personnel transferred us from the airport to our accommodation and everything went well on our holiday.

The week was calm, the children would go to the crèche either for part of the morning or part of the afternoon and there was one day when I think they went for the whole day – but I cannot say this with certainty. The children always returned to the apartment at lunchtime for a siesta that would normally last from 13.00 to 15.00. The children were always in our company when they were not at the Kids Club and we would often take them to the beach for an ice cream.

On Wednesday or Thursday, the children were asleep in the apartment and Sal was also inside the apartment, reading a book if I’m not mistaken. I was sitting in the paved garden that faces the pool area when I heard a male voice say “Ola”. The voice came from the gate that leads to the road at the corner of the apartment and which connects to the main reception area.

I got up and went towards the man who asked me whether I was interested in making a donation to an orphanage. I talked to him and notice he had an ID badge and what seemed to be a book of receipts. I thought he was either genuine or that it was a professional scam. I then entered the apartment and asked Sal where the money was and returned with a 10 Euro note which I gave him. I cannot say where he put the money and I think he gave me a receipt, which I imagine I threw away or left in Portugal. At no time was he aggressive or persistent. I felt that he was genuine and it seemed to be a good cause.

I would describe the man as polite, of good appearance and carrying a pamphlet. He had dark, slightly greying hair, he seemed to be a local, with bronzed skin. I would say that he was over 40 and 1.77 – 1.80 cm in height – its difficult to say exactly as I was looking down at him. He was well built but not fat. He was wearing a light green polo shirt, trousers and shoes.

After all this time I cannot say whether he had a light beard in the ID photo on the badge or whether he himself had a beard. But one way or another I remember him as having a clean and shaven appearance with slight facial hair. I would say I was with the man for 2-3 minutes. The individual was not seen by the children as they were asleep in bed, nor was he seen by Sal who remained inside while I talked to him. I had never seen this man before nor did I see him afterwards. Apart from mentioning him to Sal I did not talk about this individual again whilst in Portugal.

There were no other incidents whilst we were in Portugal that were noteworthy, apart from this man I have just described, however there was an occasion that I cut myself whilst shaving in the bathroom. I would say that the cut bled for about 45 minutes and that it took some time for the cut to stop bleeding, during which time I walked around the apartment with bits of paper trying to stem the flow of blood. As far as I know, apart from this nobody else cut themselves nor died in the apartment.

During our stay we never left the children alone, apart from in the care and under the supervision of the crèche. We felt safe and had no reason to worry. We were satisfied with the care the children received in the crèche and that they were fine even when they were not in our company.

Apart from the charity collector we did not receive any other visitors or feel that anything was strange.

We felt safe in the apartment and were not robbed, neither did anything disappear. The doors, windows and shutters were in perfect working order. There was never any sign that that the doors, windows or shutters had been tampered with, but neither was there any need to check. The front door had a double lock that was difficult to lock, but we managed. The patio door could not be locked from the outside, only from the inside of the apartment and that is why we always chose to use the front door when we left the apartment.

We used to open the shutters during the day and would close them again at night. The shutters made a lot of noise when we closed them. I would describe them as having an internal cord as mechanism for opening and closing them.

On some occasions Sal and I would use the patio door as passageway, generally when we were at the pool and needed to return.

With regard to the sofa, I do not remember where it was positioned in the living room. I would say that it against the wall in order to prevent the children from running around it, but apart from saying that it was blue I cannot say any more.

The children slept in the bedroom facing the car park – the window had a blind, Saleigh and I slept in the bedroom with the door leading to the patio. As you entered from the patio, our bedroom was on the left.

We would generally have breakfast in the Millenium restaurant, lunch in the apartment and dinner in the Millenium, we only dined at the Tapas Bar on two occasions, on the second and sixth days. I remember there was a limit to how many times we could eat at the Tapas Bar, but we managed to do it twice. The children always accompanied us during dinner and that is why we tried to dine as early as possible so that they could return and go to sleep at a reasonable hour. At no time did we leave our children alone.

