|
3 to 6-Witness statement of Emma Louise Knight
(Hotel Manager) 2008.04.30 |
|
04-CARTAS ROGATORIAS UK (FILE 4)
Pages 3 to 6 |
|
TRANSLATIONS BY INES |
Testimony of: Emma
Louise Knight 30-April 2008
3 to 6-Witness statement of Emma
Louise Knight 2008.04.30
Translation:
Leicestershire Police Force
Statement from: Emma Louise
KNIGHT
Occupation: Hotel Manager
Date: 30th April 2008
I am currently an employee of the
Mark Warner Holiday Company, 20
Kensington Church Street, London. I
have worked for this company since
November 2005 and have held various
positions in complexes and hotels
abroad.
In March 2007 I travelled to the
Mark Warner complex in Praia da Luz,
Portugal. My position was Client
Support Manager and my function was
to receive and welcome the new
guests and be available to resolve
any problem that might arise during
their stay.
The Praia da Luz complex covers a
large area and for this reason there
were several locations where I
worked during the day, such as the
reception, the Tapas bar area and
the Millenium Restaurant.
My first contact with the couple
named Gerry and Kate McCann took
place in the 24 hour reception when
they arrived at the resort
accompanied by their 3 children.
They were on holiday with a number
of other families, some of them
arrived by different means.
During the first part of their
holiday there were no problems that
were brought to my knowledge
relating to their stay. I knew about
their three children but I never had
contact with them.
On the night of 3rd May, after
having finished work, I planned to
meet a group of colleagues at 22.30
to go out. At about 22.17 I received
a call from Lyndsey Johnson, the
creche Manager, informing me that
the girl had gone missing. I met
Lyndsey and the Service Manager, Amy
Tierney, near to the Tapas Bar and
we initiated the 'Mark Warner
procedures for the search of a
missing child'.
This procedure involved the
distribution of leaflets that had
already been prepared, with the
names of the locations, for the
members of staff, indicating the
zones that they should search. Once
the location indicated had been
searched, the leaflet was returned
and another one with a different
location was handed over. This
procedure was followed by the
members of staff, but on that night
about 6 residents from the complex
were also involved in the search.
I was told who the missing girl was
and at the beginning of the
procedure went to the McCann's
apartment to obtain the girl's
description and of the clothes she
was wearing when she disappeared.
When I arrived at the apartment,
there was a lady on the terrace,
whom I now know to be Kate McCann,
accompanied by the wife of one of
her friends, David Payne. Kate could
not say a word, looked very upset
and about to cry. It was Mrs Payne
who provided me with the details
that I needed.
I returned to the location where the
leaflets were being distributed and
passed on the information that I had
gathered about the missing girl.
Lyndsey was busy with the
distribution of the leaflets and I
went to search in the beach area. On
my return I passed by the Duke Pub
where I met other members of staff
who also joined in the searches.
The hotel manager, John Hill arrived
at the location from which the
searches were being organised and I
can confirm that he called the
police. John stayed at the location
and I several times went to search
the grounds. I went with Amy and we
searched the highest part of the
complex behind the apartments. The
search lasted for about 10 minutes
and then we returned. At that moment
John asked me to go to the apartment
the girl had disappeared from and,
on behalf of Mark Warner, provide
all the help the family might need.
I went to the McCann's apartment,
entered by the patio doors and
introduced myself to Kate and Mrs
Payne. I entered the apartment
living room and Kate and Mrs Payne
stayed in the main bedroom, from
where I could hear them both crying.
The twins were still asleep in the
children's bedroom and the door was
half open.
A short while later, Gerry returned
to the apartment accompanied by
Russell. They also entered by the
patio doors.
I don not remember the exact
sequence of events at this time, but
I do remember that I phoned John,
who informed me that the police were
on their way.
I remember that the police arrived
between 00.00 and 00.30, entered by
the main door and went to the
kitchen with Gerry.
I went to the bedroom where Kate and
Mrs Payne were. Kate was still
upset, crying and calling
Madeleine's name, shouting 'where is
she''
She also banged on the headboard. At
that moment I went to check on the
twins in their room and they were
ok.
I remember being in the main bedroom
with Kate, Mrs Payne, Gerry, Russell
and David who were sitting on the
bed and I sat on the floor. At that
moment David suggested that the
press should be contacted. Russell
disagreed, saying they should keep
calm and let the police take care of
the situation.
At that moment Kate appeared to lose
control, crying and constantly
asking 'where is she'' whilst
banging on the bed.
Gerry remained calm throughout. On
one occasion Kate and Gerry both
went to the main bedroom and I could
hear both of them crying.
Quite a bit later that night I
remember the police asking everyone
to leave the apartment. I received a
call from John informing me that he
had arranged for another apartment
for the McCanns. I went to reception
and helped Lyndsey to move the two
cots to the new apartment
The McCanns went to the new
apartment and I remember seeing Kate
and Mrs Payne seated on the sofa,
each holding one of the twins. I
left the new apartment at 04.30 in
the morning after instructions from
John Hill. I was the last to leave,
the police had already left, but I
left my number saying that I was
available for anything that might be
needed.
After a short rest I returned to
work at 08.00. I did not see Kate or
Gerry during the whole morning, but
went to the new apartment at about
lunchtime. Kate and Gerry were not
there but there were other members
of the group taking care of the
twins.
I remember there were helicopters
flying overhead and showing them to
the twins.
I remember that both Kate and Gerry
were calmer that day and Kate had
stopped crying. They were
accompanied by family members who
had travelled to Portugal and by the
local priest. I remember that on the
night Madeleine disappeared, Kate
wanted to contact the local priest,
but it was not possible to reach him
by phone.
I remember being present in the
apartment with Kate, Gerry and other
members of the family when they gave
their first press conference. Gerry
sat at the table and wrote what he
wanted to say to the press and Kate,
although she did not want to speak
to the press, accompanied Gerry and
stood by his side while he read the
statement. I and the others stayed
at the apartment door to observe.
During the weeks that followed, when
Kate and Gerry were still staying in
the complex I accompanied them and
helped in the preparation of the
posters for Gerry and planned the
way to take the twins to the creche
without being bothered by the press.
Gerry was always calm and polite,
whilst Kate could not hide her
emotion. At times she appeared
reasonably all right at other times
she would walk about crying.
In relation to the specific
questions, these are my replies:
1. My first meeting with the McCanns
occurred when they arrived at the
complex and my relationship with
them was purely professional as
Manager of Client Support services
and a s Mark Warner representative.
2) I first spoke to Gerry and Kate
McCann at about 23.00 on the night
of 3rd May in their apartment after
the disappearance of Madeleine.
3) Gerry and Kate said that their
daughter had disappeared and that
she had been abducted.
4) I would describe Kate's reaction
as hysterical and desperate. Gerry
was visibly upset and cried out of
our earshot, but he maintained a
firm position and helped in all he
could.
5) As mentioned previously, their
emotional state was one of
consternation and despair.
This statement was made by me and is
truthful as far as my understanding.
|
|
|
TO HELP KEEP THIS SITE ON LINE
PLEASE CONSIDER |
|
|
|
|
