SETTLE MADDIE COP LIBEL FIGHT
Court’s plea in battle over vile ’cover-up’ claim
AMANDA Holden hops to it as she poses in a pink bunny costume while chomping on a carrot ahead of the Easter holidays next week.
The Britain’s Got Talent host, 50, also posed alongside her Heart FM co-star Ashley Roberts, 39, in matching cosy rabbit playsuits. Pussycat Doll Ashley shared the snap, above, with her Instagram followers.
Determined not to miss out on the fun and games, model and TV presenter Kelly Brook, 41, posted a stunning picture of herself in the same cuddly big-eared outfit, below.
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MADELEINE Mccann’s parents have been told to settle their 12-year libel fight with a detective who alleged they covered up her death.
Gerry and Kate Mccann, both 53, were originally awarded £436,000 by a Portuguese court the over claims made in a best-selling book by former Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral.
But the decision was overturned on appeal, with judges saying Amaral, 61, was entitled to express his opinions under his right to freedom of speech.
That decision was ratified by Portugal’s Supreme
Court. But the Mccanns took their fight to the
European Court of Human
Rights in 2017, seeking a reversal of the ruling.
Now the EHCR has urged the couple to try to reach a “friendly” agreement in the case.
Phases
A spokesman said the proceedings would be divided into two phases.
He said: “During the non-contentious phase the parties are invited to explore the possibility of a friendly settlement within a period of 12 weeks.
“The aim of allowing the parties to reach a friendly settlement reduces caseprocessing time and ensures speedier resolution.
“If they do not reach an agreement the proceedings enter a contentious phase during which they exchange observations.”
The Mccann’s lawyer in Portugal, Isabel Duarte, did not respond to a request for a comment.
But a friend of the family, who live in Rothley, Leics, said: “It’s in many ways an extraordinary request. To be expected to sit and reach a ‘friendly settlement’ over something so utterly vile is almost beyond comprehension.”
Madeleine, then aged three, vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz in 2007, while her parents ate with friends in a nearby tapas bar.
Amaral was initially in charge of the investigation but was later removed.