When we finished our holidays on 28th April 2007 our luggage was taken to reception, where we returned the keys and paid the bill. We were transported to the airport by Mark Warner and returned to Gatwick that same day.

As far as I know we never met the McCann family and never gave the key to anyone other than the Mark Warner personnel.

It was a good holiday, the children enjoyed themselves at the Kids Club and we never had any worry whilst they were there. The resort is reasonably priced and well located In our opinion it only changed after the disappearance of Madeleine.

I would like to add that since January of this year I have received numerous phone calls, messages and visits from the press with relation to the man collecting donations, which in turn led to contact with other persons such as Brian Kennedy, Kate and Gerry McCann. I feel this to be constricting and made it difficult for me to take a more certain decision.

I have always tried to collaborate with the police in every possible form, telephoning them at the first opportunity when the news broke about Madeleine’s disappearance. There have been times when I have felt like a pawn in a chess game.

This statement was made by me and is truthful in accordance with my understanding.


See also: topic35.html

CARTAS ROGATORIAS (FILE 5)
Pages 36 to 38—Witness statement of Paul Anthony Gordon (former holidayer in Apartment 5 A) 2008.04.24

Depoimento de: Pa.Go
Idade se menor de 18 anos:
Ocupação: Técnico de Contabilidade

Este depoimento (constituido por 4 paginas e assinado por mim) é verdadeiro e de acordo com o meu entendimento. Deponho com consciencia de que, uma vez prova em contrário, estarei sujeito a ser processado caso tenha voluntariamente testemunhado algo com
conhecimento de ser falso ou não corresponder à verdade.

Data: 24 de Abril de 2008
Assinatura ______________________________________________

Sou casado com Saleigh e tenhos duas crianças, o nosso filho xxxxxxx de três anos de idade e a nossa filha xxxxxxx de dois anos de idade. Vivemos na presente morada desde Julho de 2007.

Tomamos a decisão de fazer umas férias em familia antes de mudarmos de casa. A Saleigh fez uma pesquisa dos locais de férias e descobriu o sítio indicado em Portugal – no aldeamento do Mark Warner. Ficamos hospedados no mesmo apartamento que a familia McCann viria a partilhar, 5A do Ocean Club na Praia da Luz.

Viajamos directamente de Gatwick para Faro no dia 21 de Abril de 2007. Fomos transferidos do aeroporto para o nosso alojamento por pessoal do Mark Warner, e tudo correu bem com as nossa férias.

A semana foi calma, as crianças foram para a creche ou na parte da manhã ou na parte da tarde e houve um dia que penso até que foram o dia inteiro – mas isso não posso precisar com exactidão. As crianças regressavam ao apartamento sempre à hora do almoço para uma sesta que decorria normalmente entre as 13h00 e as 15h00. As crianças estavam sempre na nossa companhia quando não estavam no clube infantil, e frequentemente levamo-los até à praia para um gelado.

Na Quarta ou Quinta feira as crianças encontravam-se a dormir no apartamento e a Sal tambem se encontrava no interior – a ler um livro se não estou em erro. Eu estava sentado no jardim pavimentado que fica virado para a zona da piscina, quando ouvi uma voz masculina a dizer “Olá”. A voz vinha do portão que dá para a estrada na esquina do apartamento e que dá ligação à area da recepção principal.

Levantei-me e dirigi-me ao homem o qual me perguntou se estaria interessado em contribuir com um donativo para um Orfanato no interior serrano. Conversei com ele e notei que tinha um crachá com a identificação e que tinha consigo aquilo que me pareceu um livro de recibos. Pensei que ou seria genuíno ou um “burlão” profissional. Foi então que entrei no apartamento e perguntei à Sal onde estava o dinheiro, e regressei com uma nota de 10 euros que lhe entreguei. Não posso precisar onde colocou o dinheiro e penso que me deu um recibo, o qual imagino que deitei fora ou deixei em Portugal. Em tempo algum achei o individuo agressivo ou de forma alguma persistente. Senti que era genuíno e aparentava ser para uma boa causa.

