|
HOLIDAY
MAKER 08 APRIL 2008 |
|
25 to 29 Witness statement
of
Jeremy Wilkins 2008.04.08 |
|
05-CARTAS ROGATORIA 5 Pages 25 to
29 |
|
TRANSLATIONS BY LUZ |
|
cr5_25 |
 |
|
cr5_26 |
 |
|
cr5_27 |
 |
|
cr5_28 |
 |
|
cr5_29 |
 |
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE SQUAD
WITNESS TESTIMONY OF JEREMY WILKINS
Occupation:
This statement, consisting of five
pages, each signed by me, is true to
the best of my knowledge and belief
and I make it knowing that, if it is
tendered in evidence, I shall be
liable to prosecution if I have
wilfully states in it anything I
know to be false or do not believe
to be true.
Date: 8 April 2008
Signature:
I am the above referenced person and
live at the address previously given
to this police. I gave an earlier
statement to the Metropolitan Police
relative to my holidays in Portugal
in May of 2007. I stayed at the
Praia da Luz resort from where
Madeleine McCann disappeared. We
arrived on Saturday, April 28, 2007.
Yesterday, I received a visit from
Leicestershire police officers with
the intent of clarifying some
aspects and to obtain any possible
additional information. The
conversation was recorded as was the
interview which was conducted by the
same agents. I was told that these
questions originated from the
rogatory letter sent by the
Portuguese authorities. I am aware
that my deposition is subject to the
Portuguese Criminal Code in addition
to British law.
I was asked to read my original
statement to refresh my memory for
which I was given authorization.
What follows are answers to the
questions posed to me in the
following order:
Q. Relative to the time I met
Gerry McCann on the Thursday night
of May 3, 2007;
As stated in my original deposition,
I believe that I left the apartment
around 20h30. I calculate that I met
Gerry on the road between 20h45 and
21h15. I am aware of the importance
of this hour and am also aware that
the media announced our meeting time
as 21h05. Even if this were correct,
I have no idea from where such
information originated. It is not
possible to give you a more exact
time.
Q. From which direction Gerry
travelling when you met'
From previous conversations had with
Gerry, I am of the notion of the
usual routine of the group in
relation to checking on their
children when they were in the Tapas
Bar. I also was aware of the
location of the McCann apartment.
Naturally when I met him that night,
I assumed that he had gone to check
on the children. I cannot affirm if
I saw him exactly leaving the
apartment through the passageway,
and if he was heading towards the
tapas Bar.
Q. Relative to the exact location
you met Gerry'
I left my apartment pushing my son's
pram so that he could sleep. I did
not have a particular direction to
follow nor did I have a specific
time to do this. I left the
apartment and turned right. I walked
via the lower street, looked to the
building block where the McCann
apartment was situated and saw a
woman dressed in purple clothing. I
referred to this woman in relation
to the questions asked by Jane
Tanner. At the next crossing, I
turned right and continued on down
the hill. At this point, I saw a
man that was coming from the road
and was headed to the reception. I
believe that he was with a woman but
I cannot be precise of any detail
about her. It was a tall Caucasian
man, with blonde hair in 'rasta
style' tied with a band instead of
free flowing. When I arrived, I
headed to the WC near the pool area.
He also was in the WC but appeared
to be a taking a long time. I do not
remember if he was still in that
place when I left. I did not see a
woman in that zone. I had never
before seen this man and did not see
him after this. The next morning,
after having become aware of
Madeleine's disappearance, we went
to breakfast and left the children
in the club. Bridget and I returned
to the apartment and minutes
afterward, a uniformed police
officer, accompanied by a British
man serving as interpreter, showed
up. Later we came to know him as
Robert Murat. I do not remember if
he gave me his details but recently
when I was cleaning a bag, I came
across a card with his name and
telephone number. I believe that he
may have given this to me so that we
could contact him in case we had any
additional information to offer. The
police officer asked us if we had
noticed anything out of the normal
and Robert Murat translated. I spoke
to him of the 'rasta man' and the
police officer took some notes on
paper. He also noted our names and
passport numbers. During the days
that followed, as we passed through
the police cordon, we noticed Robert
Murat on numerous occasions. On
Friday, the 4th of May or Saturday,
5th of May 2007, at one of the
police cordons, I again saw Robert
Murat. He told me that they had
investigated the lead of the 'rasta
man' but that he was a local man and
that everything was okay. He thanked
me for my collaboration. I never saw
Robert prior to his visit to our
apartment with the police officer.
After leaving the WC, I continued to
walk around the back of the tennis
court, and returned via the pathway
opposite the pool in the Tapas
complex. Whilst walking the streets,
I was hoping my son would fall
asleep. Some of the walkways did not
have an exit and for this reason I
walked practically in circles. When
walking one of these paths, I came
across a tourist called Curtis with
his girlfriend whose name I do not
know. He also knew Gerry from the
tennis lessons. I remember passing
by them but I assumed they were
headed to dinner. Eventually, I left
one road to the other side of the
street to the pool complex, between
the McCann apartment and the Tapas
Bar. In order to visualise this
street, I believe it was the street
most used by the news agencies and
journalists as all the parked cars
indicated during the coverage
period.
