CMTV Gonçalo Amaral - O Enigma - with English subtitles

[Robittybob1]

So Smithman looks something like Gerry, but not Gerry himself.  That is a very good start really.

[faithlilly]

What I should have posted earlier was that the stranger was clearly visible to the Smith party, they could see his head and face but because of the gloom his features were indiscernible.

Martin Smith stated that his wife offered a simple question to the stranger as to whether the child was sleeping, at no time have I ever suggested that he spoke to said stranger.

I'm afraid you are mixing fact with newspaper reportage John, Nowhere except in one of the tabloids have I ever read that MS's wife spoke to the man carrying the child. Do you have a cite?

[faithlilly]

Mr Smith said nothing in his statements about his wife speaking to the man. In my opinion that's a rumour. Mr Smith did speak to the Mirror, apparently, in October 2013;

 “It looked as if they put 90% credence on the Jane Tanner sighting, maybe that wrong-footed them and they didn’t take our sighting as seriously. I was surprised it took six years to rule out the other sighting.”

 “We‘d all love to see the police get to the bottom of what happened.”

“We think about Madeleine a lot and we would love to see a conclusion to this case.

 “The only new thing in the investigation is the elimination of Jane Tanner’s sighting.

“Apart from that from our point of view everything else remains the same in relation to what we said to the police and the media at the time. We have nothing more to add.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-key-witness-accuses-2433328

Interesting that in 2013 it seems MS hadn't changed his opinion about who he was almost sure he saw that night, contrary to other reports.

[Benice]

Mr Smith said nothing in his statements about his wife speaking to the man. In my opinion that's a rumour. Mr Smith did speak to the Mirror, apparently, in October 2013;

 “It looked as if they put 90% credence on the Jane Tanner sighting, maybe that wrong-footed them and they didn’t take our sighting as seriously. I was surprised it took six years to rule out the other sighting.”

 “We‘d all love to see the police get to the bottom of what happened.”

“We think about Madeleine a lot and we would love to see a conclusion to this case.

 “The only new thing in the investigation is the elimination of Jane Tanner’s sighting.

“Apart from that from our point of view everything else remains the same in relation to what we said to the police and the media at the time. We have nothing more to add.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-key-witness-accuses-2433328

Mrs Smith also said this to the media.

“This weekend, Mr Smith's wife Mary told the Mail on Sunday her husband had no regrets about coming forward. ‘He [Martin] doesn't want to talk, said Mrs Smith. He said what he had to say. I was with him [that night]. We saw a man carrying a child and that's all we know. We told them all that and that's it. The man he saw had the same stature as Gerry McCann. We felt we had to help. We're happy we did. We reported exactly what we saw…our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours. 'I feel very much for them [the McCanns]. I have six grandchildren of my own and six children of my own. The poor McCann family must be heartbroken.''
End Quote

That doesn't sound to me as if the Smiths think the McCanns had anything to do with Madeleine's removal from 5A.

[misty]

Mr Smith said nothing in his statements about his wife speaking to the man. In my opinion that's a rumour. Mr Smith did speak to the Mirror, apparently, in October 2013;

 “It looked as if they put 90% credence on the Jane Tanner sighting, maybe that wrong-footed them and they didn’t take our sighting as seriously. I was surprised it took six years to rule out the other sighting.”

 “We‘d all love to see the police get to the bottom of what happened.”

“We think about Madeleine a lot and we would love to see a conclusion to this case.

 “The only new thing in the investigation is the elimination of Jane Tanner’s sighting.

“Apart from that from our point of view everything else remains the same in relation to what we said to the police and the media at the time. We have nothing more to add.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-key-witness-accuses-2433328

There had been no active police investigation for around 4 years.
Why would he be surprised that the sighting had not been ruled out? Is that what he was expecting? Why not be more surprised that the person had not been identified as the potential abductor? .

[faithlilly]

Mrs Smith also said this to the media.