Descreveria o homem como educado, com boa aparência e trazia com ele um panfleto. Tinha cabelo escuro com ligeira tendência para o grisalho, parecia ser algem da zona com pele bronzeada. Diria que tinha mais de quarenta anos e 1.77 – 1.80cm de altura – isto é dificil de dizer com exactidão uma vez que me encontrava no degrau a olha-lo de cima para baixo.
Acrescentaria que o homem era de constituição robusta mas não era gordo. Vestia um polo verde claro, calças e sapatos.

Decorrido todo este tempo não sei indicar se tinha uma ligeira barbicha na foto de indenficação do crachá ou se em pessoa. Mas de uma forma ou de outra lembro-me dele com um aspecto limpo e barbeado e com uma ligeira penugem facial. Diria que estive com este homem 2- 3 minutos. O individuo não foi avistado pelas crianças uma vez que estavam na cama a dormir, nem por Sal visto que permaneceu no interior enquanto falei com ele. Nunca tinha visto este homem antes e não mais o vi depois disto. Além de o mencionar à Sal não voltei a falar deste individuo novamente enquanto estive em Portugal.

O homem não parecia estar a bater de porta em porta e tanto quanto me recordo afastou-se do nosso apartamento, caminhando monte abaixo.

Enquanto permanecemos em Portugal não houve incidentes dignos de registo, para alem deste homem que acabei de descrever, contudo houve uma ocasião em que me cortei ao fazer a barba na casa de banho do apartamento. Diria que o corte sangrou por cerca de uns 45 minutos e que levou algum tempo até que o corte parasse de sangrar, periodo esse durante o qual andei ás voltas no apartamento com lenços de papel tentando parar o sangue. Tirando isto, e que seja do meu conhecimento mais ninguem se cortou nem ninguem faleceu no apartamento.

Durante a nossa estadia nunca deixamos as crianças sozinhas, para alem dos cuidados e supervisão do pessoal da creche. Sentiamo-nos seguros e não havia razão para preocupações.
Estava satisfeito com os cuidados que as crianças recebiam na creche e eles estavam bem mesmo não estando na nossa companhia.

Para alem do colector de donativos de caridade não tivemos mais nenhuma visita ou sentimos nada de estranho.

Sentiamo-nos seguros no apartamento e em tempo alguma foi roubado ou desapareceu algo do apartamento. As portas, janelas e persianas estavam em perfeito estado de funcionamento. Não havia sinal de as portas, janelas e persianas alguma vez terem sido arrombadas, mas também não havia necessidade de averiguar. A porta da frente tinha uma fechadura dupla que era dificil de fechar, mas que nós conseguimos fazê-lo. A porta do pátio não se fechava do exterior, apenas do interior do apartamento e por esse motvo quando a familia saía junta usavamos sempre a porta da frente.

Costumavamos abrir as persianas durante o dia, voltando a fechá-las à noite. As persianas quando eram fechadas faziam muito barulho. Descreverias como tendo um cinto no interior como mecanismo para abrir e fechar.
Eventualmente em algumas ocasiões a Sal o eu mesmo utilizavamos a porta do pátio como passagem, geralmente quando estavamos na piscina e precisavamos de regressar.

Em relação ao sofá não me recordo onde estava posicionado na sala. Diria que estava junto da parede de modo a impedir as crianças de andar em torno dele, mas para alem de dizer que era de cor azul, não posso afirmar mais nada.

As crianças dormiam no quarto virado para o parque de estacionamento – a janela tinha uma persiana, Saleight e eu dormiamos no quarto com a porta para o pátio. Quem entrava vindo do pátio, o nosso quarto ficaria à esquerda.