When I left the street, I remember
seeing Gerry on the other side of
the same. I believe that there was
some speculation in the press
regarding the circumstances of this
encounter. I remember that I crossed
the street to talk to Gerry.
According to what I remember, Gerry
was walking when I spotted him. As I
mentioned previously, I assumed that
he had gone to check on the children
and was headed back to the Tapas
Bar.
From what I remember, the
conversation happened right there on
the pathway but I am not certain who
was located exactly where.
Q. Relative to the time we
conversed;
I am more certain of this than I am
of our relative positions.
The conversation lasted for
approximately three to five minutes.
We spoke of the care of children and
how they were getting along. He told
me something like 'he was on night
duty'. I explained to him that I was
returning to the apartment as my son
was now sleeping. I assumed that
Gerry was off to dine with the group
in the Tapas bar, but I cannot
precisely say this came from him or
if I figured this out from our
previous conversations regarding the
checking system for the children. I
remember that Gerry told me if he
had stayed another week, he would
likely do as I was doing and would
stay with the children one night. It
appeared as though he was jealous of
what I was doing, but given that he
was with a big group, he felt the
obligation to meet with them every
night, and the chosen location was
the Tapas bar. I believe that there
was some sort of agreement with the
tapas Bar as they appeared to have a
reservation every night and it was
impossible for other guests to book
at spot there.
I do not know if we were face to
face or side to side when this
conversation occurred. As I had the
pram with me I was rocking it so my
son could sleep, it seems to me that
I was in the downward direction, but
it is possible that I was in the
opposite direction.
I do not remember having seen anyone
else at this time besides Gerry.
After leaving each other, Gerry
walked downward in the direction of
the Tapas Bar and I began to walk in
the other direction, up the pathway.
I turned left at the crossing and
passed the apartment. I did not meet
anyone else during my walk and once
in my apartment, I did not venture
out again.
Q. Relative to whether I know
Jane Tanner;
Now I know her name, description of
the clothes and photos which I have
seen in the press. At that time I
knew of her as a member of the group
but did not know her name. I do not
remember having seen her when I
spoke with Gerry, but I believe I
saw her when I first ventured out.
She was stopped on the street in
front of one of the group's
apartments when I passed her down
towards the exit to my apartment. I
do not know if it was her apartment
or not. I remember that she was
wearing the colour purple.
Q. Relative to the
passerby/transient:
I can affirm that it was a quiet
street and it was very unlikely that
someone could have passed by be in
this way but this as an assumption
and I do not remember anything
having happened.
Q. Relative to anything strange
in Gerry's behaviour;
I can affirm without any reservation
that Gerry's behaviour was
absolutely normal. He was not
preoccupied and conversed and
appeared relaxed. He behaved if the
same form as with the other times we
met.
Q. Relative to the visibility and
lighting conditions;
I believe that the time I left it
was dusk (the term lusco-fusco used
in this statement is a Portuguese
expression to define those brief
moments when day and night
intermingle in an undefined state,
dusk, when day isn't still night) or
nighttime when I returned and I do
not remember if it was already dark
when I spoke with Gerry. There were
no weather conditions that impacted
visibility. Given the lighting and
the atmospheric conditions, I
believe that it would have been
possible to see if an individual was
near but evidently, the greater the
distance, the harder the difficulty
in seeing. I would say that when I
spoke with Gerry it was possible to
recognize someone I knew who was
passing on foot at the crossing at
the top of the hill or to describe
approximately someone unknown from
that distance.
Q. relative to the return to
Portugal to realize a
reconstitution;
I spoke with the police for a long
time regarding this topic. I had
some reservation about the press'
intrusion onto my personal life and
the hurt that resulted. I actually
think that I would prefer not to
take part. I have helped the
investigation and am particularly
interested in the investigative team
gave me a solid base with would
justify the reconstitution.
I was also asked question raised by
the arguidos, to which I responded
as follows.
Relative to my familiarity with
Gerry and Kate;
I got to know them on Monday, 30th
of April 2007 when I arrived at the
tennis lesson. I had booked lessons
and believed that Gerry had done the
same. I believe that Kate was with
Gerry before the first lesson but
did not play.
Relative to the encounters
between the 29th of April and the
3rd of May;
I played against Gerry in the tennis
lessons and we played a game outside
the lessons together with two
friends who made up part of his
group. Kate was in the immediate
area of the resort but the reason
for our meetings was normally
tennis. We got along well together.
Relative to seeing them with
Madeleine and the other children;
I do not have grand memories of
Madeleine but did see her on some
occasions with her parents in the
creche. My last memory of the twins,
specifically, was in the company of
adults (I think they were friends
that travelled here) in the pool
zone and also on the day that we
left, Saturday 5th of May, 2007.