“This weekend, Mr Smith's wife Mary told the Mail on Sunday her husband had no regrets about coming forward. ‘He [Martin] doesn't want to talk, said Mrs Smith. He said what he had to say. I was with him [that night]. We saw a man carrying a child and that's all we know. We told them all that and that's it. The man he saw had the same stature as Gerry McCann. We felt we had to help. We're happy we did. We reported exactly what we saw…our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours. 'I feel very much for them [the McCanns]. I have six grandchildren of my own and six children of my own. The poor McCann family must be heartbroken.''
End Quote

At that time it was believed Madeleine had died in an accident. The quote must surely be viewed in that context.

That doesn't sound to me as if the Smiths think the McCanns had anything to do with Madeleine's removal from 5A.

[G-Unit]

Mrs Smith also said this to the media.

“This weekend, Mr Smith's wife Mary told the Mail on Sunday her husband had no regrets about coming forward. ‘He [Martin] doesn't want to talk, said Mrs Smith. He said what he had to say. I was with him [that night]. We saw a man carrying a child and that's all we know. We told them all that and that's it. The man he saw had the same stature as Gerry McCann. We felt we had to help. We're happy we did. We reported exactly what we saw…our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours. 'I feel very much for them [the McCanns]. I have six grandchildren of my own and six children of my own. The poor McCann family must be heartbroken.''
End Quote

I notice there's no link to the original article. Is there a reason for that?

You are quoting Mrs Smith who never gave any statement to the police. Does one member of a family speak for them all? Does a wife speak for her husband? Not according to what Mr Smith said in October 2013.

That doesn't sound to me as if the Smiths think the McCanns had anything to do with Madeleine's removal from 5A.

[misty]

Full article including quote available here.

http://themaddiecasefiles.com/topic8771.html

The Irish Mail on Sunday [Paper edition only]
10 August 2008

[G-Unit]

Full article including quote available here.

http://themaddiecasefiles.com/topic8771.html

The Irish Mail on Sunday [Paper edition only]
10 August 2008

That's where this baseless statement came from then?

Mr. Smith had initally told police he had seen a man carrying a child that night, but that he couldn't identify him because he had not been wearing his glasses.

[Alice Purjorick]

Mrs Smith also said this to the media.

“This weekend, Mr Smith's wife Mary told the Mail on Sunday her husband had no regrets about coming forward. ‘He [Martin] doesn't want to talk, said Mrs Smith. He said what he had to say. I was with him [that night]. We saw a man carrying a child and that's all we know. We told them all that and that's it. The man he saw had the same stature as Gerry McCann. We felt we had to help. We're happy we did. We reported exactly what we saw…our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours. 'I feel very much for them [the McCanns]. I have six grandchildren of my own and six children of my own. The poor McCann family must be heartbroken.''
End Quote

That doesn't sound to me as if the Smiths think the McCanns had anything to do with Madeleine's removal from 5A.

It wouldn't matter whether they did or didn't, their opinion has no relevance. The only things of relevance are the Smith's statements with respect to what they saw around 22:00 hrs on 3rd May 2007.

[Robittybob1]

So Smithman looks something like Gerry, but not Gerry himself.  That is a very good start really.

"The man he saw had the same stature as Gerry McCann"  Mary Smith
http://themaddiecasefiles.com/topic8771.html

[Miss Taken Identity]

I believe Smith man to be of importance. It doesn't matter at this point if it is Gerry or not, because it rules out abducted by paedophiles and or a loving couple looking for a child- sleeping in a bed.

The abduction via 'snatched from bed' theory, by either these two theories, is surely not a deliverable as far as 'searching for Madeleine' report by OG is concerned.

[Robittybob1]

I believe Smith man to be of importance. It doesn't matter at this point if it is Gerry or not, because it rules out abducted by paedophiles and or a loving couple looking for a child- sleeping in a bed.

The abduction via 'snatched from bed' theory, by either these two theories, is surely not a deliverable as far as 'searching for Madeleine' report by OG is concerned.

No it doesn't

[slartibartfast]

No it doesn't

Why?

[Robittybob1]

Why?

because it rules out abducted ... a loving couple looking for a child " was the bit I objected too.  Smithman could be part of the loving couple.  They don't have to go there and do it as a couple.