Witness statement: Najoua Chekaya
Date: 20 June 2007 Time: 16h00 Place: Praia da Luz – Lagos
Officer: Jose Ricardo, Inspector
To the matter at hand she said:
— She appears as a witness. Being a British national she does not not know the Portuguese 
language in oral or written form, there being present, therefore, an interpreter Sra. Lidia N., PJ 
employee/officer from DRPD/ADT.
— In accordance with the statements made by her in this case, on 9 May 2007, she confirms it 
having been on the Tuesday, 1 May 2007, that she was invited to the table of the group of which 
the McCann couple were part, by Gerry himself.
— That she recalls there being an empty place [seat] at the table, not being certain if it had been 
Madeleine’s mother’s place given that she is not sure if they had met each other there at that time.
— The photographs of the group of the McCann’s friends having been shown to her, the deponent 
declares that from those photos seen she has some reservations about David Payne [in that] while 
she thinks he was also there, she had not noted his presence.
— The question asked she declares not being certain who was missing from the group.
Nothing more said. Read, ratifies and will sign, together with the interpreter who assisted her.