Geralmente tomavamos o pequeno almoço no restaurante Millennium, o almoço no apartamento e o jantar no Millennium, jantando apenas por duas ocasiões no Tapas Bar – foi no segundo dia e no sexto dia. Recordo-me de haver uma limitação ao número de vezes em que podiamos comer refeições no Tapas, mas conseguimos fazê-lo duas vezes. As crianças sempre nos acompanharam durante o jantar e por essa razão tentavamos fazê-lo no horário mais cedo possivel para que eles pudessem regressar e dormir a horas razoáveis. Em momento algum deixamos as nossas crianças sozinhas.

Quando terminamos as férias (dia 28 de Abril de 2007) a nossa bagagem foi levada para a recepção, onde entreguei as chaves e acertei a conta. Fomos transportandos até ao aeroporto pelo Mark Werner e regressamos a Gatwick no memso dia.
Dentro do meu conhecimento nunca encontrei a familia McCann e nunca entreguei a chave a mais ninguem além do pessoal do Mark Warner.

As férias foram boas, as crianças divertiram-se no clube infantil e não tivemos qualquer tipo de preocupação enquanto eles lá estiveram. O resort tinha um preço acessível e estava bem localizado. A nossa opinião só se modificou após o desaparecimento da Madeleine.

Desejo acrescentar que desde Janeiro deste ano que tenho recebido inúmeros telefonemas, mensagens e visitas da imprensa em relação ao colector de donativos, que por seu turno levaram-me ao contacto com outras pessoas tais como, Brian Kennedy, Kate and Gerry McCann. Sinto que isto é constrangedor o que torna dificil tomar a decisão mais acertada.
Tentei sempre colaborar com a policia de todas as formas possiveis, telefonando-lhes na primeira oportunidade disponível assim que romperam as noticias sobre o desaparecimento da Madeleine. Há certa alturas em que me sinto como um peão de xadrez.

Este depoimento foi elaborado por mim e é verdadeiro de acordo com o meu conhecimento.

Document linked in TOC

Processos Vol XV
Pages 3984 - 3986

(Statement in English)


Surname: Gordon

Forenames: Paul Anthony

Occupation: Marketing Manager

Statement Date: 06-05-2007




On Saturday 21st April 2007, I went on holiday with my wife and two children to Portugal. We went to an area of the Algarve called Praia da Luz and stayed at the Mark Warner Ocean Club Resort. Our apartment was a two-bedroomed ground floor one, which was situated in block G. The room number was 5ª. To the front of the property was a bedroom and a kitchen, and to the rear was another bedroom and lounge. Myself and my wife shared the rear bedroom and the two children had the room to the front. From the rear bedroom and lounge you can access a private balcony. From the balcony are approximately ten steps down to a gate and small enclosed patio area. This area is exclusive to the apartment and not used by other residents. Running parallel to the patio area was a footpath and on the other side of this was a swimming pool and Tapas restaurant. I am quite sure, from seeing recent news events, that this is the same apartment that a young girl has recently gone missing from.

During our stay at the apartment on either Wednesday 25th April or Thursday 26th April, I was sun-bathing alone on the patio area. My wife and children were in the apartment and I know that the children were sleeping. At approximately 14.30 hours (I know it was around this time as the children always slept between 13.00 and 15.00 hours and it was nearly time to get them up) I was approached by an unknown male. He came to the light green barred gate which leads to the road running adjacent to the apartment. I can’t remember exactly how he initiated conversation, but he introduced himself and started to explain that he had permission to be on site in order to collect money for either a charity or project. I went over to where he stood, and he explained some more. I remember him making reference to the fact that he was only allowed to collect for one week of the year (or something about one week) and that the money would go towards the orphanage. I got the impression that the orphanage was not nearby. I got the distinct impression that I was being had over, but gave the man ten Euros just to get rid of him. He was perfectly polite and good-natured and showed me some sort of identification. I didn’t look closely at this, but saw there was a photograph of him on it and possibly his name. I am sure the photograph was of the same male, but he had a “goatee” beard in the photo which he no longer had. The man also had with him, a pad of paper (perhaps a clip board) and an old looking brochure of some sort. He also had a receipt book, which he filled in when I gave him the money. He gave me a receipt, but I know (sic) longer have it. All in all, I stayed chatting to the man for about 5-10 minutes. I had to go inside during this time to get the money for him but was only gone for a few seconds. Once this meetings had finished, the male walked of (sic) down the hill towards the supermarket and I went into the apartment. I would describe the male as Portuguese looking, very tanned, medium build and about 5ft 7” to 5ft 10” tall. He looked between 40 and 45 years old and spoke really good English with a foreign accent. He had short dark black hair with possibly some grey around the sides. His hair was not perfectly straight and I would imagine that should he have grown it longer, then it would be wavy. He had no facial hair and I’m quite sure that he wasn’t wearing glasses. He had a few wrinkles on his face and was quite presentable. He was wearing a light blue or green pale polo shirt with short sleeves. It was plain and had no logos or writing on it. I believe he was wearing light tan coloured trousers and dark brown shoes. I think they were slip - ons. I had never seen this man before that date, and I did not see him again. I am confident that I would recognise him, should I see him again. I have produced a map of the apartment and surrounding area which I can now produce as my exhibit, PAG/01. I am willing to attend court if need be and will support any police action.