I never saw any member of the family
inside or possessing a vehicle.
Relative to the encounter with
Gerry and Kate on the 3rd of May
2007;
I had a tennis lesson with Gerry
from 10h00 to 11h00. After the
lesson we went to fetch the children
from the creche. I saw Gerry and
Kate near the pool relaxing. I
remember that they were talking to a
British tennis instructor whose name
is George or Georgina. I remember
that she was telling them a bit
about her personal life. Later that
day, I went once again to collect
the children from the creche and
believe I saw them there, but I
cannot affirm with exactitude if it
was that day or if had been on a
previous day. We did not see each
other again on this day.
Relative to when I became aware
of Madeleine's disappearance;
After having gone to sleep on the
3rd of May, we were woken around
01H30 by the manager of the resort,
John Hill and by a friend of
Gerry's. It was them who told me
what had happened. I did not see or
hear anything else than what has
been stated in this statement. I did
not take part in any searches. I
offered my help but it was not
necessary. I did not see Gerry and
Kate again until the afternoon of
our departure. They were in the
tourist complex. This was on
Saturday, 5th of May 2007. If was a
very emotional encounter and I did
not know what to say to them. I went
over to Gerry and gave him a pat on
the shoulder and spoke briefly with
Kate. Together they appeared
constrained and I became emotional
as well.
Relative to the meeting with
Gerry McCann;
I have already testified to the time
of our encounter in this statement
and have also spoken to the location
where we met, when I saw him for the
first time, what I observed
regarding the details of our
conversation. The same applies to
Jane Tanner.
Relative to the sighting in Dr.
Francisco Gentil street;
From the location where we met for
our conversation, it is possible to
see the top of the hill. I cannot
confirm if I was always turned in
this direction. It is definitely
possible that someone could have
crossed holding a child without my
noticing.
I do not remember any other
information or relevant details
which could help this investigation.
|
|
---> 116 to 117
X -
Interview to
JEREMY WILKINS, |
|
CR 2 page 116 |
|
Questions for Jeremy Wilkins from the
Letter of Request:
X - Interview to JEREMY WILKINS, 23, MOXXXX ROXX, London,
NWXX 5XX, UK, who shall clarify the following :
* What time did you meet GERALD ?
* Where was he coming from ?
* Where exactly did you meet him (provide directions or sketch)
? How were both of you positioned ? How did you position
yourself ? With your back turned to Block G5 (where McCann's
apartment is located) or, contrariwise, facing the referred
building ?
* For how long were you talking to each other ?
* Were you facing each other ? Or was GERALD McCANN beside you ?
* Did you see anyone else besides GERALD ?
*Do you know JANE TANNER ? Did you see her when you were talking
to GERALD ?
* Could someone have passed by GERALD and you without your
notice ?
* Did you detect anything strange in GERALD's behaviour ?
* During your conversation, did you see anybody ? Did you hear
footsteps ? Did you see or hear any vehicles circulating ? Did
you hear any sound that resembled a shutter opening or the slam
of a car or a house door ?
* Were the visibility/light conditions good ? Considering those
conditions, would you find it possible to describe a man in
detail ?
* The witness should be expressly asked about his availability
to come to Portugal, on a date yet to be set (as soon as
possible), in order to re-enact the events occurred on 3rd May,
2007, between 5.30 p.m. and 11.00 p.m. at the Ocean Club, with
sound and image recording. This should be requested to him
during the interview.
* Any further questions deemed useful, necessary or pertinent in
view of the previous replies.
* And also (questions drawn up by the arguidos (formal
suspects).
* When did you get acquainted with GERALD McCANN and KATE HEALY
between 28th April and 3rd May ?
* How often did you use to meet them between 28th April and 3rd
May ?
* Did you see them with Madeleine and their two other children ?
What was the children's behaviour like ?
* Did you see any of them inside a car ?
* Did you see KATE or GERALD on Thursday, 3rd May ? Where ? At
what time ? How were they behaving ?
* When did you know that Madeleine had gone missing ? Did you
take part in the searches ? Did you see KATE and GERALD after it
was noticed that Madeleine was missing ? When ?
* How did they react ?
* What time did you meet GERALD McCANN on Thursday, 3rd May ?
Where exactly were you standing ? Did you see where GERALD had
been ?
* Did you see him leaving the apartment ?
* Did you notice anything strange ?
* What did you speak about ? Did he mention anything about going
to check on the children ?
* For how long were you talking to each other ? Are you sure
about the time and about how long the conversation went on ?
* While you were having this conversation, did you notice anyone
else around ? If yes, when and where ?
* Did you see JANE TANNER ?
* From the place you were talking to GERALD could you see the
street - Rua Dr. Francisco Gentil - on top of the hill ?
* Is there any supplementary explanation that you consider
pertinent or relevant to establish the material truth ? |
|
TO HELP KEEP THIS SITE ON
LINE PLEASE CONSIDER
|
|
|
|
|
|