Artist Impression:
http://mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P15/15VOLUME ... e_3986.jpg


Doc linked in TOC and statement index.

Cartas Rogatorias Vol V
Page 39

Leicestershire Police Force

Witness Statement

Statement from: Paul Anthony Gordon


Date: 1st May 2008

Signature.

Following my statement made on 24th April 2008 I was today given the opportunity to read my original statement, dated 6th May 2007. DC 1485 Messiah and DC 4064 Holliday from the Leicestershire police force were present.

After having read the statement I can confirm that the time when I saw the donation collector was about 14.30 to 15.00 and as I mentioned before the children would have a siesta in the apartment, generally between 13.00 and 15.00 every day.

I would say that I spoke to the individual before they woke up.

From memory I would say that happened on Wednesday or Thursday during our holidays in Praia da Luz in 2007.

This statement was made by me and is truthful according to my understanding.




Doc linked in TOC and statements index.

Questions from the Letter of Request:

VII - Interview to the adult users of the apartment (G5A) from which MADELEINE MCCANN went missing, who stayed there before 28th April (the date on which the



Page 111

MCCANNs arrived there). They should be subject to a buccal swab and hair sample collection (only the below UNDERLINED individuals :

* The FAWKES family, namely SIMON ANDREW , CLAIRE LOUISE AND daughter RUXX ELXXXXXXX, 62 EvXXXXXX LaXX, WOXXXXXXX, BEXXXXXXX, RGXX 4XX, UK.

* CARLOS DAMBROSIO and JUNE HUGHES, 53x MoXXXXXX DRXXX, Glasgow, GXX 1XX, UK.

* The GORDON family, namely PAUL ANTHONY, SALEIGH LOUISE and two children - CHXXXXX HAXXXXXX and JAXXXXX ISXXXX - 2 DaXXXXXXX, WIXXXXX, Hants, PXXX 6XX, UK.

The aforementioned persons should be asked the following questions :

* Did any incident happen during your stay at the apartment, i.e. was anyone injured or did anyone die ?

* Did you ever suffer theft or did any of your belongings disappear from the apartment ?

* Did you ever detect the presence of anyone strange inside or around your apartment ?

* Did the windows, as well as the doors and shutters close well ? Did you at any time detect whether any of these accesses to your apartment had been broken in ?

* How did you usually go into your apartment ?

* Was the sofa in the living-room - on the right side after entering through the patio door - leaning against the wall or a little away from it ? If it was away from the wall, how far ?

* Do you have any children ? Did you take them to Portugal with you ? Where did you and your children sleep ?

* Where did you usually take your meals, i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner ?

* Did you ever leave your children alone ?

* Did you use the "Kids Club" service ?



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* Did you detect anything worth mentioning during your stay ?

* Any further questions deemed useful, necessary or pertinent in view of the previous replies.

topic471.html